Chute rotation system and method of operating same
A chute rotation system. The chute rotation system includes a chute, a handle assembly, and a drive assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, and a bracket configured to inhibit movement of the handle about the first axis. The drive assembly is coupled to the handle assembly and includes a chute drive, a transverse gear, and a friction brake. The brake is configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
Snowthrowers generally have upright chutes through which a snow stream is thrown. The chute can be rotated on the snowthrower from one side to the other to direct the snow stream as desired. Typically, this is done by a manually operated crank which turns the chute through a worm or spur gear engaging a toothed ring on the bottom of the chute. Many turns of the crank are required to turn the chute completely from one side to the other. This can be tiring and inconvenient to do, particularly where one must redirect the snow stream frequently as when going back and forth on a driveway.
Most snowthrowers having rotatable chutes also have a pivotal deflector on the top of the chute. The angle of inclination of the deflector on the chute controls the trajectory of the snow stream. The deflector is usually formed with an integral handle. The user can move the handle to manually move the deflector to an adjusted position. The friction between the deflector and the chute is typically enough to retain the deflector in an adjusted position.
SUMMARYIn one embodiment, the invention provides a chute rotation system including a chute, a handle assembly, and a drive assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, and a bracket configured to inhibit movement of the handle about the first axis. The drive assembly is coupled to the handle assembly and includes a chute drive and a friction brake. The friction brake is configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
In another embodiment the invention provides a method of rotating a chute. The method includes disengaging a friction brake, rotating a handle about a first axis, rotating the chute as a result of the rotation of the handle about the first axis, and engaging the friction brake to inhibit rotation of the chute.
In another embodiment the invention provides a snowthrower including a chute, and a chute rotation system. The chute rotation system includes a friction brake configured to maintain a position of the chute when the friction brake is engaged, and a handle configured to disengage the friction brake and rotate the chute when the friction brake is disengaged.
In another embodiment the invention provides a drive assembly including a chute drive, a transverse gear drivably coupled to the chute drive, and a friction brake configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The chute 105 can be generally upright or vertical for throwing a snow stream. In some embodiments, the chute 105 can be U-shaped, the bottom of which can be rotatably mounted to a ring (not shown) and can rotate about a generally vertical axis.
The pair of handlebars 110 can enable an operator to control the snowthrower 100. The handle assembly 115 (as shown in
A pivotal deflector 145 can be positioned on the top of the chute 105. In some embodiments, the deflector 145 can also be U-shaped and can be slightly larger than the top of chute 105 so that the top of chute 105 nests within the bottom of deflector 145. The deflector 145 can pivot on the top of chute 105 about a horizontal axis. Pivoting the deflector 145 about a horizontal axis can adjust the trajectory of the snow stream being thrown by chute 105.
The handle assembly 115 can be mounted to the dashboard 120 (as shown in
As shown in
In some embodiments, as also shown in
The shaft linkage 160, the positioning bracket 150, the handle 125, and the cable bracket 155 can be pivotally held in position by the shaft 130 and the hole 240 of the slotted bracket 165. As shown in
With the positioning key 325 disengaged from the slots 235, the handle 125, the shaft linkage 160 and cable bracket 155, and the positioning bracket 150 can rotate about a first axis defined by the shaft linkage 160. The handle 125 and the positioning bracket 150 can also rotate about a second axis defined by the bolt 380.
As shown in
As shown in
The shaft 130 can be inserted through the hex aperture 505 (as shown in
The combination of the transverse gear 410 and the chute drive 415 can rotate the axis of rotation from an axis of rotation defined by the shaft 130 to an axis of rotation defined by the chute 105. In embodiments where a height of the handle assembly 115 is substantially equivalent to a height of the drive assembly 135, the axis of rotation can be rotated about 90 degrees. In embodiments where the height of the handle assembly 115 is above or below the height of the drive assembly 135, the axis of rotation can be rotated more or less than 90 degrees.
The cable assembly 372 (as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In this position, the brake key 485 (as shown in
When an operator wants to reposition the chute 105, for example when reversing direction of the snowthrower 100, the operator can grasp the grip 270 of the handle 125 and push the handle 125 in a direction away from the slotted bracket 165 (i.e., forward). In pushing the handle 125 forward, the operator can overcome the bias of the biasing element 390 and the brake spring 650. The forward motion on the handle 125 can pivot the positioning bracket 150 around the bolt 380 (i.e., rotating the handle 125 around the second axis) and can move the cable link aperture 320 and the first end 610 of the cable 605 a distance so that the cable link aperture 320 and the first end 610 of the cable 605 can be positioned a relatively far distance (e.g., two inches) from the cable bracket 155 and the first end 620 of the sheath 370.
The movement of the first end 610 of the cable 605 away from the first end 620 of the sheath 370 can cause the second end 615 of the cable 605 to move a substantially equal distance toward the second end 625 of the sheath 370. This movement of the second end 615 of the cable 605 can pull the cable catch 500 of the brake bracket 405 a substantially equal distance toward the cable brace 455 of the gear bracket support 402. This movement can pivot the brake bracket 405 around the pivot apertures 490 which can, in turn, remove the bias of the brake key 485 from the brake 418. Once the bias is removed from the brake 418, the brake pad 547 no longer provides a braking force to the chute drive 415 and can allow the chute drive 415, and thus the chute 105, to rotate.
