Digging Deep into Plow Blade Philosophy

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Digging Deep into Plow Blade Philosophy

• Presented by Jeff Tatkenhorst
• CDOT Maintenance Supervisor

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Rubber Plow Blades

• Urethane
• Pure rubber 10 X 12
• Approximately 7/8 thick with carbide inserts
• 6 wide
• Weighs 10 per foot

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros

• Quieter
• Chip seals
• Less vibration
• Longer blade life
• Fits contour of road
• Squeegee-type effect
• 5 to 7 times life of steel
• Increased in productivity
• Plow weld failures reduced
• Kinder to pavement markings
• Less de-icing material required
• Light weight for easy installation
• Less down-time for blade changes
• Reduced plow Damage from road hazards

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros - Chip Seals

• Longevity
• No chattering
• Preserves lap lane

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Pavement Markings
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Rubber Plow Blades Pros De-icing Material

• Requires less material to be applied

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros - Quieter

• Rubber doesnt produce a scraping noise on asphalt

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Less Vibration

• Diminished vibration
• No metal to metal contact
• Rubber absorbs vibration
• Reduced driver fatigue

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Longer Blade Life

• Shock absorbing feature protects carbide inserts

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Road Contour

• Fits contour of road
• Blades wear evenly

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Weld Failures Reduced

• Less metal fatigue

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Squeegee-type Effect

• Tight grip on road
• Removes more snow during one pass
• Cleaning road surface more effectively
• Requires less de-icing material

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Reduced Damages

• Valve risers
• Cattle guards
• Spray systems
• Manhole covers
• Railroad crossings
• Raised pavement markings

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros 5 to 7 X Life of
Steel

• 5 to 7 times life of steel
• Study by UDOT
• Results show wear and tear equals longer use from
  rubber blades

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Rubber Plow Blades Pros Increased
Productivity

• More trucks on the road
• Less down time changing blades

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons

• Bridge joints
• Fresh ground concrete
• Initial cost
• Minimal effect of cutting snow pack
• Mountainous areas
• Tined concrete

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons Initial Cost

• Average initial cost for a 9 11 blade
• 1,500 to 2,200

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons Bridge Joints

• Damage
• The flexibility of the blade allows it to get
  caught in bridge expansion joints

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons Fresh Ground Tined
Concrete

• Very abrasive
• Accumulation
• of snow pack

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons Minimal Effect

• Cutting snow pack
• Doesnt work in all mountain areas
• Due to temperature
• Moisture content of snow

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Rubber Plow Blades Cons Mountainous Areas
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Rubber Plow Blades Safety

• No pinched fingers
• Potentially one person
• Light weight for easy installation
• Less down time for blade changes

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Rubber vs. Steel
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Summary
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References
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Rubber Plow Blades

• Questions?