Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE
Snowblower
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to snowblowers,
and
more specifically to a snowblower that can be installed on a tractor or on a
similar vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Snowblowers are well known to remove snow from
driveways, roadways, etc.
[0003] Snowblowers can generally be divided into two classes:
single-stage and two-stage. On a single-stage snowblower, the auger pulls
snow into the machine and directs it out of a discharge chute, the fan being
integral with the auger. On a two-stage snow blower, the auger pulls snow into
the machine and feeds it into a high-speed impeller or fan, which in turn
directs
it out of the discharge chute. In a typical two-stage snowblower, the fan is
located behind the auger and has a rotational axis perpendicular to the
rotational axis of the auger.
[0004] United States Patent No. 4,385,457 issued on May 31, 1983
to Fralish and titled "Snow Caster" describes a snow caster for use as a
snowblower that includes a fan which is positioned co-axial the auger.
[0005] While Fralish solves the drawback of the lack of
efficiency of
conventional two-stage snowblower, which results in a multitude of changes of
direction for the snow, it is clearly designed for lawn or garden tractor. As
such,
it includes complex transmission mechanisms, including a planetary gear,
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which are not adapted for operatively coupling to the conventional external
drive
shaft of a larger tractor, such as a PTO (Power take-off).
SUMMARY
[0006] According to an illustrative embodiment, there is
provided a
snowblower comprising:
[0007] a main frame;
[0008] an auger mounted to the main frame via a rotating shaft
defining a rotational axis;
[0009] a fan rotatably mounted to the main frame coaxially to
the
auger; and
[0010] a gear box for operatively coupling both the auger and
the fan
to an external drive shaft; the gear box having an input shaft for operatively
coupling to the external drive shaft, a first output shaft coupled to the
auger and
a second output shaft coupled to the fan.
[0011] According to a more specific illustrative embodiment,
there is
provided a snowblower comprising:
[0012] a main frame;
[0013] an auger mounted to the main frame via a rotating shaft
defining a rotational axis;
[0014] a fan rotatably mounted to the main frame coaxially to
the
auger; the auger including two lateral side portions, each positioned on a
respective lateral side of the fan; each of the two lateral side portions of
the
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auger including an helicoidal blade mounted to a first tube; both first tubes
being
attached by a linking shaft and being rotatably mounted to the main frame; the
first tubes and linking shaft together defining the rotating shaft of the
auger; the
fan including a plurality of vane equidistantly mounted to a second tube; the
second tube being mounted to the linking shaft via at least one bearing
assembly for free rotation thereof about the linking shaft;
[0015] the snowblower further comprising:
[0016] a gear box for operatively coupling both the auger and
the fan
to an external drive shaft; the gear box having an input shaft for operatively
coupling to the external drive shaft, a first output shaft coupled to the
auger and
a second output shaft coupled to the fan; the gear box being configured so
that
a rotational speed of the second output shaft is greater than a rotational
speed
of the first output shaft;
[0017] a first drive assembly for operatively coupling the first
output
shaft of the gear box to the auger; the first drive assembly including a first
sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the first output shaft of the gear box, a
second sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft of the auger and a
first transmission chain operatively mounted to both first and second sprocket
wheels; and
[0018] and a second drive assembly for operatively coupling the
second output shaft of the gear box to the fan; the second drive assembly
including a third sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second output shaft, a
fourth sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second tube and a second
transmission chain operatively mounted to both third and fourth sprocket
wheels.
[0019] It should be understood at the outset that, although
exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the figures and described below, the
principles of the present disclosure may be implemented using any number of
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techniques, whether currently known or not. The present disclosure should in
no way be limited to the exemplary implementations and techniques illustrated
in the drawings and described below.
[0020] Unless otherwise specifically noted, articles depicted in
the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In the appended drawings:
[0022] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a snowblower
according to an illustrative embodiment;
[0023] Figure 2 is a back perspective view of the snowblower
from
Figure 1;
[0024] Figure 3 is a front elevation of the snowblower from
Figure 1;
[0025] Figure 4 is a back elevation of the snowblower from
Figure 1;
[0026] Figure 5 is a front perspective similar to Figure 1,
showing the
main frame extended;
[0027] Figure 6 is a back perspective similar to Figure 2,
showing
the main frame extended;
[0028] Figure 7 is a sectional perspective of the snowblower
from
Figure 1;
[0029] Figure 8 is a cross-section of the snowblower from Figure
1,
taken on the cut side of Figure 7; and
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[0030] Figure 9 is a cross-section taken along line 9-9 in
Figure 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] In the following description, similar features in the
drawings
have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down
the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were
already identified in a precedent figure. Herein, it shall further be noted
that, for
avoiding unnecessary details obscuring the invention, only device structures
and/or processing steps closely relevant to schemes according to the invention
are shown in the accompanying drawings while omitting other details less
relevant to the invention.
