Plow Mount Assembly Lever Mechanism for Vehicle Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plow systems face challenges in efficient coupling and uncoupling from vehicles, particularly in maintaining tension and adjusting height, which limits their versatility and operational effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A plow system with a main frame and blade, featuring a lever mechanism that allows for easy access to mounting portions and adjustable height settings through a plurality of apertures, enabling secure coupling to vehicles and adjustable height configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a winch and winch cable are used to maintain tension and alter height, then the plow can be securely coupled to the vehicle, but the coupling and uncoupling process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a lever for quick release, mounting portions with apertures for positioning, and tension maintenance elements. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall coupling process while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is designed to move between a first position (covering the mounting portions for secure coupling) and a second position (allowing access for uncoupling). This dynamic movement enables quick transition between coupled and uncoupled states, reducing the time and complexity of the coupling process while maintaining reliability when coupled.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a winch and winch cable are used to alter height characteristic, then the plow height can be adjusted, but the system requires additional components and operational steps
Solution Approach 1:
The lever serves multiple functions: it maintains tension on the plow, secures the coupling between the plow and vehicle, and enables quick release for uncoupling. By combining these functions into a single component, the system achieves height adjustment capability and adaptability without requiring separate winch and cable components, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the height adjustment function from the winch-cable system and integrates it into the lever mechanism and mounting portion geometry. This extraction eliminates the need for separate height-adjustment components, simplifying the system while maintaining adaptability for different height requirements through the aperture-based positioning system.
3Reliability
If the lever covers both mounting portions in the first position, then secure coupling is maintained, but access to mounting portions is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed with dynamic positioning capability, moving between a first position where it covers the mounting portions to maintain coupling security, and a second position where it allows access to the mounting portions for uncoupling. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction by providing both security during operation and accessibility when needed, through simple lever movement rather than complex mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A plow mount assembly shown herein is positioned on a side-by-side vehicle configured to selectively attach and detach. The plow system may selectively engage mounting bars located on a vehicle subframe through the movement of a lever arm and may further be locked into place through a plurality of pins and apertures. Further, the plow system may be vertically positionable through a series of vertically spaced mounting holes allowing for the vehicle herein to be a variety of different heights due to frame configuration and/or varying heights of ground engaging members.