IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0293282
(2002-11-14)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
20 인용 특허 :
11 |
초록
▼
This invention relates to using the expansion force of an air spring, coupled between a snowplow vehicle and the attached snowplow, so that contact between ground engaging components of the snowplow and the road can be controlled, either automatically or manually. The air spring is held in alignment
This invention relates to using the expansion force of an air spring, coupled between a snowplow vehicle and the attached snowplow, so that contact between ground engaging components of the snowplow and the road can be controlled, either automatically or manually. The air spring is held in alignment as it expands longitudinally, by an apparatus using guides and struts. Longitudinal alignment is important, as bending of the air spring causes loss of force. Attachment points of the apparatus are drawn together, as the air spring expands. The longitudinal expansion force of the air spring can be transmitted directly to a chain or cable.
대표청구항
▼
1. An air spring actuator apparatus comprising:a) an air spring means comprising flexible bellows having bead plates that that contain a column of air pressureb) an air pressure control means comprising a valve adapted to control air pressurec) two independent members, comprising a header means and
1. An air spring actuator apparatus comprising:a) an air spring means comprising flexible bellows having bead plates that that contain a column of air pressureb) an air pressure control means comprising a valve adapted to control air pressurec) two independent members, comprising a header means and an attachment means, the header means positioned at opposite ends of the air spring means, said header means oppose longitudinal expansion of said air spring means, at least one of said header means having a guide means, at least one of said header means having a strut means, the strut means affixed rigidly and substantially at 90 degrees to said header means, at least one of said strut means engaging the opposing header guide means and extending beyond said opposing header guide means to the attachment means, said strut means ensuring substantial alignment of said header means, whereby longitudinal expansion of said air spring means, in response to pressurized fluid, urges said header means apart, while concurrently said attachment means of one header means moves towards the opposing header means. 2. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises an opening in said header, said opening adapted to relate closely with said strut means, whereby said strut means remains substantially at right angles to said header means, as said strut means slidably engages said opening. 3. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said strut means comprises rigid material attached rigidly and substantially at right angles to said header, said strut means adapted to cooperate with openings in said opposing header means, said strut means of sufficient length to connect said header means to an attachment point beyond said opposing header means, as well as form a cavity between said header means, as well as allow said header means to move towards and away from said opposing header means, said strut means adapted to maintain substantial alignment between said header means. 4. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises material adapted to couple a mechanical means of force transmission and selected from the group consisting of chain, cable, wire, rope, wire rope, clevis, pin, bolt, metallic material, fibrous material, hard material, soft material, rubber, steel, wood, manufactured material, natural matter and manufactured matter whereby mechanical force can be transmitted. 5. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 4 wherein said mechanical means of force transmission comprises material of sufficient strength to transfer said force and selected from the group consisting of chain, cable, wire, rope, wire rope, clevis, pin, bolt, metallic material, fibrous material, hard material, soft material, rubber, steel, wood, manufactured material, natural matter and manufactured matter whereby mechanical force can be transmitted. 6. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 5 further including a horizontal balance means, the horizontal balance means comprising a rigid structure whereby the horizontal balance of an object can be advantageously adjusted. 7. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 6 further including a boom structure means, said boom structure means comprising a rigid projection attached to a motorized vehicle whereby a mechanical means of force transmission connected between said motorized vehicle and an implement is supported. 8. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 7 comprising a motorized vehicle adapted for attached implements. 9. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 8 comprising said motorized vehicle adapted to plow snow. 10. The air spring actuator apparatus of claim 9 comprising a pivot means, the pivot means being a rigid structure pivotably mounted on the motorized vehicle, said pivot means adapted to connect one end of said air spring actuator apparatus to said motorized vehicle, the other end of said pivot means adapted to connect said a ir spring actuator apparatus or optionally connect mechanical spring means whereby mechanical force on one end of said pivot means is a biasing force to the opposite end of said pivot means, the biasing force controlled by air pressure within said air spring actuator apparatus. 11. A weight transfer system comprising:a) an air spring means, comprising flexible bellows having bead plates, the air spring means containing a column of fluid pressureb) an air pressure control means the pressure control means comprising a mechanical device adapted to control fluid pressure contained within said air spring meansc) an air spring attachment means, the air spring attachment means comprising a fixed member and a moveable member, the fixed member comprising an attachment means and a header means, the moveable member comprising an attachment means and a header means, the fixed member adapted to attach to a motorized vehicle, the moveable member adapted to couple to an attached implement, said moveable member further comprising a strut means, the strut means slidably moveable in relation to said fixed member, said strut means rigidly attached substantially at right angles to the moveable member header means, said fixed member further comprising a guide means, the guide means adapted to substantially maintain alignment between said fixed member and said moveable member, the attachment means of said moveable member adapted to connect a mechanical means of force transmission, the moveable member attachment means adapted to move towards said fixed member in response to longitudinal expansion of said air spring, said moveable member attachment means connecting the mechanical means of force transmission whereby longitudinal expansion of said air spring means concurrently urges said moveable member attachment means towards said fixed member, transferring weight from an attached implement to a motorized vehicle. 