PORTABLE APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLACING SNOW OR SIMILAR MATERIAL

Abstract

A portable apparatus for displacing material, such as snow and/or ice, includes a duct having an inlet and an outlet and a material moving member, a motor adapted to operate the material moving member to displace the material received at the inlet to the outlet. A handle of the portable apparatus may be adjustable to change an angle of the handle with the duct. The material moving member may be an auger. The portable apparatus may have a blow head in communication with an outlet of the duct. The blow head may be rotatable about the duct. In use, the portable apparatus contacts the surface of a pile of material and the material moving member is driven to displace material received the inlet of the duct.

Description

FIELD

The presented subject matter relates to an apparatus and method for displacing a material, and more particularly a handheld portable apparatus and method for use thereof for displacing material, such as snow and/or ice.

INTRODUCTION

Existing snow-removal vehicles and snow throwers are generally not adapted to remove snow and/or ice from narrow spaces, such as, for example, under a vehicle, between two vehicles, or between a vehicle and a building. Moreover such existing vehicles and snow throwers are bulky and are not easily transported.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein provide in one aspect a portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material such as slush, snow/ice/slush combinations, sand or earth, the apparatus comprising a duct having an inlet and an outlet, a material moving member, at least one motor adapted to operate the material moving member to displace the material received at the inlet to the outlet, and an adjustable handle defining an angle with the duct, a first adjustment of the handle causing a change to the angle.

The embodiments described herein provide in another aspect a portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, the apparatus comprising a duct having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, an auger, and at least one motor adapted to operate the auger to displace the material from the inlet portion to the outlet portion of the duct.

The embodiments described herein provide in another aspect a portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, the apparatus comprising a duct defining a channel, a material moving member and a blow head in communication with the channel and adapted to rotate about the duct, and at least one motor adapted to operate the material moving member to displace the material from an inlet of the duct to the blow head.

In some examples, the material comprises at least one of either snow, ice or a mixture thereof.

In some examples, the duct defines a cylindrical channel, the material moving member extending through the channel.

In some examples, the length of the handle is variable according to a second adjustment of the handle.

In some examples, the handle is a telescoping handle.

In some examples, the handle is adjustable according to its second adjustment between a length of about 35 cm and about 65 cm.

In some examples, the handle is adjustable according to its first adjustment between a first position and a second position, the handle defining an angle of about 0 degrees with the duct in the first position, and defining an angle having an absolute value greater than 0 degrees in the second position.

In some examples, the apparatus further includes at least one blow head in communication with the outlet of the duct, the material being ejected from the duct via an outlet and the blow head.

In some examples, the blow head is rotatable about the duct.

In some examples, the blow head has an adjustable length.

In some examples, the duct has a length between about 30 centimetres and about 60 centimetres.

In some examples, the material moving member comprises an auger.

In some examples, the auger comprises a double auger.

In some examples, the apparatus further includes a controller configured for controlling, based on a user input, at least one of either the direction of rotation of the material moving member or the speed of rotation of the material moving member.

In some examples, the auger extends between the inlet portion and the outlet portion along a channel defined by the duct.

In some examples, a blow head in communication with the channel and adapted to rotate about the duct.

In some examples, rotation about the duct changes an angular position of the blow head about the duct within a plane perpendicular to the duct.

In some examples, the blow head further comprises a guide plate positioned within the channel of the duct and adapted to guide material in the channel to an outlet of the blow head.

In some examples, the guide plate rotates about the duct with a rotation of the blow head.

In some examples, the apparatus further includes an adjustable handle coupled to the duct and defining an angle with the duct, a first adjustment of the handle causing a change to the angle.

In some examples, the apparatus further includes a collector member extending from an inlet of the duct and adapted to guide material contacting the collector member towards the inlet.

DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings which show at least one exemplary embodiment, and in which:

The following drawings represent non-limitative examples, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side section view of a portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, according to at least one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front section view of the exemplary apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side section view, according to an exemplary alternative embodiment of the portable apparatus;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side section view of a further exemplary alternative embodiment of the portable apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

It will be appreciated that, for simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements or steps. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein in any way but rather as merely describing the implementation of the various embodiments described herein.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated therein are a side section view and a front section view, respectively, of a portable apparatus 10 for displacing a material according to at least one exemplary embodiment. The portable apparatus 10 includes a duct 14 having an inlet portion 18 and an outlet portion 22. The inlet portion 18 corresponds to a region of the duct 14 proximate an inlet 23 of the duct 14. The outlet portion 22 corresponds to a region of the duct 14 proximate an outlet of the duct 14. The duct 14 defines a channel 24 extending between its inlet 23 and its outlet. The duct 14 has a generally elongated shape defining a duct axis 25.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the duct 14 defines a cylindrical channel 24 oriented along the duct axis 25. The cross-section of the channel 24 in a plane perpendicular to the duct axis 25 may have various shapes, such as, a circle, an ellipsoid, or a polygon.

