Snowplow Cutter Assembly with Elastomeric Blades for High-Speed Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snowplows are heavy and designed for low speeds, making them unsuitable for high-speed snow removal on roads with varying snow cover thickness.
Innovation Solution
A snowplow with a shock-absorbing structure and a cutter assembly featuring rotating elements with elastomeric blades and hydraulic actuators, allowing for adjustable positions and a lightweight, flexible design suitable for high-speed operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a steel snowplow structure is used, then strength and durability are improved, but weight increases and speed capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The snowplow structure combines steel components (rotating elements, hydraulic cylinders) with elastomeric materials (blades). This composite approach provides both the strength needed for durability and reduced weight for higher speed operation, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
2Strength
If a steel snowplow structure is used, then strength and durability are improved, but speed capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The combination of steel structural elements with lighter elastomeric blades reduces overall weight while maintaining strength, enabling the snowplow to operate at higher speeds (30-50 km/h) compared to traditional steel snowplows designed for 5-10 km/h operation.
3Device complexity
If fixed blade positions are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying snow conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The snowplow features rotating elements that can change the angular position of blades relative to the road surface, and mobile blades that can be positioned at different heights. These dynamic adjustments allow adaptation to varying snow conditions and road profiles without requiring multiple fixed configurations, maintaining simplicity while improving versatility.
4Ease of operation
If mobile blades are retracted, then ease of operation at high speed is improved, but snow removal effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile blades can be dynamically positioned - retracted during high-speed travel to reduce drag and improve ease of operation, and deployed when snow removal is needed. The rotating elements work in conjunction with the deployed mobile blades to effectively clear snow, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and removal effectiveness.
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
Enables efficient snow removal at speeds exceeding 30 km/h with minimal snow escape and effective configurability, accommodating varying road conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a shock-absorbing structure (2) adapted to be secured on the front axle of a vehicle
Implementation Method 2
Each blade assembly (8, 9) comprises a fixed blade (10) proximal to its rotating element (4, 5) and a mobile blade (11) proximal to the road in use
Data Source
AI summary
A snowplow (1) comprises a structure (2) adapted to be connected to a vehicle and defining an axis (A), a first and a second rotating element (4, 5) hinged about the axis (A) and actuators (16) interposed between the structure (2) and the respective first and second rotating elements (4, 5) to move the latter, wherein the first and second rotating elements (4, 5) comprise a frame (17, 18) and a wall (16) of a polymeric material mounted on the frame (16, 17). The snowplow further comprises a first deformable blade (10) and a second blade (11) mobile between an extracted position wherein the first blade (10) is interposed between a lower edge (12) of the second blade (11) and the relative rotating element (4, 5) and a retracted position.