Plow blade system with pivoting blade

Abstract

A plow blade system is adapted for mounting to a vehicle. The system includes a central blade having two transversally opposite ends and a mount for mounting the blade to the vehicle in a configuration where the central blade is orientable transversally to a longitudinal orientation of movement of the vehicle. The system further includes a lateral blade. The system further includes a hinge pivotally coupling a lateral edge of the lateral blade to one of the opposite ends of the central blade about a pivot axis. The hinge has an upper hinge element and a lower hinge element. The upper hinge element is interspaced from the lower hinge element. The lower hinge element has a multi-axis rotary joint.

1 . A plow blade system adapted for mounting to a vehicle, comprising:
 a central blade having two transversally opposite ends and a mount for mounting the blade to the vehicle in a configuration where the central blade is orientable transversally to a longitudinal orientation of movement of the vehicle;   a lateral blade; and   a hinge pivotally coupling a lateral edge of the lateral blade to one of the opposite ends of the central blade about a pivot axis, the hinge having an upper hinge element and a lower hinge element, the upper hinge element interspaced from the lower hinge element, the lower hinge element having a multi-axis rotary joint.   
     
     
         2 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the hinge further includes a bracket fastened to a mould board of the lateral blade. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the upper hinge element has an additional multi-axis rotary joint. 
     
     
         5 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an additional lateral blade; and   an additional hinge pivotally coupling the additional lateral blade to the other one of the opposite ends of the central blade about an additional pivot axis, the additional hinge having an additional upper hinge element and an additional lower hinge element, the additional upper hinge element interspaced from the additional lower hinge element, the additional lower hinge element having an additional multi-axis rotary joint.   
     
     
         6 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lower hinge element includes a male hinge element operatively coupled to one of the lateral blade and the central blade, the male hinge element including a pin, and a female hinge element operatively coupled to the other of the lateral blade and the central blade, the female hinge element including the multi-axis rotary joint engaged with the pin. 
     
     
         7 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a force transfer element;   a first hydraulic cylinder operatively coupling the central blade to the force transfer element; and   a second hydraulic cylinder operatively coupling the lateral blade to the force transfer element;   wherein the force transfer element is configured for transferring forces from the first hydraulic cylinder to the second hydraulic cylinder to pivot the lateral blade about the pivot axis.   
     
     
         8 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is operatively coupled to the central blade via a first additional multi-axis rotary joint, and wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is operatively coupled to the lateral blade via a second additional multi-axis rotary joint. 
     
     
         9 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the force transfer element is pivotally mounted to one of the lateral blade and the central blade, around a hinge axis coaxial to the upper hinge element and the lower hinge element. 
     
     
         10 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the central blade is pivotably mounted to the vehicle via the mount. 
     
     
         13 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the central blade is hingedly connected to the mount at a hinge about a pivot axis, the hinge having an upper hinge element and a lower hinge element, the lower hinge element having a multi-axis rotary joint. 
     
     
         14 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the multi-axis rotary joint is a ball joint. 
     
     
         15 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a force transfer element;   a hydraulic cylinder operatively coupling the central blade to the force transfer element; and   a bracket operatively coupling the lateral blade to the force transfer element;   wherein the force transfer element is configured for transferring forces from the hydraulic cylinder to the bracket to pivot the lateral blade about the pivot axis.   
     
     
         16 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the bracket is bolted to the lateral blade. 
     
     
         17 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a working portion for engaging a work surface, the working portion including a lower edge displaceable relative to the lateral blade. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a main body of the lateral blade is made of a material having a yield strength of at least 75,000 PSI. 
     
     
         20 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 19 , wherein the main body of the lateral blade is made of a material having a yield strength of at least 100,000 PSI. 
     
     
         21 . A plow blade system adapted for mounting to a vehicle, comprising:
 a central blade having two transversally opposite ends and a mount for mounting the blade to the vehicle in a configuration where the central blade is orientable transversally to a longitudinal orientation of movement of the vehicle;   a lateral blade;   a hinge pivotally coupling a lateral edge of the lateral blade to one of the opposite ends of the central blade about a pivot axis; and   an actuator operatively coupled to the lateral blade and to the central blade, the actuator operatively coupled to the lateral blade via a bracket fastened to a main panel of the lateral blade, the actuator operatively coupled to the central blade via a hydraulic cylinder, the hydraulic cylinder coupled to the central blade at a first end thereof and to the actuator at a second end thereof;   wherein the actuator is configured for transferring forces from the hydraulic cylinder to the lateral blade to pivot the lateral blade about the pivot axis.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the hinge includes an upper hinge element and a lower hinge element, the upper hinge element interspaced from the lower hinge element, the lower hinge element having a multi-axis rotary joint. 
     
     
         24 .- 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 21 , wherein the main body of the lateral blade is made of a material having a yield strength of at least 75,000 PSI. 
     
     
         27 . The plow blade system as defined in  claim 26 , wherein the main body of the lateral blade is made of a material having a yield strength of at least 100,000 PSI. 
     
     
         28 .- 38 . (canceled)