Hybrid snow blower
A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, this frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on the plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on the plow wall. A powered auger actuator is carried by the frame. A first auger assembly can be installed in the pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A second auger assembly can be installed in the pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A discharge chute is mounted to the frame and connected to the snow outlet. A powered blower member in the snow outlet is for blowing snow from the plow housing portion through the discharge chute. Either one of the first and second auger assemblies of the hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to the frame.
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The present invention relates to snow blower equipments for cleaning up roads in northern climates during winter months, and more particularly to a hybrid snow blower that can be equipped with more than one different snow blowing implements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMunicipalities in northern climates have the responsibility of removing ground snow from public roads during winter months. This is usually performed first with a grader type vehicle, with the inclined ground scraping blade thereof shifting ground snow from the road to the curb side of the road; and then with a snow-blower tractor, having a front auger assembly to grab the shifted ground snow and propel same toward a dump truck, for transport of this snow to a snow dump. These types of heavy machinery are very expensive, both in capital cost and in maintenance.
Depending on the type of snow and on weather conditions, different types of auger assemblies may be most convenient to fit the snow blowing apparatus, including double helix type augers and single band augers. Currently, each type of auger is permanently fitted to the main frame of the snow blowing apparatus, so that two different snow blowing apparatuses would be needed for procuring in alternating fashion both the double helix auger and the single band auger. This is inefficient.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA snow blowing apparatus is provided for use at one end of a tractor. The snow blowing apparatus is of the convertible type, in that the frame thereof may be provided interchangeably with a single spiralling band auger, or with a pair of helical augers. Indeed, the snow blowing apparatus frame comprises notches at its front part, into which band auger adapters may be mounted when one desires to use the band auger. The band auger is releasably rotatably mounted to the main frame of the snowblowing apparatus, thanks to these adaptors. Driving endless chains connected to the snow blower engine may then run along hollow chain passageways located into the two opposite lateral hollow walls of the snow blower frame, to mesh with the two adaptors of the band auger, so as to rotatingly drive the band auger shaft. In the alternate case, when the double helix auger replaces the single band auger, the band auger adaptors will be completely removed, and the notches will be plugged with hollow covers which will nevertheless enable free passage of the driving chains at the level of the notches. The two screws of the double helix augers will be mounted rotatable in superimposed openings made in the lateral walls of the snow blower apparatus, these openings at different locations from those of the band auger. The driving chains will then be connected to the helix augers to drive same in rotation. The apertures of the helix augers are plugged by means of covers when the band auger is used.
More particularly, the invention relates to a hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a first auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a second auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein either one of said first and second auger assemblies of said hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to said frame.
Preferably, said plow wall comprises first and second hollow portions adjacent to said pairs of first and second connecting sockets, with said hollow portions for housing said auger actuator. Said auger actuator could then comprise a first endless chain rotatable on a first driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said endless chain further being engageable with a first driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies. Said auger actuator could further comprise a second endless chain rotatable on a second driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said second endless chain further being engageable with a second driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.
In one model, said first auger assembly could comprise a helical band member mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to said pair of first connecting sockets. In another model, said second auger assembly could comprise a pair of helical augers each comprising a helical blade mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of second connecting sockets.
The invention also relates to a hybrid snow blower implement for use on a vehicle and for use with either one of a first and a second auger assembly, said hybrid snow blower implement comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow oultet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall; a powered auger actuator carried by said frame; a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute; wherein the first auger assembly can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, and alternately the second auger assembly can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, whereby said hybrid snow blower implement can be equipped with either one of the first and second auger assemblies.
The invention also relates to a convertible snow blower apparatus for mounting to the front end of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising: a rigid main frame, defining a front snow engaging mouth and a rear snow outlet; first mounting means, for operatively mounting a double helix auger to said main frame mouth; second mounting means, for operatively mounting a single band auger to said main frame mouth; wherein said first mounting means must be deactivated for said second mounting means to operate, and wherein said second mounting means must be deactivated for said first mounting means to operate.
Said main frame could then include a rear partition wall and two opposite lateral side walls transversely interconnected at an intermediate portion thereof by said partition wall; and wherein said first mounting means includes two pairs of power drive gear assemblies, releasably mounted to corresponding superimposed portions of said lateral side walls for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with corresponding ones of the two screws of the double helix auger. Said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies preferably operate in unison. In view thereof, each of said lateral side walls is preferably hollow and defines a lower fluid-tight reservoir, said power drive gear assemblies includes an endless chain means having a portion extending through said fluid-tight reservoir, wherein said fluid-tight reservoir is designed to accommodate a volume of lubricating fluid for continuous lubrication of said endless chain means during operation of the double helix auger. A chain tensioning gear means is preferably located within the hollow of said main frame side walls and cooperating with said endless chain means.
Preferably, said main frame side walls each include a forwardly opening cavity; and wherein said second mounting means includes a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding said cavity and releasably mounted to said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger.
Said main frame side walls each could include a forwardly opening cavity; said second mounting means including a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding said cavity and releasably mounted to said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger; wherein for operative engagement of said endless chain means with said additional pair of power drive gear assemblies of said second mounting means, prior release of said endless chain means from the first-mentioned two pairs of power drive gear assemblies of said first mounting means is required.
Preferably, each of said adaptors is polygonal in shape and said forwardly opening cavities are complementarily shaped to said adaptors, so as to prevent accidental rotation of said adaptors during rotational motion of the single band auger.
