Snow Plow Trigger Assembly for Ground Following and Impact Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snow plow blades struggle to adapt to uneven ground surfaces, leading to instability, premature wear, and impact damage, while existing mechanisms fail to provide efficient ground-following capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An attachment assembly for snow plow blades featuring a trigger assembly with a biasing mechanism and articulated structure that allows the blade to adjust to ground unevenness, providing stability and reducing impact forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the snow plow blade assembly is made rigid and stable, then the stability during operation is improved, but the ability to adapt to uneven ground is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the snow plow blade assembly movable rather than rigid. The blade assembly includes movable components that allow it to dynamically adjust its position and orientation in response to ground unevenness, while still maintaining operational stability through controlled movement mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the snow plow blade assembly into multiple independent movable parts. This segmentation allows different portions of the blade assembly to move independently relative to each other, enabling adaptation to uneven ground while maintaining overall structural integrity and operational stability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the snow plow blade assembly is made more flexible to follow ground contours, then the adaptability to uneven ground is improved, but the stability during operation is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses controlled dynamic movement mechanisms that allow the blade assembly to flex and adjust to ground contours while maintaining operational stability. The movable components are designed to move within specific constraints that preserve stability during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters such as the rigidity and flexibility characteristics of different blade assembly components. By varying these parameters across different parts of the assembly, the system achieves both adaptability to ground contours and stability during operation.
3Ease of operation
If the snow plow blade assembly uses a fixed attachment mechanism, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to respond to ground unevenness is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces fixed attachment mechanisms with dynamic, movable attachment systems. These mechanisms automatically adjust to ground conditions without requiring manual intervention, maintaining ease of operation while enabling responsive adaptation to ground unevenness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-adjusting attachment mechanisms that automatically respond to ground conditions. The movable components self-regulate their position based on ground unevenness, eliminating the need for manual adjustment while maintaining operational simplicity.
4Strength
If the snow plow blade assembly is designed with high impact resistance, then the strength is improved, but the ability to reduce wear from impacts is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cushioning elements and energy-absorbing mechanisms into the blade assembly design. These features absorb impact energy before it reaches critical components, reducing wear while maintaining overall strength and impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material properties and structural parameters of the blade assembly to optimize the balance between strength and wear resistance. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves high impact resistance while minimizing wear from repeated impacts.
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 solution enhances the snow plow's ability to follow ground contours, maintaining stability and reducing wear and impact damage, ensuring efficient snow removal.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing means attached, at one end, to the pin assembly and attached, at an other end, to the static member such that the trigger assembly is biased toward a default position
Data Source
AI summary
A trigger assembly for attaching a snow plow blade to a vehicle is described. The trigger assembly consists in a combination of a nesting arm and a nested arm rotatable around one another, wherein the arms are furthermore coupled through a biasing means. The trigger assembly is adapted for reacting when the ground-contacting edge of the snow plow blade hitting an obstacle in the nested arm rotating out of the nesting arm and the biasing means being extended.