The length of the duct 14 may be, for example, between about 30 centimeters and about 60 centimeters. The diameter of the duct 14 may be, for example, between about 8 centimeters and about 15 centimeters. The diameter of the duct 14 may be, for example, chosen based on an approximate typical ground clearance of a passenger vehicle.

The duct 14 may be formed of a substantially durable and lightweight material, such as stainless steel, metal alloy, or plastic.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the portable apparatus 10 further includes a collector member 38 that extends from of the inlet portion 18 of the duct 14. The collector member 38 guides material contacting a tip 39 of the collector member 38 towards the inlet 23 of the duct 14.

For example, and as illustrated, the collector member 38 is tapered, whereby a width at its tip 39 is greater than a width at the inlet 16. The collector member 38 may further have sloped sidewalls 40 that have a decreasing height from the inlet 16 to its tip 39. This shape of the collector member 38 allows it to be inserted into the snow or other material to be displaced, whereby the material is guided towards the inlet 16.

The portable apparatus 10 further includes a material moving member 26 extending through at least a portion of the hollow channel 24 defined by the duct 14. For example, the material moving member 26 may extend from the outlet portion 22 to the inlet portion 18 of the duct 14. The material moving member 26 is operable to displace material received through the inlet 16 of the duct 14 along the hollow channel 24 to the outlet of the duct 14.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the material moving member 26 includes an auger. The material moving member 26 being an auger may, for example, be formed of a rod 44 and at least one blade 48 (or lip). The blade 48 of the material moving member 26 being an auger may be wound helically about the rod 44, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIG. 3, according to various alternative exemplary embodiments, the material moving member 26 may be a double auger having two helically wound blades. (It will be understood that the material moving member may be any other type of auger known in the art operable to displace material.)

Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to various exemplary embodiments, the portable apparatus 10 includes a motor 52 adapted for driving the material moving member 26. For example, the motor 52 may be positioned at an end of the duct 14 near its outlet portion 22.

The motor 52 may be a battery-operated electrical motor. The battery may be installed at the top end of handle, or on top or side of the duct 14.

Alternatively, the motor 52 may be an electrical motor power by an electrical mains source, such as a 110V or 220V source.

Alternatively, the motor 52 may an internal combustion engine.

Operation of the material moving member 26 by the motor 52 causes material received at the inlet 16 to be displaced to the outlet of the duct 14. For example, where the material moving member 26 includes an auger, the motor 52 can rotate the blade 48 about its rod 44, thereby displacing the material along the channel 24. For example, a rotor of the motor 52 is connected to the rod 44, whereby rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the rod 44 and the blade 48.

The properties of the motor 52 are chosen according to the hardness and granularity of the material to be displaced by the material moving member 26. The specifications of the motor 52 may be further chosen based on the size of the material moving member 26 (ex: auger). For example, the motor 52 is chosen so that it can operate the material moving member 26 to displace snow, ice or a mixture thereof. The snow, ice, or mixture may be compacted snow and/or ice typically found in snowbanks in cold climate geographical regions. The snow and/or ice may have been compacted by a snow removal truck that causes snow to be compacted along the size of a rode, thereby forming the snowbanks.

For example, the motor 52 may have a torque output of at least about 50 ft-lbs. and a power output of at least of about 500 watts.

For example, the motor 52 is operable to rotate a material moving member 26 that includes an auger 26a at a rate of at least the no load speed of about 1500 RPM

According to various exemplary embodiments, a gearbox, such as a coaxial gearbox, may be provided between the motor 52 and the material moving member 26. Accordingly, at least one of a torque, power and rate of rotation transmitted by the motor 52 to the material moving member 26 may be varied by selecting different gears of the gearbox.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the portable apparatus 10 further includes a controller configured for controlling operation of the motor 52. The controller may be configured to selectively operate the motor 52 to cause the material moving member 26 to rotate in a first direction or to cause the material moving member 26 to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller may cause the material moving member 26 to be rotated at various speeds.