[0032] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction
with
the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one",
but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one",
and
"one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a
second or more.
[0033] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words
"comprising" (and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises"),
"having" (and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"), "including" (and
any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or "containing" (and
any
form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"), are inclusive or open-
ended and do not exclude additional, un-recited elements.
[0034] A snowblower 10 according to an illustrative embodiment
will
now be described with reference first to Figures 1 to 4.
[0035] The snowblower 10 comprises a main frame 12 defining a
longitudinal axis 14, an auger 16 rotatably mounted to the main frame 12
therein
and having a rotational axis 18 generally parallel to the longitudinal axis
14, a
fan 20 rotatably mounted to the main frame 12 coaxially to the auger 16, and a
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gear box 22 for operatively coupling both the auger 16 and fan 20 to a drive
shaft (not shown).
[0036] Each of these components of the snowblower 10 will now be
described in more detail.
[0037] The main frame 12 has a top wall 24, a rounded rear wall
26
extending longitudinally from the top wall 24, two side walls 28, each
extending
laterally from both the top and rear walls 24 and 26 on respective sides
thereof,
and an open side 32 opposite the rear wall 26. The top wall 24 includes a hole
(not shown) defining an outlet for the snow, the open side 32 defining an
inlet
therefor.
[0038] A directional chute 34 is mounted to the main frame 12 so
as
to be in fluid communication with the outlet. More specifically, the chute 34
is
mounted to a flat plate 36, that is part of the top wall 24, via a rotation
mechanism, including a cog 38 and motor 40. The motor 40 is connected to a
power source from a tractor (not shown) to which the snowblower 10 is mounted
or equipment's thereof. The rotation mechanism allows orienting the chute 34
as it is well-known.
[0039] It is to be noted that some parts of the chute 34, such
as
cylinders, etc. has been omitted in the drawings so as to lighten the views.
The
drive mechanisms (not shown) of the chute 34 are connected to a controller
(not shown) and are operable for example from the tractor.
[0040] The chute is not limited to the illustrated embodiment
and can
take other forms with more or less functionalities.
[0041] Since a chute for a snowblower is believed to be well-
known
in the art, it will not be described herein in more detail for concision
purposes.
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[0042] The width of the main frame 12, and more specifically of
the
open side 32 thereof, is adjustable. With references more specifically to
Figures
and 6, the side walls 28 are slidably mounted to the top and rear walls 24 and
26 so as to be selectively movable laterally in unison towards and away the
auger 16.
[0043] More specifically, each side wall 28 is secured to the
lateral
side edge of an arcuate plate 42 that is slidably mounted to the rear wall 26
and
that is shaped so as to conform thereto. Two rectangular rods 44 and 46 that
are secured to the arcuate plate 42 so as to extend perpendicularly from the
side wall 28, one near the top edge 48 of the plate 42, the other near the
bottom
edge 50 thereof, are telescopically inserted in corresponding tracks 52 and 54
that are secured to the top wall 24. A hydraulic cylinder 56, connectable to a
tractor so as to be commanded therefrom, is provided between the rear and
side walls 26 and 28 to actuate the sliding movement of the side wall 28 to
adjust the width of the main frame 12 to a desired length.
[0044] According to another embodiment, the width of the open
side
32 of the main frame 12 is fixed.
[0045] The auger 16 includes two (2) lateral side portions 58
and 60,
each positioned between the fan 20 and a respective side wall 28. Each of the
two portions 58-60 includes an helicoidal blade 62 mounted to a rectangular
tube 64. With reference to Figure 9, both tubes 64 are joined on their
adjacent
sides by a cylindrical linking shaft 66 via a friction member 67. The tubes 64
and shaft 66 together define the rotating shaft of the auger. The distal side
of
each tube 64 is rotatably mounted on a bearing assembly 68 secured to a side
plate 69. The side plate 69 is secured to both the top and rear walls 24 and
26.