As best illustrated in
A large snow outlet port 34 is made centrally of partition wall 32, intermediate side walls 26 and 28. An elbowed snow chute 36 is connected at one end to the rearward side of outlet port 34 and opens upwardly at chute top mouth 36a, rearwardly of intermediate partition wall 32, but forwardly of rear wall 30. To the bottom edge of partition wall 32, there is mounted a forwardly downwardly inclined hardened scraping blade 38. Blade 38 defines a frontmost free leading edge 38a adapted to engage and scrape ground at an operative ground engaging condition of snow plow apparatus 14.
Upon rotation of single band auger 22 or double helix auger 20, any incoming ground snow is scraped by the blade leading edge 38a, grabbed by the auger 20 or 22, and upon forward advance of snow plow vehicle, pushed through port 34 and outwardly of snow plow apparatus 14 in a directive fashion forcibly through orientable chute 36 and chute mouth 36a.
With the single band auger 22 of
As illustrated in
As best shown in
A power source, such as a hydrostatic power output, 15, but conventional, is mounted to main frame 24 within the hollow of side wall casings 26, 28, at a location intermediate rear wall 30 and intermediate partition wall 32. This power source feeds power to a power axle 64 (
As suggested in
As suggested in
As suggested in
Conversely, as shown in
Because there is only one rotating shaft 46 with the steel band auger 22, the net length of the drive chain 68 therefore may be shorter compared to that of the double helix auger 20 (which has two shafts 42′, 42″), as controlled by tensioning gear 70.
Although reference has been made to a double helix auger and to a single band auger to be fitted to the main frame of the snow blowing apparatus in alternating fashion, it is understood that other types of similar mechanical implements—not limited to snow removal equipment—could be releasably mounted to the gear assembly 58′, 58″, 66, 70, or to gear assembly 92, 66, 70, in convertible fashion as disclosed in the present invention. Also, the exact position of the apparatus main frame 14 relative to automotive vehicle 12 is not important; it could be anywhere, in front, at the rear, or on a lateral side thereof, provided motion of main frame 14 could be imparted in such a way that ground snow would engage through and into the main frame open mouth 29 ahead of augers 20 or 22.
Claims
1. A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising:
- a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall;
- a powered auger actuator carried by said frame;
- a first auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator;
- a second auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator;
- a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and
- a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute;
- wherein either one of said first and second auger assemblies of said hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to said frame.
2. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said plow wall comprises first and second hollow portions adjacent to said pairs of first and second connecting sockets, with said hollow portions for housing said auger actuator.
3. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 2, wherein said auger actuator comprises a first endless chain rotatable on a first driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said endless chain further being engageable with a first driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.
4. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 3, wherein said auger actuator comprises a second endless chain rotatable on a second driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said second endless chain further being engageable with a second driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies.
5. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said first auger assembly comprises a helical band member mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to said pair of first connecting sockets.
6. A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in claim 1, wherein said second auger assembly comprises a pair of helical augers each comprising a helical blade mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of second connecting sockets.
7. A hybrid snow blower implement for use on a vehicle and for use with either one of a first and a second auger assembly, said hybrid snow blower implement comprising:
- a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow oultet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall;
- a powered auger actuator carried by said frame;
- a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and
- a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute;
- wherein the first auger assembly can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, and alternately the second auger assembly can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, whereby said hybrid snow blower implement can be equipped with either one of the first and second auger assemblies.
8. A convertible snow blower apparatus for mounting to the front end of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a rigid main frame, defining a front snow engaging mouth and a rear snow outlet;
- b) first mounting means, for operatively mounting a double helix auger to said main frame mouth;
- c) second mounting means, for operatively mounting a single band auger to said main frame mouth;
- wherein said first mounting means must be deactivated for said second mounting means to operate, and wherein said second mounting means must be deactivated for said first mounting means to operate.
9. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 8,
- wherein said main frame includes a rear partition wall and two opposite lateral side walls transversely interconnected at an intermediate portion thereof by said partition wall;
- and wherein said first mounting means includes two pairs of power drive gear assemblies, releasably mounted to corresponding superimposed portions of said lateral side walls for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with corresponding ones of the two screws of the double helix auger.
10. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 9,
- wherein said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies operate in unison.
11. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 10,
- wherein each of said lateral side walls forms a hollow casing and defines a fluid-tight reservoir at a lower portion thereof, said power drive gear assemblies including an endless chain means having a portion thereof extending through said fluid-tight reservoir, wherein said fluid-tight reservoir is designed to accommodate a volume of lubricating fluid for continuous lubrication of said endless chain means during operation of the double helix auger.
12. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 11,
- further including a chain tensioning gear means, located within the hollow casing of said main frame side walls and cooperating with said endless chain means.
13. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 9,
- wherein said main frame side walls each include a forwardly intermediate height opening cavity; and wherein said second mounting means includes a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger upon prior release of the first mentioned said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies from the double helix auger.
14. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 11,
- with said main frame side walls each include a forwardly opening intermediate height cavity; said second mounting means including a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger;
- wherein for operative engagement of said endless chain means with said additional pair of power drive gear assemblies of said second mounting means, prior release of said endless chain means from the first-mentioned two pairs of power drive gear assemblies of said first mounting means is required.
15. A convertible snow blower apparatus as in claim 14,
- wherein each of said adaptors is polygonal in shape and said forwardly opening cavities are complementarily shaped to said adaptors.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 20, 2007
Publication Date: Aug 21, 2008
Applicant: 177197 CANADA LTEE (St-Valerien-de-Milton)
Inventors: Yannick Morin (St-Felix-de-Kingsey), Martin Pigeon (Ste-Hyacinthe)
Application Number: 11/707,972
International Classification: E01H 5/09 (20060101);