The controller may be implemented using electrical and/or electronic circuits known in the art. Alternatively, the controller may be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both. It may be implemented on a programmable processing device, such as a microprocessor or microcontroller, Central Processing Unit (CPU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), general purpose processor, and the like. In some embodiments, the programmable processing device can be coupled to program memory, which stores instructions used to program the programmable processing device to execute the controller. The program memory can include non-transitory storage media, both volatile and non-volatile, including but not limited to, random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic media, and optical media.

The controller receives at least one user input entered via a control panel. The control panel may be positioned at a location of the portable apparatus 10 that is easily accessible to a user, such as close to the outlet portion 22 of the duct 14 or on a handle 30 of the portable apparatus 10.

Continuing with FIGS. 1 and 2, according to various exemplary embodiments, the portable apparatus 10 further includes a blow head 34. The blow head 34 defines an outlet 35 and inner channel 36 in communication with an outlet of the duct 14. Accordingly, material that has been moved to the outlet of the duct 14 may be further moved through the inner channel 36 and ejected through the outlet 35 of the blow head 34.

For example, and as illustrated, the blow head 34 may be oriented transversely to the duct axis 25. Accordingly, material is ejected from the blow head 34 in a direction that is transverse to the direction in which the material is displaced within the channel 24 defined by the duct 14.

According to various exemplary embodiments, a guide plate 68 may be positioned within the channel 24 of the duct 14. The guide plate 68 is adapted to guide material in the channel 24 towards the channel 36 of the blow head 34. For example, the guide plate 68 has a generally curved shaped, wherein a first end portion of the guide plate 68 is substantially parallel with an interior side wall of the duct 14 and a second end portion of the guide plate 68 is substantially parallel with an interior side wall of the blow head 34.

According to various exemplary embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the portable apparatus 10 further includes fin members 70 positioned within the channel 24 and near the outlet of the duct 14. The fin members 70 may be oriented in a direction of the duct axis 25 and rotate about the duct axis 25. For example, the fin members 70 may be coupled to the rod 44 of the auger 26. Material displaced by the material moving member 26 may be further pushed by the rotating fin members 70 to the outlet of the duct 14 and into the channel 36 of the blow head 34.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the blow head 34 may be formed of a single hollow section defining the channel 36.

According to other exemplary embodiments, the blow head 34 may include two or more blow head sections 64. The plurality of blow head sections 64 allows for adjusting of the overall length of the blow head 34. For example, a first one of the blow head sections 64 can slide into a second one of the blow head sections 64. For example, the cross-section of the blow head sections 64 may have various forms, such as, a circle, an ellipsoid, or a polygon.

The blow head 34 may include a flexible intermediate section 65 (FIG. 4) connecting the exit of the blow head 34 to the duct 24. The flexible intermediate section 65 allows for an adjustment of a height of the blow head 34 relative to the inlet portion 18. For example, the flexible intermediate section 65 can be flexed when force is exerted upon, such as, from manipulation by a user. However, when not forced, the flexible intermediate section 65 is sufficiently rigit so that the height of the blow head 34 can be maintained.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the blow head 34 is rotatable about the duct 14. That is, an angular position of the blow head 34 about the duct axis 25 within a plane perpendicular to the duct axis 25 may be varied while the duct 14 is held stationary (i.e. not rotated). For example, when a user holds the apparatus 10, the material may be blown in front of the user, to the right, to the left or in another angular position, depending on the orientation of the blow head 34.

According to various exemplary embodiments where the portable apparatus 10 includes a guide plate 68, the guide plate 68 may rotate about the duct 14 with rotation of the blow head 34.

FIG. 1 shows two exemplary angular positions of the blow head 34. In a first exemplary position (shown in solid lines), the blow head 34 is oriented in a first direction (i.e. a first angular position about the duct axis 25). In this first position, the blow head 34 is pointed in the same direction as an open face of the collector member 38. For exemplary purposes, the blow head 34 is illustrated to be in an extended configuration.

In a second exemplary position (shown in stippled lines), the blow head 34′ is oriented in a second direction (i.e. a second angular position about the duct axis 25) that is opposite the first direction. In this second position, the blow head 34 is pointed in the same direction as a back of the collector member 38. For exemplary purposes, the blow head is illustrated to be in a retracted configuration.

