Please place Disclosure Document No. 343,154 dated 19 Nov. 1993 in the file of this case.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to snow plow controls for a snow plow of the kind designed to be connected to a vehicle like a car or a truck.
When a snow plow is installed, mounted, or connected to a vehicle, the installation typically requires that a control means, typically a series of switches, lights, and indicators, be mounted within the vehicle. Currently, the various movements and functions of snow plows are controlled by running wires from the lifting and pivoting means of the snow plow to a set of switches mounted within the vehicle cab. The switches at a minimum include a plow lifting and lowering switch and a plow left and right angling switch. Additional switches to control auxiliary plow functions are not uncommon. Electrical wiring must be run from the actuating means mounted on the plow or mounted on the vehicle which perform the various plow movements and functions to the control means mounted within the vehicle cab. The electrical wires must pass through the vehicle's front grill, engine compartments, fire wall, and dashboard in order to be connected to the switches mounted in the vehicle cab. Between the plow and the vehicle, the electrical wires must have a plug and receptacle so that the electrical wires can be disconnected when the plow is removed. Typically, the electrical wires passing through the vehicle and switches within the vehicle cab remain permanently mounted within the vehicle. The present invention eliminates the electrical wires, plug and receptacle, and permanent mounting of the switches by incorporating a wireless remote control.
Because of the amount of labor required to install the wiring and switches in a vehicle to which a snow plow is removably attached, they are typically left in place even when the plow is removed from the vehicle. There are many disadvantages to having permanently mounted plow controls.
First, it is necessary that the plow controls be mounted in a location easily accessible to the operator of the vehicle so that the operator can operate the plow without having to reach far distances, move forward in the seat, take his or her eyes off of the road, etc. The result of this necessity is that the controls are often mounted where they can be in the way of the operator or interfere with access to other vehicle controls not used when plowing. This can cause inconvenience when not plowing and when there is no need for the controls to be mounted within the vehicle cab. Thus it is disadvantageous to have the plow controls remain mounted within the vehicle when the plow is not in use and it would be advantageous to be able to move the location of the controls when the vehicle is in use.
Second, the operator of the plow can only operate the plow when he or she is located within the vehicle cab. Often the operator finds it desirable to operate or move the snow plow when not in the vehicle. For example, when the operator makes height adjustments to the plow skids, which control the distance between the bottom edge of the plow (the mold board) and the pavement, it is more convenient for the operator to lower the plow from a remote location in front of the plow instead of constantly exiting and entering the vehicle cab to make the necessary adjustments.
Third, often times the same plow is used on a plurality of vehicles. In this situation, it is necessary to purchase and permanently mount many sets of snow plow controls for separately mounting in the cab of each vehicle. This practice can be expensive and labor consuming.
The inventor knows of no prior art that either teaches or discloses the unique features of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention comprises a wireless remote snow plow control to control a snow plow mounted to the front of a vehicle. The control consists of two principal components. A receiver, which is permanently mounted to the snow plow is connected to the lifting and pivoting means of the plow. A separate transmitter containing the requisite switches for controlling the plow functions can be located wherever the operator of the plow desires. This is typically somewhere within the vehicle cab, but permanent mounting is not required. Furthermore, when the plow is removed the transmitter can be kept with the stored plow because it is not necessary to permanently attach the transmitter to the vehicle. It is undesirable to permanently attach the transmitter to the vehicle. If the same plow is to be used on a separate vehicle, the operator of the separate vehicle need only obtain the transmitter that corresponds with the receiver permanently mounted to the particular snow plow. There is no need to permanently mount a second set of snow plow controls to the second vehicle.
When the operator actuates one of the switches on the transmitter, the transmitter sends a radio signal which is received by the receiver. An electrical signal is then sent from the receiver to the switching or actuating means of the snow plow. Because the transmitter is completely portable, the operator can operate the snow plow from any location provided he is within the transmitting range of the transmitter. Please note that the method of actuation of the controls on the transmitter need not be limited to physical activation but that any type of mechanism capable of activating the transmitter controls could potentially be used; e.g. a voice activated computer control. Therefore, the interpretation given the claims should be broad enough to include this possible alternative structure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicle having a snow plow mounted thereon utilizing the wireless snow plow controls of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the snow plow control transmitter including an external battery pack.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAlthough the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
The present invention comprises wirelesssnow plow controls10 for controlling the movement and functions of asnow plow90 mounted to avehicle70, e.g. a car or truck. The wirelesssnow plow controls10 include atransmitter50 for transmitting radio signals and areceiver30 for receiving radio signals. Thetransmitter50 is portable and can be operated from any location provided it is still within a predetermined transmitting range with respect to thereceiver30. Thereceiver30 is typically permanently mounted to thesnow plow90. Thereceiver30 receives the radio signals transmitted by thetransmitter50 and then activates the various functions, such as lifting, lowering, angling right, angling left, etc., of thesnow plow90.
