Snow Blade Looking for input - Changing the angle of a snow blade with the tilt function of FEL

[StevenChalmers]

Hello,

I have a patent pending design for changing the angle of a snow blade by tilting the FEL. You can see it here: TiltPlow – chalmersinnovations.com

I am looking for feedback as I look to market the design.

This design lets you sit on the tractor and utilize the tilt function of your FEL to change the angle of the snow blade. To make it work the loader has to be in float mode which is why the rig has a tail wheel.

There are a couple of limitations to the implementation that I would like to hear your opinions on:

1) The angle adjustment can only be performed while the tractor is stopped.
2) Transitions possible are: Left to right, right to left, right to center, center to right. You can't go from left to center nor center to left.

This prototype, clearly, is based on a Land Pride quick attach plow. My design will also support a bucket clamp approach.

Regards,

Steven

 

[Dave M7040]

Steven

You requested comments......

What happens of the leading end of the plow blade hits something? On blades that are hydraulically articulated, usually there is a crossover hydraulic cushion valve to allow the blade to move back from whatever it strikes.

My tractor is a M7040. When I try and use the loader in float mode to push, bucket flat on the ground, the forces developed act to lift the front wheels off the ground and then I have no more steering. For me float is far more useful backing up. Smaller tractors may react differently pushing in float mode.

I understand the need for the trailing wheel. I would be inclined to stay away from such a design as I would fear bending or breaking the wheel and its supporting hardware.

Your design is quite innovative.

Dave M7040

 

[grsthegreat]

interesting idea. but in my application i am continually readjusting the angle while moving. i plow some roads in our development and as im plowing the edge pass and come up to a mailbox or driveway i like to swing the plow the opposite direction so as not to place a mound at those locations. for someones property i guess it might not matter.

my system does not have a crossover valve, but has 4 springs. i hardly ever trip the springs.

on mine i ran a set of hoses up front off of the rear ports. i use a non detent type of control. i too did not want to spend the money on 3rd function kit. i simply made an extension rod on my normal rear remote so control is up by the joy stick.

 

[radios1]

what happens when the front wheels of the tractor hit a bump, and lift the fel up?. I think it would change the blade angle..

 

[StevenChalmers]

@Dave M7040,

Leading edge hitting something: The tilt hydraulics of the FEL will hold the blade quite solid so that is a great question. I'll experiment with that.

Float mode - Operating in float mode is a necessity of the design and will actually behave quite differently than other float operations. Without going into too many details, the float mode is necessary as the tilt action pivot point needs to be isolated on my plow assembly.

Tail wheel - Unfortunately it is an absolute necessity to the design

Thanks!

 

[StevenChalmers]

@grsthegreat

Yup, for some applications steering the blade on-the-go will be a necessity.

Thanks!

 

[zzvyb6]

I found that the best setup for me was to drop the loader and use the loader hydraulics for up/down and angle left/right. All done with a single joystick. No more loss of directional control because the plow forces are close to the front steered wheels.

I can dump the loader and have the plow operational in 8 minutes. Part of the time is figuring out where to stash the loader. I have no desire to stop and make adjustments and often angle the blade on the fly as necessary to get thru a gate or a barn door.

Will ice, dirt, or road trash interfere with your mechanism ? If the bucket is no longer there, why not use the curl oil circuit to angle the plow ?

Angling the plow without a snow buildup load on it can be done with my little finger. If I needed too, I'd use an electric linear motor to change it's position.

Be aware that companies often buy patent rights just to keep another company from using it. Meanwhile it gets shelved.

 

[StevenChalmers]

@radios1

Since the FEL is in float mode it will not lift up the snow plow rig. In fact, since the snow plow rig simply pivots on the FEL it will greatly reduce having the snow blade cut into a gravel driveway the way a back blade would on a 3 point hitch.

Thanks.

 

[StevenChalmers]

@zzvyb6

Nice! That's a great approach.


Steven

 

[shooterdon]

Very ingenious!!!

In my use, having to stop the tractor to change angles is not a deal killer. I have to stop it now anyway.

But I already have a third function so using a blade with a cylinder to change the angle is likely going to be less expensive.

 

[StevenChalmers]

@shooterdon,

Thanks! You are lucky to have the 3rd function!

The blade I bought to build this was $2,200 and the hydraulics would have added $800! So, I'm hoping that for most people that this design of mine will be a great way to get the functionality without the cost and hassle of adding hydraulics.

Thanks!


Steven

 

[CoyPatton]

It looks neat. I do very little snow plowing. Primarily because we get very little snow in a single snow fall most of the time by the time I get home of an evening to plow, it has melted.
What little plowing I have done was side walks and narrow lanes where frequent angle changes were a constant, but it was with a mower also, a sub-compact with loader would have be a very tight fit.
For what I plow for myself, it looks great, but a few passes with the bucket clears what has not melted. So price would be a major drawback.
Best of Luck, it looks like it would be great for the person doing a driveway or lane.

 

[chim]

That is very interesting and the design is clever, but it looks cumbersome. The swing doesn't appear to be infinitely adjustable. That, and not being able to swing it on the move wouldn't be appealing. It'd be simpler to lock the curl/dump in a position and utilize those hydraulics for the swing.

