What is the purpose of float in snow pushers?

When you need to move a lot of snow in a hurry, snow pushers are the best form of snow plow out there. What sets a snow pusher apart from straight snow blades are the side panels, designed to contain the snow in front of the plow and prevent dribbling or spilling of snow off the sides of the blade.

With side panels also comes challenges – especially if the sides of the “snow box” are fixed in place. Among those challenges are: 

• keeping your blade and box at the proper angle for scraping
• preventing sections of the blade from digging into the substrate
• maintaining proper traction for the machine for optimal handling
•  & preventing excess down pressure.

Float is essential for combatting those challenges by allowing the plow to contour to different surfaces without the plow operator having to make adjustments on the fly. This reduces fatigue on both the operator and the snow pusher – especially in challenging terrains. While some machines offer a float function, many do not – and all can benefit from float being built into the pusher itself. (Offer float in a snow pusher intended for wheel loaders is especially important as it helps keep, the front wheels in contact with the ground for steering.)

Snow Pusher Float Mechanisms

Different types of float mechanisms may be incorporated into snow pushers to achieve this flexibility, including:

1. Floating attachment plates/couplers
2. Floating skids
3. Floating cam locks
4. Floating cutting edges
5. Floating moldboards
6. Oscillation/articulation 
7. Hydraulic float systems
8. Spring loaded trip edges
9. Box Float

Floating attachment plates & couplers

Float in the attachment plate allows the plow to tip forward and backward within a designated range. These can accomplish a couple things, including accommodating less than perfect boom height and adjusting to hills and valleys running perpendicular to the machine. In either case, it prevents the plow from digging in the front bottom corners of the containment box from tipping the pusher too far forward, and it prevents the back corners and/or cutting edges from making contact without the side panels, defeating the purpose of the side panels.

Floating Skids

Float in the skids also helps keep the side panels in constant contact with the ground by allowing vertical travel on the bottom edges of the pusher, rather than where it attaches to the machine. A major benefit of having float in the skids is that the vertical travel on each side can work independently of one another. It also allows the cutting edges and skids to wear at the same rate.

Floating Cam Locks

Floating cam locks are unique to the KAGE SnowFire 2-in-1 pusher system. In this case the float function is added to the location where the snow box connects to the snow blade. This allows more vertical travel in the entire box – independent of the blade. When combined with floating skids it gives extra protection to the side panels of the pusher.

Floating Cutting Edge

When using a floating cutting edge system, it allows vertical travel where the cutting edge makes contact with the ground. This is the most precise float option as it adjusts in smaller increments across the bottom of the blade. In the case of KAGE’s floating cutting edge, the AdvantEdge, sections as small as 18 inches in length not only have the capability of traveling vertically, but each section can also tilt side-to-side slightly to maximize scraping of uneven surfaces with the snow pusher and reduce the need for salt application.

Floating Moldboards

Like a floating cutting edge, floating moldboards float in smaller sections. However, instead of containing the moving parts to several inches at the bottom edge of the blade, the full vertical sections of the blade travel to accommodate obstacles and imperfections in the substrate. While you can get more vertical travel in a floating moldboard than a floating cutting edge, it can cause more difficulty in regards to stacking snow.

Oscillating/Articulating Moldboards

What differentiates an oscillating or articulating moldboard from a true floating moldboard is that oscillation (side-to-side float) involves a pivot point. This means that the whole blade will not lift or drop. Instead, as one side lifts, the other side drops. This is great for angle plowing as it prevents corners from digging in and keeps consistent down pressure across the length of the plow – even if it is angled.

Hydraulic Float Systems

Hydraulic float involves using pressurized fluids to allow the blade/box to follow contours. This means hoses and controls will be involved, leaving more opportunities for breakages. However, it does give you more control of how and when the float occurs.

Spring loaded trip edges

When it comes to contouring to lips and ledges such as a curb, a trip edge is essential. A proper trip edge will maintain contact with the curb, while allowing the plow to push snow past it. When the plow is lifted and pressure from the ledge is relieved the cutting edge will then spring back to its original position.

Remember to check the specific models and product specifications from each manufacturer to confirm whether a particular snow pusher includes float features. The specific type of float mechanism can vary between different snow pusher models and manufacturers. The choice of float features often depends on factors such as the intended use, the type of terrain, and the preferences of the operator. When considering a snow pusher with float capabilities, it’s essential to understand the specific float features incorporated into the design and how they contribute to the overall performance of the equipment.

Box Float

All of KAGE’s 2-in-1 systems offer a certain degree of float in the boxes – even without floating cam locks. This is achieved by allowing additional space at the point where the box connects to the blade. In the SnowFire system, there is wiggle room in the cam lock itself, that allows the box to swing, pivot or lift slighty to accommodate surfaces that aren’t perfectly level. In the SnowStorm System, the hyro clamps lock somewhat loosely around a bar or pipe to allow for some float. In the SnowDozer, the hydro lock pins on the moldboard extend into a reinforced and oversized hole in the side panel of the box to allow limited movement from the box.

KAGE Floating Snow Pushers

KAGE Innovation offers the following snow pushers with the following float mechanisms.

• SnowFire Plow & Pusher System

  • Oscillation
  • Spring Loaded Trip Edge
  • Floating Skids (upgrade option)
  • Floating Cam Locks (upgrade option)
  • Floating Cutting Edge (upgrade option)
  • Box Float

• SnowFire Blast Snow Pusher

  • Floating attachment plate
  • Oscillation
  • Spring Loaded Trip Edge
  • Floating Skids
  • Floating Cutting Edge (upgrade option)
  • Box Float

• SnowStorm Plow & Pusher System

  • Floating coupler
  • Oscillation
  • Spring Loaded Trip Edge
  • Floating Cutting Edge (upgrade option)
  • Box Float

• SnowDozer Plow & Pusher System

  • Floating Coupler
  • Oscillation
  • Spring Loaded Trip Edge
  • Floating Cutting Edge (upgrade option)
  • Box Float

Brett Hart is a former ski and snowboard area manager and award-winning investigative journalist. His work has been published in newspapers, magazines and websites around the country, including WORLD Magazine, Black Belt Magazine, ESPN online, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin State Journal, Construction Equipment Guide and Minneapolis Star Tribune.