FIG. 2 shows a third exemplary position (shown in stippled lines), the blow head 34″ is oriented in a third direction (i.e. a third angular position) that is between the first direction and the second direction. In the second position, the blow head 34 is pointed in a direction of a sidewall of the collector member 38.

Continuing with FIGS. 1 and 2, according to various exemplary embodiments, the portable apparatus 10 includes a handle 30 coupled to the duct 14. For example, and as illustrated, the handle 30 extends from an outlet portion 22 of the duct 14. The motor 52 may be further positioned between the handle 30 and the duct 14.

The handle 30 allows a user to grasp the portable apparatus 10 when in use. For example, and as illustrated, the handle 30 may have a D-top 31 to be grasped by the user.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the handle 30 is adjustable.

According to various exemplary embodiments, the handle 30 is pivotally coupled to the duct 14 so that its orientation with respect to the duct axis 25 is adjustable. FIG. 1 shows two exemplary positions of the handle 30. In the first exemplary position, the handle 30 is oriented in a direction that is parallel to the duct axis 25 defined by the duct 14. As illustrated, an axis 84 defined by the handle 30 is parallel to the duct axis 25. Accordingly, an angle C formed between the handle axis 84 and the duct axis 25 is equal to 0 degrees.

In the second exemplary position, the handle 30 is pivoted about its pivotal mounting point 86 so that the angle C formed between the handle axis 84 and the duct axis has non-zero value (i.e. an absolute value greater than 0 degrees).

According to various exemplary embodiments, the handle 30 may be pivoted about its mounting point 86 between an angle of about −90 degrees to about +90 degrees with respect to the duct axis 25 with 0 degrees corresponding to the handle 30 being parallel to the duct axis 25.

A locking mechanism may be further provided to lock the handle 30 at a plurality of orientations (i.e. different values of angle C) within its range of pivot. The locking mechanism may include a knob and a tightening mechanism for fixing the knob and handle 30 in a given position.

According to various exemplary embodiments, a length of the handle 30 may be adjustable. For example, the handle 30 may be telescopic. For example, the handle 30 may have two or more handle sub-portions configured to slide with respect to one another to adjust the length of the handle 30.

FIG. 1 shows the handle 30 in a first extended position (shown in solid lines) and a retracted position (shown in stippled lines). For example, the handle 30 may be adjustable between a length of about 35 cm to a length of about 65 cm.

Referring now to FIG. 4, therein illustrated is a side section view of the portable apparatus 10 according to an alternative embodiment. The portable apparatus 10 includes the blow head 34 having a flexible intermediate section 65, as described elsewhere herein. It will be appreciated that due to flexing of the flexible intermediate section 65, the blowhead 34 is positioned at an height above an outlet portion 22 of the duct 24.

The portable apparatus 10 may also include a second handle 96 extending transversely from the duct 14. The second handle 96 may be grasped to facilitate two-handed operating of the portable apparatus 10.

According to one method for operating the portable apparatus 10, the portable apparatus 10 is positioned so that the inlet portion 18 of the duct 14 contacts the surface of a pile of material to be cleared, such as snow and/or ice. According to exemplary embodiments wherein a collector member 38 is provided, the collector member 38 may be first inserted into the pile of material. The portable apparatus 10 is sufficiently light so that it may be handheld by a user during operation.

The motor 52 is operated so as to drive the material moving member 26 to displace material received at the inlet 16 of the duct 14 through the channel 24. As the material reaches the blow head 34, the centrifugal force generated by rotation of the material moving member 26 displaces the material from the channel 24 of the duct 14 into the inner channel 36 of blow head 34. The material is then ejected through the outlet 35 of the blow head in the direction in which the blow head 34 is oriented. The guide plate 68 may further guide the material from the duct 14 to the blow head 34.

As material is displaced, a bore is formed within the pile of material. The portable apparatus 10 can be further inserted into the bore so as to cause more material to reach the inlet 16 of the duct 14. Accordingly, the bore is made deeper.

The portable apparatus 10 can be slid out of the bore and contact another region of the pile of material so as to form a new bore in the bore. An accumulation of such bores results in the pile of material being cleared.