12. The weight transfer system of claim 11 further including a boom structure means, comprising a rigid projection adapted to support a means of force transmission. 13. The weight transfer system of claim 12 comprising a rigid structure whereby the horizontal balance of an object can be adjusted. 14. The weight transfer system of claim 13 wherein said attachment means comprises material adapted to couple a mechanical means of force transmission and selected from the group consisting of chain, cable, wire, rope, wire rope, clevis, pin, bolt, metallic material, fibrous material, hard material, soft material, rubber, steel, wood, manufactured material, natural matter and manufactured matter whereby mechanical force can be transmitted. 15. In a snowplow vehicle, an air spring apparatus comprising:a) a snowplow vehicle comprised of a front mounted push-frame the front mounted push-frame comprising rigid attachment means to the front frame section of said snowplow vehicle, said front mounted plow push-frame comprising rigid structure adapted for snowplow attachment.b) a snowplow means comprising a mouldboard and a push-frame, the snowplow means adapted to scrape snow from a ground surface, said snowplow attached to the snowplow vehiclec) an air spring, comprised of a flexible bellows having bead plates, the air spring containing a column of compressed aird) an air pressure supply means comprising an air compressor, the air pressure supply means further comprising air pressure tubinge) air pressure control means comprising a valve adapted to regulate air pressuref) a force transfer means, the force transfer means comprising an air spring attachment means, the air spring attachment means comprising a fixed member and a moveable member, the fixed member comprising an attachment means and a header means, the moveable member comprising an attachment means and a header means, the fixed member adapted to attach to said snowplow vehicle,the moveable member adapted to couple to said snowplow, said moveable member further comprising a strut means slidably moveable in relation to said fixed memberg) said strut means rigidly attached substantially at right angles to the moveable member header means, said fixed member further comprising a guide means, said guide means adapted to substantially maintain alignment between said fixed member and said moveable member, the attachment means of said moveable member adapted to connect a mechanical means of force transmission, the moveable member attachment means adapted to move towards said fixed member in response to longitudinal expansion of said air spring, said attachment means connected the mechanical means of force transmission whereby longitudinal expansion of said air spring means concurrently urges said attachment means towards said fixed member, transferring weight from said snowplow to said snowplow means vehicleh) a boom structure means comprised of a rigid elongated rectangular tube projection rigidly attached to said snowplow vehicle, the projection substantially horizontali) a balance bar means comprised of a rigid bar, said bar attached at right angles to the snowplow push-frame, said balance bar means comprising a plurality of holes whereby the horizontal balance of said snowplow can be advantageously adjusted. 16. In a snowplow vehicle, an air spring apparatus of claim 15 comprising;a) a fixed member, said fixed member mechanically attached to said snowplow vehicle, said fixed member comprising a rectangular L shaped bracket comprising a vertical leg and a header plate, the vertical leg mechanically attached to the vehicle, said header plate comprising holes to attach said air spring on a lower side of said header plate with bolts, said header plate comprising an opening adapted to accommodate said air spring being fluidly connected to air pressure, said header plate having a guide notch adapted to engage a moveable member, the bracket further comprising parallel plates welded near a vertical center line, forming a reinforcement gusset between the vertical leg and the header plate, the parallel plates spaced apart and comprising a hole bored through to accommodate a sheave near a top of said vertical legb) said moveable member comprising a frame adapted to accommodate said air spring within the confines thereof, mechanically engage guides of said fixed member, and allow for longitudinal travel of the frame within the confines of said guides and stops, said frame comprising a rectangular shape formed with flat bars, the long sides of the rectangular frame engaging the guide slots of said horizontal member, the short sides of said rectangular frame comprising parallel bars welded to the long sides, the parallel bars comprising said header plate on one end with holes to mechanically attach said air spring with bolts, and further comprising parallel bars on the opposite end comprising a notch to attach a cable, said air spring sandwiched between the moveable member header plate and the fixed member header plate, the cable connected to the snowplow whereby longitudinal expansion of said air spring causes tension in said cable, the tension transferring weight from the snowplow to the snowplow vehiclec) a boom structure means comprising a rigid elongated rectangular tube projection rigidly attached to said snowplow vehicle, the projection substantially horizontal, said projection relatively narrow on its horizontal plane, said projection relatively wide on its vertical plane, said projection having attachment means for rigid attachment to said snowplow vehicle, said projection extending outward from said snowplow vehicle to a point above said snowplow whereby said cable can be attached to said snowplow, said projection having a sheave to support said cable above said snowplowd) an air pressure regulator means comprising a relieving regulator valve, the relieving regulator valve adapted to control air pressure.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.