How a Snow Plow Works
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Function of a Snow Plow
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A snow plow's job is to move snow from the roadway to another area, often the side of the road or designated piles in a parking lot. A snow plow uses a curved blade to push, pull or angle snow out of the way. Some plow blades are straight, usually mounted at an angle to throw snow to one side of the vehicle, or v-shaped to push the snow to both sides of the vehicle at once, like the prow of a ship in water. The term "plow" is applied because the snow plow blade works the same as a dirt plow blade.
What the Blade Is Made of
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Snow plow blades are typically made of steel. Paint or powder-coating protects the metal from corrosion. Plow blades can also be of high-impact clear plastic, allowing the driver to see through the blade. Hydraulic systems are vulnerable to condensation inside the tubes, which can lead to a blade literally frozen in one position. Care must be taken by maintenance crews to avoid water freezing inside the system.
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How the Plow Blade Moves Snow
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Snow plow blades, whether straight or v-shaped, all have an angled scoop along the bottom edge. As the snow plow moves forward, the scoop of the blade slices under the snow. The snow is then pushed up the blade as more snow is scooped. Just like the farmer's field plow, the snow plow picks up snow and tosses it aside in a running line, as long as the vehicle moves forward. The angle of the blade to the front of the vehicle determines where the pushed snow will end up. Many straight blades can be hydraulically adjusted to move snow to either the right or left of the vehicle. Blades with a c-shaped curve on the top are designed to deflect the scooped snow downward, to improve driver visibility. V-shaped blades can sometimes be adjusted "inside out" to scoop snow as on a shovel. The inverted v-blade can then pick up snow and move it aside, rather than pushing it out of the way.
The Vehicle Moving the Plow
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A larger truck, with a larger engine, can push a larger snow plow blade than a smaller truck can. Heavier front-end suspension is a must, with heavy-duty shock absorbers and front springs to compensate for the weight of the plow. Coolers for oil and transmission fluid may be needed because the plow blade can block airflow to the radiator and the extra work the truck does to carry the load will cause the engine to heat more than normal. Other helpful parts are an auxiliary battery, limited slip differential and manual hubs. Automatic transmission is superior to manual for a snow plow vehicle; automatic transmission can protect the drive-train from the shock of impact if the blade hits a solid object under the snow. Newer snow plows are being introduced with heads up displays (HUD) allowing the driver to be aware of obstacles hidden by the snow, such as curbs or uneven pavement.
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- Photo Credit Elena Elisseeva