The tail wheel would have to go. How do you back drag away from a garage door without swinging one end of the blade at the door when the blade is lowered?

 

[milkman636]

@shooterdon,

Thanks! You are lucky to have the 3rd function!

The blade I bought to build this was $2,200 and the hydraulics would have added $800! So, I'm hoping that for most people that this design of mine will be a great way to get the functionality without the cost and hassle of adding hydraulics.

Thanks!


Steven

I guess my questions would be: Does the tail-wheel assembly make it harder to store away and hook up to the loader? And how much cheaper than the $800 will your product be? Shopping around might have knocked a little off the hydraulic angle blade purchase, and then a couple hundreds bucks will get a set of long hoses made that reach from a rear remote all the way to the front to angle the blade (based on experience). What percentage of Kubota and a Land Pride buyers are gonna stop just a couple hundred bucks short of doing things the proven way?

 

[mikester]

Clever mechanism! From an end user perspective, changing angle directions means stopping, backing up, change directions, then go forward again. If you dont back up first you will be dropping the blade on top of plowed snow.

Another concern is ice build up in your mechanisms during operation making it unusable. I can tell you from past experience this is a problem with manual crank snow blowers in some weather conditions. A lot of plow operators back blade to get near buildings etc so ice and snow build up in your mechanisms is a real problem.

So when you raise the boom to drive around does your plow switch directions when you put it back down?

Personally I would go hydraulic because of speed, convenience, simplicity and control.

 

[StevenChalmers]

That is very interesting and the design is clever, but it looks cumbersome. The swing doesn't appear to be infinitely adjustable. That, and not being able to swing it on the move wouldn't be appealing. It'd be simpler to lock the curl/dump in a position and utilize those hydraulics for the swing.

The tail wheel would have to go. How do you back drag away from a garage door without swinging one end of the blade at the door when the blade is lowered?

The tail wheel is critical to the design. It has to do with controlling where the pivot of the tilt function happens.

When backing up the blade will stay in its position. It won't flop around.

The swing is definitely not infinitely adjustable.

I think the key to the value of my design is simplicity of connecting it to a front end loader. Drive up, quick attach or clamp to a bucket, and you are ready to plow snow. No hydraulic changes, no removing your FEL, etc.

The question really is this: Are the minimal limitations of my design outweighed by the simplicity of attaching it to a tractor?

 

[StevenChalmers]

Clever mechanism! From an end user perspective, changing angle directions means stopping, backing up, change directions, then go forward again. If you dont back up first you will be dropping the blade on top of plowed snow.

Another concern is ice build up in your mechanisms during operation making it unusable. I can tell you from past experience this is a problem with manual crank snow blowers in some weather conditions. A lot of plow operators back blade to get near buildings etc so ice and snow build up in your mechanisms is a real problem.

So when you raise the boom to drive around does your plow switch directions when you put it back down?

Personally I would go hydraulic because of speed, convenience, simplicity and control.

Great questions. Addressing your last point first: The goal of the design is to not have to mess with hydraulics. That can be a big hassle for some tractors.

When you raise the FEL the blade stays in the position you set it to.

Ice build up is something I have been thinking of too. Currently there is only one vulnerable element but the rest is quite robust.

To change the blade angle you do have to stop but you don't have to back up. The adjustment is made with the blade on the ground.

Thanks!

 

[StevenChalmers]

I guess my questions would be: Does the tail-wheel assembly make it harder to store away and hook up to the loader? And how much cheaper than the $800 will your product be? Shopping around might have knocked a little off the hydraulic angle blade purchase, and then a couple hundreds bucks will get a set of long hoses made that reach from a rear remote all the way to the front to angle the blade (based on experience). What percentage of Kubota and a Land Pride buyers are gonna stop just a couple hundred bucks short of doing things the proven way?

The tail wheel will certainly add to the storage space required. Good point.

My proposed design would be a complete assembly, just like the Land Pride blade I bought. It is not something that can be added to an existing blade. But for the purchase price, w/o hydraulics, you are getting angle adjustment for free.

Not all compact utility tractors have auxiliary hydraulics, and not all tractor owners want to mess with running the hydraulic lines to the front of the tractor.

I'm targeting tractor owners who want to connect a plow to an FEL, have control over the angle, and to not mess with hydraulics. So the question is does this design work for them?

 

[grsthegreat]

I had dealer install a bracket mounted set of hydraulic hoses on arm next to bucket and run a set of hoses to rear remotes. I simply remove bucket, hook up plow and plug in 2 6foot hoses from plow. All told, about 2 minutes work and it runs under tractor with another set of quick connects under tractor so the hose can be split if i remove loader. then attaches to rear remote. this was added for $400 at time of purchase. it was less than 1/2 the cost of 3rd function. more than likely, if i were to purchase the unit today, i would have added the 3rd function. but thisd works great for me. its plugged into the 2nd rear remote that does not have a detent on control.

 

[StevenChalmers]

I had dealer install a bracket mounted set of hydraulic hoses on arm next to bucket and run a set of hoses to rear remotes. I simply remove bucket, hook up plow and plug in 2 6foot hoses from plow. All told, about 2 minutes work

Nice!