Snow wing linkage

Abstract

A snow wing assembly for a machine includes a moldboard and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly includes a first linkage, a second linkage, a third linkage, and a fourth linkage. The first linkage is coupled with the moldboard. The second linkage is pivotally coupled with the first linkage at a first outboard end of the second linkage. The third linkage is pivotally coupled with the first linkage at a second outboard end of the third linkage. The fourth linkage is coupled with the machine and pivotally coupled with a first inboard end of the second linkage and a second inboard end of the third linkage. The third linkage is selectively adjustable to vary a distance between the second outboard end and the second inboard end for tilting the moldboard.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A snow wing assembly for a machine, comprising:
 a moldboard; and   a linkage assembly comprising:
 a first linkage coupled to the moldboard; 
 a second linkage pivotally coupled to the first linkage at a first outboard end of the second linkage; 
 a third linkage pivotally coupled to the first linkage at a second outboard end of the third linkage; and 
 a fourth linkage coupled to the machine and pivotally coupled to a first inboard end of the second linkage and a second inboard end of the third linkage; 
   wherein the third linkage is selectively adjustable to vary a distance between the second outboard end and the second inboard end for tilting the moldboard.   
     
     
         2 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage assembly extends non-perpendicularly from a centerline of the machine. 
     
     
         3 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , the second linkage comprising a hydraulic actuator and at least one side member, the at least one side member defining an opening, the opening configured to receive at least one hydraulic hose in fluid communication with the hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         4 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the third linkage is a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , the moldboard comprising an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side, wherein an extension of the third linkage is configured tilt the outboard side downwards relative to the inboard side. 
     
     
         6 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , the moldboard comprising an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side, wherein a retraction of the third linkage is configured tilt the outboard side upwards relative to the inboard side. 
     
     
         7 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first outboard end of the second linkage is coupled to the first linkage at a pivot and the second outboard end of the third linkage is coupled to the first linkage via a float member, the float member slidably coupled to the second outboard end to allow the moldboard to freely rotate about the pivot by an amount. 
     
     
         8 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the moldboard is pivotally coupled to the first linkage at a pivot, the linkage assembly further comprising a rear linkage assembly including an actuator configured to selectively rotate the moldboard relative to the first linkage about the pivot to rotate the moldboard between a deployed position and a stowed position. 
     
     
         9 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 8 , the rear linkage assembly further comprising a relief valve configured to prevent a pressure within the actuator from exceeding a threshold amount. 
     
     
         10 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 8 , the moldboard comprising a bottom, the actuator configured to retract to move the moldboard to a stowed position, the stowed position including the bottom of the moldboard positioned substantially parallel with a ground surface and above a rear wheel of the machine. 
     
     
         11 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein in the stowed position, a portion of the moldboard extending across a portion of a window of the machine defines an upper viewing window above a top of the moldboard and a lower viewing window below the bottom of the moldboard. 
     
     
         12 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , the moldboard comprising a bottom, wherein the linkage assembly is configured to extend non-perpendicularly from a centerline of the machine such that at least a portion of the bottom is visible from a cab of the machine. 
     
     
         13 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 1 , the second linkage including a first aperture and the fourth linkage including a second aperture, the first aperture and the second aperture configured to receive a pin, the pin configured to prevent the second linkage from rotating relative to the fourth linkage with the pin received in the first aperture and the second aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A linkage assembly for a machine, comprising:
 a first linkage defining a first axis;   a second linkage pivotally coupled with the first linkage at a first outboard end of the second linkage;   a third linkage pivotally coupled with the first linkage at a second outboard end of the third linkage; and   a fourth linkage configured to couple with the machine, the fourth linkage pivotally coupled with a first inboard end of the second linkage and a second inboard end of the third linkage,   wherein the third linkage is selectively adjustable to alter an orientation of the first axis with respect to a ground surface.   
     
     
         15 . The linkage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the third linkage is extendable to rotate the first linkage about a second axis, wherein the second linkage is coupled to the first linkage at the second axis. 
     
     
         16 . The linkage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein at least the second linkage comprises an actuator, the actuator selectively adjustable to rotate the second linkage relative to the fourth linkage. 
     
     
         17 . The linkage assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first outboard end of the second linkage is coupled with the first linkage at a pivot and the second outboard end of the third linkage is coupled with the first linkage via a float member, the float member slidably coupled with the second outboard end and configured to allow the first linkage to freely rotate about the pivot by an amount. 
     
     
         18 . A snow wing assembly for a machine, comprising:
 a first linkage assembly, comprising:
 a first linkage; 
 a second linkage coupled with the first linkage at a first outboard end of the second linkage and pivotable about a tilt axis; 
 a third linkage comprising a first actuator, the third linkage coupled with the first linkage at a second outboard end of the third linkage; and 
 a fourth linkage configured to couple with the machine, the fourth linkage pivotally coupled with the second linkage at a first inboard end of the second linkage and the third linkage at a second inboard end of the third linkage; 
   a second linkage assembly coupled, at a third inboard end of the second linkage assembly, to the machine, the second linkage assembly comprising a second actuator; and   a moldboard comprising an outboard side and an inboard side opposite the outboard side, the moldboard coupled with the first linkage on the inboard side and pivotable about an angle axis, the moldboard pivotally coupled with a third outboard end of the second linkage assembly on the outboard side, the first actuator configured to rotate the moldboard about the tilt axis and the second actuator configured to rotate the moldboard about the angle axis.   
     
     
         19 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising an accumulator fluidly coupled with the second actuator and configured to allow the second actuator to retract by a predefined amount. 
     
     
         20 . The snow wing assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the second outboard end of the third linkage is coupled with the first linkage via a float member, the float member slidably coupled with the second outboard end and configured to allow the moldboard to freely rotate about the tilt axis by a predefined amount.