[0046] The cylindrical shaft 66 is further supported by two
plates 70
and 72 that are secured to the main frame 12 therein on both sides of the fan
20 adjacent thereto. A bearing assembly 74 is provided between each of the
plates 70-72 and the shaft 66.
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[0047] The gear box 22 has an input shaft 76 for coupling to an
external drive shaft, such as the PTO (Power take-off) of the tractor (not
shown),
and two output shafts, a first one 78 for driving the auger 16, and a second
one
80 for driving the fan 20.
[0048] The auger 16 is operatively coupled to the first output
shaft
78 of the gear box 22 via a first chain drive assembly 82, including a first
sprocket wheel 84 fixedly mounted to the output shaft 78 for solidary rotation
therewith, a second sprocket wheel 86 fixedly mounted to the shaft 66 for
solidary rotation therewith, and a transmission chain 88 (schematically shown
in dashed line to lighten the views).
[0049] The fan 20 includes four (4) generally scoop-shaped vanes
90 equidistantly mounted to a rectangular tube 92. The tube 92 is mounted to
the shaft 66 via bearing assemblies 92 for free rotation of the tube 92 about
the
shaft 66. According to another embodiment (not shown), the tube 92 is
cylindrical.
[0050] Each vane 90 are defined by a plate 94 bended at its
center
so as to define two straight sides defining an obtuse angle of about 170
degrees
therebetween. Each vane 90 further includes two parallel lateral side walls
96,
each extending from a respective lateral side edge of the plate 94 on the
concave side thereof.
[0051] The fan 20 is operatively coupled to the second output
shaft
80 of the gear box 22 via a second chain drive assembly 98, including a third
sprocket wheel 100 fixedly mounted to the output shaft 80 for solidary
rotation
therewith, a second sprocket wheel 102 fixedly mounted to the tube 92 for
solidary rotation therewith, and a transmission chain 104 (schematically shown
in dashed line to lighten the views).
[0052] The fan 20, and more specifically the number and
configuration of its vanes 90 can take other forms than illustrated.
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[0053] With reference to Figure 8, each of the first and second
drive
chain assemblies 82 and 98 further includes a tensioning mechanism 106 (only
one shown). Each tensioning mechanism 106 includes a lever arm 108 that is
pivotably mounted to a respective plate 70 or 72 at its proximate end 110 and
having a small sprocket 112 at its distal end that engages a respective
transmission chain 88 or 102 from a side thereof facing the rear wall 26. The
tensioning mechanism 106 further includes a biasing member, in the form of a
tensioning spring 114 that is fixedly mounted to a front plate 116 at one end,
and to the lever arm 108 at the other end.
[0054] The gear box 22 is configured so that the rotational
speed of
its second output shaft 80 is greater than its first output shaft 78. More
specifically, according to a more specific embodiment, the gear box causes the
fan 20 to rotate at about 540 rpm (revolutions per minute), while the auger 16
rotates at a speed of about 200 rpm.
[0055] Generally stated, it has been found that a rotational
speed of
the fan 20 which is about 1.5 to 3 times the rotational speed of the auger 16
yields an efficient removal of snow from the auger 20.
[0056] Since it is believed to be within the reach of a person
skilled
in the art to conceive a gearbox with the above-described features, the
gearbox
22 will not be described herein in more detail for concision purposes.
[0057] It is to be noted that many modifications could be made
to the
snowblower 10 described hereinabove and illustrated in the appended
drawings. For example:
[0058] ¨ the shape and size of the main frame 12 are not limited
to
the illustrated embodiment;
[0059] - other mechanism than illustrated can be provided to
vary
the width of the main frame. For example, other sliding mechanism than the
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telescopic rods 44 and 52 can be provided and other actuating mechanism than
hydraulic cylinders can be used. According to still other embodiments, the
width
of the main frame can be fixed;
[0060] - the tension mechanism is not limited to the illustrated
embodiment 106;
[0061] ¨ any of the two (2) chain drive assemblies 82 and 98 can
be
substituted for another transmission system
[0062] ¨ the drive mechanism of the fan 20 and/or auger 16 can
be
adapted so as to allow an adjustable variable rotational speed thereof.
[0063] It is to be noted that some well-known components of the
snowblower 10 have been omitted on the views or have not been described for
concision purposes, such as the assembly allowing to secure the snowblower
to a tractor.
[0064] Although a snowblower has been described hereinabove by
way of illustrated embodiments thereof, it can be modified. It is therefore to
be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative
embodiments and that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the
thereby but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the
description as a whole.
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