Support apparatus for securing a wing plow

1. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising:

a beam having a first and a second end, said beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;

a plate having a first and a second extremity, said plate being rigidly secured to said beam;

a first trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a first pivotal axis;

a second trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a second pivotal axis;

a support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm having a first termination and a second termination, said support arm being pivotally secured to said first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, said support arm being secured to said second trailing link so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;

said support arm being pivotally secured to said second trailing link;

said support arm being pivotally secured to said second trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis, said first, second, third and fourth pivotal axes being spaced and parallel relative to each other so that when the vehicle moves in a forward direction, said third and fourth pivotal axes trail behind said first and second pivotal axes relative to said forward direction of the vehicle;

a further plate having a further first and a further second extremity, said further plate being rigidly secured to said beam between said plate and said first end of said beam;

a further first trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said first pivotal axis;

a further second trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said second pivotal axis; and

an arm having a further first termination and a further second termination, said arm being pivotally secured to said further first trailing link about said third pivotal axis, said arm being pivotally secured to said further second trailing link about said fourth pivotal axis.

2. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including:

a first ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed between said plate and said further plate;

a second ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed spaced and parallel to said first ear and disposed between said plate and said further plate.

3. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 2 further including:

a ram having a first and a second end, said first end of said ram being pivotally connected to said ears.

4. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said ram is operably connected to a source of hydraulic pressure.

5. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 4 further including:

a first stud extending from said first trailing link, said first stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram;

a second stud extending from said further first trailing link, said second stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram such that, in operation, when said ram is actuated by said source of hydraulic pressure, said support arm and said arm are moved relative to said beam.

6. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein

said support arm and said arm remain substantially parallel to said plate and further plate when moved by said ram.

7. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising:

a beam having a first and a second end, said beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;

a plate having a first and a second extremity, said plate being rigidly secured to said beam;

a first trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a first pivotal axis;

a second trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a second pivotal axis;

a further plate having a further first and a further second extremity, said further plate being rigidly secured to said beam between said plate and said first end of said beam;

a further first trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said first pivotal axis;

a further second trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said second pivotal axis; and

an arm having a further first termination and a further second termination, said arm being pivotally secured to said further first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, said arm being secured to said further second trailing link so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by a support arm which is movably supported by said first and second trailing links and said further first and second trailing links, moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided.

8. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising:

a beam having a first and a second end, said beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;

a plate having a first and a second extremity, said plate being rigidly secured to said beam;

a first trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a first pivotal axis;

a second trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a second pivotal axis;

a support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm having a first termination and a second termination, said support arm being pivotally secured to said first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, said support arm being secured to said second trailing link so that during a plowing operation, the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;

an anchoring plate secured to said first end of said beam for rigidly securing said beam to the vehicle;

a further plate having a further first and a further second extremity, said further plate being rigidly secured to said beam between said plate and said first end of said beam;

a further first trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said first pivotal axis;

a further second trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said second pivotal axis;

an arm having a further first termination and a further second termination, said arm being pivotally secured to said further first trailing link about said third pivotal axis, said arm being secured to said further second trailing link;

a first ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed between said plate and said further plate;

a second ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed spaced and parallel to said first ear and disposed between said plate and said further plate;

a ram having a first and a second end, said first end of said ram being pivotally connected to said ears;

said ram being operably connected to a source of hydraulic pressure;

a first stud extending from said first trailing link, said first stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram;

a second stud extending from said further first trailing link, said second stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram such that, in operation, when said ram is actuated by said source of hydraulic pressure, said support arm and said arm are moved relative to said beam;

said support arm and said arm remain substantially parallel to said plate and further plate when moved by said ram;

a first extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said first termination, said first extension defining a first hole;

a second extension extending from said support arm adjacent to said second termination, said second extension defining a second hole; and

a support pin extending through said first and second holes for locking and supporting the wing plow relative to said support arm.

9. A support apparatus for securing a material moving wing plow relative to a vehicle, said support apparatus comprising:

a beam having a first and a second end, said beam being rigidly secured to the vehicle;

a plate having a first and a second extremity, said plate being rigidly secured to said beam;

a first trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a first pivotal axis;

a second trailing link pivotally secured to said plate about a second pivotal axis;

a support arm for supporting the wing plow, said support arm having a first termination and a second termination, said support arm being pivotally secured to said first trailing link about a third pivotal axis, said support arm being secured to said second trailing link so that during a plowing operation, said first and second trailing links trail away from said plate in a direction which is opposite to a direction of movement of the vehicle such that the wing plow supported by said support arm moves smoothly over the material being moved so that a potentially dangerous diving of the wing plow into the material in a vicinity of said support arm is avoided;

a further plate having a further first and a further second extremity, said further plate being rigidly secured to said beam between said plate and said first end of said beam;

a further first trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said first pivotal axis;

a further second trailing link pivotally secured to said further plate about said second pivotal axis;

an arm having a further first termination and a further second termination, said arm being pivotally secured to said further first trailing link about said third pivotal axis, said arm being pivotally secured to said further second trailing link about a fourth pivotal axis.

10. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 9 further including:

a first ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed between said plate and said further plate;

a second ear extending from said beam, said ear being disposed spaced and parallel to said first ear and disposed between said plate and said further plate.

11. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 10 further including:

a ram having a first and a second end, said first end of said ram being pivotally connected to said ears.

12. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein said ram is operably connected to a source of hydraulic pressure.

13. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further including:

a first stud extending from said first trailing link, said first stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram;

a second stud extending from said further first trailing link, said second stud pivotally cooperating with said second end of said ram such that, in operation, when said ram is actuated by said source of hydraulic pressure, said support arm and said arm are moved relative to said beam.

14. A support apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein

said support arm and said arm remain substantially parallel to said plate and further plate when moved by said ram.