Pivoting Plow Wing Coaxial Spring Cable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow plows with pivoting wings lack efficiency and complexity in their mechanical designs, particularly in how the wing actuation cables are routed and loaded, leading to increased wear and tear on support frames and higher costs due to unnecessary parts.
Innovation Solution
A plow assembly with coaxially aligned compression springs, flexible cables, and horizontal trip pivot axes, eliminating hydraulic dampers and using flexible cables to pivot wings from angled to parallel positions relative to the blade, simplifying the design and reducing moment loads on the support frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional wing actuation mechanisms are used with complex cable routing and hydraulic dampers, then the wing can be actuated from angled to parallel positions, but the device complexity increases and wear and tear on support frames increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes hydraulic dampers from the wing actuation mechanism, extracting the complex damping function and replacing it with a simpler spring-cable system. This eliminates unnecessary parts while maintaining the essential actuation function, directly reducing device complexity and potential failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters by aligning the cable, spring, and pivot axis coaxially. This geometric parameter change simplifies the mechanical layout, reduces moment loads on the support frame, and eliminates the need for complex routing arrangements, thereby reducing both device complexity and wear on support structures.
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic dampers and complex routing mechanisms are included in the wing actuation system, then the wing positioning can be controlled, but the production costs increase due to unnecessary parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes hydraulic dampers from the system, eliminating expensive components while preserving the essential wing positioning function through the simpler spring-cable mechanism. This directly reduces production costs without sacrificing operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive hydraulic dampers with simpler, more economical spring and cable components. These simpler parts are cheaper to manufacture and replace, reducing overall production costs while maintaining the necessary function of wing actuation and positioning.
3Ease of operation
If non-coaxial cable routing is used in the wing actuation mechanism, then the wing can be actuated, but moment loads on the support frame increase causing excessive wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of cable routing by aligning it coaxially with the pivot axis and spring. This parameter change minimizes the moment arm and reduces moment loads on the support frame, thereby reducing wear and improving reliability while maintaining full wing actuation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a symmetric, coaxial arrangement where the cable, spring, and pivot axis all share the same central line. This geometric copying and alignment eliminates offset loads and moment forces that would otherwise cause excessive wear on the support frame structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design reduces wear and tear on support frames, lowers production costs by eliminating unnecessary parts, and enhances operational efficiency by aligning wing actuation components coaxially with pivot axes, resulting in a more compact and cost-effective snow plow mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The first plow wing is biased by a first compression spring operable between the first plow wing and the plow blade so as to be angled forwardly relative to the plow blade when the plow blade is in the center position
Implementation Method 2
The first flexible cable is in tension when the plow blade is in the first position and can be slack when the plow blade is in the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A plow assembly for attachment to a vehicle having a longitudinal axis comprises a plow blade having first and second ends, a first plow wing pivotally mounted to the first end of the plow blade, and a plow support adapted to be operably mounted to the vehicle. The first plow wing is biased by a first compression. A first connecting member is connected to the first plow wing, passes through the first compression spring generally coaxially therewith, and is connected to the plow support. The first connecting member is configured to pivot the first plow wing relative to the plow blade during pivoting of the plow blade from a center position to a first position such that when the plow blade is in the first position the first plow wing is generally parallel to the plow blade.