Light Infantry Division elements require a system to allow them to conduct semi-autonomous operations and limited self-resupply with existing wheeled vehicles in snow deeper than 15 cm. Since many roads and trails will not have been kept open prior to deployment, truck-mounted plows (if available) would be ineffective. In most instances, heavy tracked vehicles, which can cause extensive environmental damage, are required to move deep snow. Over-snow vehicles can be equipped with front- or rear-mounted plow blades. But to adapt a plow to the U.S. Army's only over-snow vehicle, the small unit support vehicle (SUSV), would require major vehicular modifications. A towed plow assembly for the SUSV was proposed. To adapt the plow for this application, a unique four-bar parallel linkage towing assembly was developed, which bolts directly on to the SUSV's pintle hook mounting bracket. This assembly controls the pitch, and the plow geometry stabilizes the roll of an attached plow. The plow was constructed primarily of aluminum, has three plowing widths, and can be towed over the road (minimum width 2.3 m). This report describes the design, operation and results of field tests of the towing assembly and plow. The SUSV successfully towed the plow through deep (85 cm) unbonded snow, creating a path wide enough for a wheeled vehicle. In hard, dense, wind-blown snow the plow was less successful, requiring several passes to open a trail. No major failures occurred, although some minor problems were identified, and recommendations for design improvements are presented.


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    Title :

    Design and Evaluation of a Towed Snow Plow for the Small Unit Support Vehicle (SUSV). Full-Scale Prototype Development and 1992 Field Tests


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    1994


    Size :

    30 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English




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