Referring to FIG. 1, asnow plow90 may be seen to be connected to avehicle70. Theplow90 includes aplow blade94 pivotally attached to the front of theplow mounting carriage92. The mountingcarriage92 includes variousknown mechanisms96 for lifting and pivoting theplow blade94. Depending upon the design of thesnow plow90, somemechanisms96 may be mounted on the front of thevehicle74. Thesemechanisms96 include hydraulic pumps, electric motors, hydraulic cylinders, levers, gears, pneumatic pumps, pneumatic cylinders, and other means for lifting, angling, and applying pressure to snowplow blades94.
The other end of theplow mounting carriage92 is connected to the front of thevehicle74. Theplow mounting carriage92 is typically attached to thevehicle70 in such a way that it is easily mounted. Thus theentire plow90, includingcontrol mechanisms96, can be removed from thevehicle70 when it is necessary to usevehicle70 for purposes of plowing snow.
Receiver30 is typically mounted to plow mountingcarriage92 but could also be mounted anywhere on or within thevehicle74.Receiver30 includes anantenna32 to aid in receiving the plow control radio signals sent bytransmitter50.Receiver30 has an input wiring harness34 which includes electrical wires for obtaining power from thevehicle70 and an output wiring harness3636a for actuating solenoids and switches for themechanisms96 which function to raise, lower andpivot plow blade94.
Transmitter50 is a portable unit that can be located by the operator of the plow in any desirable location. This includes within thecab72 of thevehicle70 as shown in FIG. 1 or at a location outside of thevehicle cab72. The only limitation regarding the location oftransmitter50 is that it must be located within a predetermined range ofreceiver30 so that the signals transmitted can reach the receiver.
As shown in FIG. 2,transmitter50 requires apower supply52.Power supply52 can be aseparate battery pack60 as shown in FIG. 2, can be a battery pack located withinhousing62 oftransmitter50, ortransmitter50 can obtain its power directly from thevehicle70's power source. For example,power supply wires64 could be adapted to be plugged into the cigarette lighter ofvehicle70.
Transmitter50 includes anantenna54, for purposes of aiding in the transmitting of plow control radio signals toreceiver30 and has a plurality of joystick switches56 andtoggle switches58 for controlling the movements and positioning ofplow90. For safety reasons, it is important thattransmitter50 be easily accessible to the operator of thevehicle70 and positioned in a convenient location so that the operator does not have to reach an excessive distance for the controls or take his or her eyes off the road when trying to locate thetransmitter50. Becausetransmitter50 is completely portable, the operator can position thetransmitter50 in any desired location, including a location exterior to thevehicle cab72. This is very convenient, especially when the operator needs to make adjustments to theplow90 that require theplow90 to be lifted or angled upon completion to ensure that the adjustments made are correct and do not cause any unforseen problems with the proper operation of theplow90.
Thetransmitter50 is of the type manufactured by Microtronics, Inc. of Humboldt, Kans. known as the MAX-1600 or MAX-3200 and generates an R.F. signal which is FM modulated. The modulation is a 120 bit data stream with start and step bits, information concerning the selected switch being activated and a specialized algorithm developed to ensure the validity of the transmission. Also transmitted are is address information to enable the transmitter “talk” to its associated receiver. This address information is set so that no two devices will be the same. There may be no limit to the number of wireless snow plow controls10 used in the same vicinity without any cross-activation.
Thereceiver30, also of the type manufactured by Microtronics, Inc. of Humboldt, Kans., receives the radio signal transmitted by thetransmitter6050decodes the data stream and checks for validity of the address and the start and stop bits of the received data. If this is correct, a software algorithm is performed to accept or reject the information to be passed on to the receivers outputs36. If for any reason this test fails, no output36 will be sent fromreceiver30. Once this test has passed, the appropriate output36 will be sent. The output36 activates one of thecontrol mechanisms96 mounted to theplow mounting carriage92 for purposes of controlling theplow blade94's position.
Thetransmitter50 andreceiver30 operate on the 5 R.F. channels in accordance with FCC subpart D—Lower Power Communications Devices, Part 15.117. Use of these devices is subject to the provisions of FCC Part 15.103. A license is not required to operate these devices. Finally, and alternatively, thetransmitter6050and receiver30 may be designed to produce and receive any signal of the electromagnetic spectrum that would allow them to function in the manner described herein.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.