As shown in
The operator can rotate the handle 125 around the first axis defined by the shaft 130. The rotation of the handle 125, because the handle 125 is coupled to the positioning bracket 150, can cause the positioning bracket 150 to rotate around the first axis defined by the shaft 130. Because the shaft linkage 160 is coupled to the positioning bracket 150, the shaft linkage 160, and thus the cable bracket 155 can also rotate. The handle 125, the positioning bracket 150, and the cable bracket 155 can rotate in tandem such that the position of the cable link aperture 320 of the positioning bracket 150, relative to the position of the aperture 360 of the cable bracket 155 remains constant and maintain the positions of the first end 610 and second end 615 of the cable 605 during rotation of the handle 125 around the first axis. The shaft linkage 160 can transfer the rotation to the shaft 130 and can cause the shaft 130 to rotate a substantially equivalent rotational distance. Likewise, the shaft 130 can transfer the rotation to the transverse gear 410 (as shown in
The transverse gear 410 can rotate around the first axis defined by the shaft 130 and can drive the chute drive 415. The interaction of the chute drive 415 with the transverse gear 410 can rotate the axis of rotation as described above, and can result in the chute drive 415 rotating on a substantially vertical axis centered in the shoulder bolt 422. As the chute drive 415 is rotationally driven by the transverse gear 410, the extension 525 and connecting plate 530 (as shown in
The ratio of the grooves 510 of the transverse gear 410 to the teeth 540 of the chute drive 415 can be adjusted to achieve a desired rotation of the chute 105 relative to the rotation of the handle 125. The rotation of the chute 105 can be equal to, lesser than, or greater than the rotation of the handle 125 (e.g., 75 degree rotation of the handle 125 can cause the chute 105 to rotate 110 degrees).
The above description is given by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the description is of a snowthrower however the invention applies to any device incorporating a rotatable chute (e.g., a hay bailer).
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A chute rotation system, comprising:
- a chute;
- a handle assembly including a handle rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, and a bracket configured to inhibit movement of the handle about the first axis; and
- a drive assembly coupled to the handle assembly, the drive assembly including a chute drive, and a friction brake configured to prevent movement of the chute when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first axis is substantially perpendicular to the second axis.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the handle is prevented from rotating about the first axis until the friction brake is disengaged.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the chute drive includes beveled teeth.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the drive assembly includes a transverse gear.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein an axis of rotation is rotated between the transverse gear and the chute drive.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the rotation of the axis of rotation is about 90 degrees.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein a body of the chute drive is engaged by the friction brake.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a key and the bracket includes a plurality of slots, the plurality of slots configured to receive the key.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the key is biased toward the plurality of slots.
11. The system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of slots are formed in a semi-circle.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly and the drive assembly are coupled by a cable.
13. The system of claim 12 wherein the cable disengages the friction brake in response to rotation of the handle about the second axis.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly and the drive assembly are coupled by a shaft.
15. The system of 14 wherein the shaft rotates the transverse gear in response to rotation of the handle about the first axis.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein the shaft is coupled to the handle via a shaft linkage, the shaft slidable in the shaft linkage in response to the handle rotating about the second axis.
17. The system of claim 6 wherein the shaft is hexagonally shaped.
18. A method of rotating a chute, the method comprising:
- disengaging a friction brake;
- rotating a handle about a first axis;
- rotating the chute as a result of the rotation of the handle about the first axis;
- engaging the friction brake to inhibit rotation of the chute.
19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising, rotating the handle about a second axis to disengage the friction brake.
20. The method of claim 18 and further comprising, rotating, by the handle, a shaft.
21. The method of claim 20 and further comprising, rotating, by the shaft, a transverse gear.
22. The method of claim 21 and further comprising, rotating, by the transverse gear, a chute drive.
23. The method of claim 18 and further comprising, rotating an axis of rotation.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the axis of rotation is rotated about 90 degrees.
25. A snowthrower, comprising:
- a chute; and
- a chute rotation system including a friction brake configured to maintain a position of the chute when the friction brake is engaged, and a handle configured to disengage the friction brake and rotate the chute when the friction brake is disengaged.
26. The snowthrower of claim 25, wherein the chute travels a rotational distance greater than the rotational distance traveled by the handle.
27. The snowthrower of claim 25, and further comprising a drive assembly configured to modify an axis of rotation of the handle to an axis of rotation of the chute.
28. A drive assembly, comprising:
- a chute drive,
- a transverse gear drivably coupled to the chute drive; and
- a friction brake configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
29. The drive assembly of claim 28, wherein the transverse gear and the chute drive are configured to modify an axis of rotation about ninety degrees.
30. The drive assembly of claim 28, wherein the transverse gear and the chute drive increase a rotational distance traveled by a chute relative to a rotational distance traveled by a handle.
31. The drive assembly of claim 28, wherein the chute drive is coupled to a chute and the friction brake prevents movement of the chute when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2007
Publication Date: Sep 4, 2008
Inventors: Peter C. Jerger (Cedarburg, WI), Donald George Penkoske (West Bend, WI), James William Mast (Sheboygan Falls, WI)
Application Number: 11/713,574
International Classification: E01H 5/09 (20060101);