Kage introduced the HydraShield, a patent-pending hydraulic tire protection system engineered specifically for Kage SnowStorm and SnowDozer wing plows.
Built directly into the plow's hydraulic system, the HydraShield automatically moves the wing away from the machine as the plow angles, helping prevent contact between long hydraulic wings and expensive wheel loader tires, according to Kage.
The HydraShield was developed to address a challenge that can arise when pairing smaller center moldboards with long wings on mid-size and large wheel loaders. As the center moldboard angles and a wing folds backward, the geometry of the plow can bring the wing increasingly close to the loader's front tire. Without sufficient clearance, the wing could contact and damage the tire.
Rather than relying solely on operator awareness or limiting the usable range of the wing, the HydraShield uses the plow's own hydraulic movement to automatically create additional tire clearance.
Hydraulic Protection Responds to Plow Angle
HydraShield is specially-designed hydraulic cylinder featuring three ports: retract, extend and override.
As the operator angles the center moldboard, HydraShield redirects additional hydraulic fluid from the plow's angle cylinder to the override portion of the HydraShield cylinder. The farther the moldboard angles, the more fluid is pushed into the override circuit.
That hydraulic pressure automatically forces the wing to kick outward and away from the wheel loader tire.
The result is a tire protection system that responds proportionally to the position of the plow. As greater moldboard angle creates a greater potential for tire interference, HydraShield automatically creates additional wing clearance, according to Kage.
Adjustable, Different Wheel Loaders
Because tire sizes, quick-attach configurations and machine geometry can vary considerably between wheel loaders, the HydraShield is designed to be easily calibrated for the machine on which the plow is installed.
The desired tire clearance can be adjusted using a screw located on the bottom of the system's accumulator. This allows the HydraShield to be calibrated to maintain the appropriate distance between the wing and tire for a particular wheel loader and plow combination.
Once properly adjusted, the system works automatically through hydraulic pressure as the plow angles.
Designed for Long-Wing Plow Configurations
The HydraShield is particularly valuable on Kage wing plows using relatively narrow center moldboards combined with long hydraulic wings. These configurations provide operators with substantial clearing width and versatility while keeping the center section of the plow compact.
The system complements Kage's growing lineup of specialized wing options, including the company's Tukr Wings, which feature a tapered, low-profile design engineered to reach underneath obstacles such as trailer kingpins.
The HydraShield comes standard on all Kage Tukr Wing configurations. It is also standard equipment on SnowStorm Wing Plows equipped with a 7-ft. center moldboard.
Protecting an Expensive Part of the Machine
Commercial snow removal operations increasingly rely on sophisticated wing plows to increase clearing widths, reduce passes and give operators greater control over snow placement. At the same time, the wheel loaders carrying those attachments represent a substantial investment —and their large tires can be costly to repair or replace.
HydraShield was developed to give contractors and operators the versatility of long-wing configurations while adding an integrated layer of protection where clearance becomes tight.
Because the system is built into the hydraulics of the plow, tire protection occurs as part of normal plow operation. There is no separate electronic sensor or additional action required from the operator each time the moldboard is angled.
By automatically pushing the wing outward as tire interference becomes more likely, HydraShield allows operators to take advantage of the maneuverability and productivity of Kage wing plows while helping protect the wheel loader carrying them.