According to various exemplary embodiments where an output of the motor 52 can be varied, a user may adjust the motor 52 and/or gearbox prior to or during operation of the portable apparatus 10 according to a hardness and granularity of the material. For example, adjustments may be made based on whether the material has soft snow, clumped snow or has a high concentration of ice.

According to various exemplary embodiments where the blow head 34 is rotatable about the duct axis 25, the blow head 34 may be adjusted prior to driving the material moving member 26. The blow head 34 may be adjusted to be oriented towards an open area, such as an area that is not occupied by a person or object (ex: vehicle, building, another pile of material).

The orientation of the blow head 34 may be further adjusted during operation. For example, the orientation of the blow head 34 may be adjusted after the portable apparatus 10 has been inserted in the pile of material and has begun forming a bore in the pile of material. This may be useful in situations when the area where material ejected from the blow head 34 is accumulating and it would be desirable to eject material towards another area. It will be appreciated that the orientation of the blow head 34 maybe adjusted while the portable apparatus 10 is inside a bore within the material without having to rotate the entire portable apparatus 10 or to rotate the duct 14 inside the bore.

According to various exemplary embodiments where the handle 30 is pivotal with respect to the duct 14, the angle of the handle 30 with respect to the duct axis 25 may be adjusted prior to driving the material moving member 26. For example, the handle 30 may be pivoted according to a particular area to be cleared of material. The area may be in a hard to reach place, such as underneath a vehicle, underneath a building, underneath a staircase, or other small spaces. The handle 30 is pivoted so that a user can maintain a comfortable position while holding the handle 30 while also inserting the duct 14 into the area to be cleared. For example, the handle 30 can be pivoted to a position whereby a user can hold the handle 30 in a substantially vertical orientation while the duct 14 is oriented horizontally to be inserted underneath an object, such as a vehicle, building, staircase, etc. The angle of the handle 30 with respect to the duct axis 25 may also be adjusted after the portable apparatus has been inserted into the pile of material and has begun forming a bore in the pile of material.

The orientation of the blow head 34 may be adjusted with an adjustment of the angle of the handle 30, so that the blow head 34 is appropriately oriented when the duct 14 is in use.

According to various exemplary embodiments where the length of the handle 30 is adjustable, the length of the handle 30 may be adjusted prior to driving the material moving member 26. For example, the length of the handle 30 may be adjusted according to a height of the operator. The length of the handle 30 may also be adjusted according to a height of the pile of material to be cleared.

The length of the handle 30 may also be adjusted after the portable apparatus 10 has been inserted into the pile of material and has begun forming a bore in the pile of material. For example, the length of the handle 30 may be increased in order to continue boring the pile of material without the operator having to assume an uncomfortable position, such as, having to bending over.

The portable apparatus 10 described herein according various exemplary embodiments and exemplary methods for use thereof advantageously reduces the physical exertion required by an operator when compared to manually using a typical shovel. Unlike manually operating a typical shovel, the portable apparatus 10 includes a material moving member 26 that is driven by the motor 52 to displace material such as snow and/or ice instead of a user having to carry out a shoveling action.

Furthermore, the portable apparatus 10 according to various exemplary embodiments is lightweight and has a small footprint so that it may be easily used in space restricted situations, such as for clearing snow between two vehicles or between a vehicle and building. The lightweight and portable properties of the portable apparatus 10 further allow it to be more easily stored and transported, such as within the trunk of a passenger vehicle. Various exemplary features, such as adjustable length of the handle 30, adjustable length of the blow head 34 and/or pivoting of the handle 30 further allows for reducing the footprint of the portable apparatus 10, thereby further increasing ease of storage and portability.

Various exemplary features, such as pivoting of the handle 30, adjustable length of the handle 30 and adjustable orientation of the blow head 34 further allow the portable apparatus 10 be used to clear material, such as snow and/or ice, from hard to reach places, such as underneath a vehicle, without the operator having to assume uncomfortable positions.

While the portable apparatus 10 has been described in various situations herein in the context of snow and/or ice removal, it should be understood that the apparatus 10 could also be used for clearing other types of suitable material.

Numerous specific details are set forth herein in order to provide a thorough understanding of the exemplary embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that these embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the description of the embodiments. Furthermore, this description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of these embodiments in any way, but rather as merely describing the implementation of these various embodiments.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, the apparatus comprising:

a duct having an inlet and an outlet;

a material moving member;

at least one motor adapted to operate the material moving member to displace the material received at the inlet to the outlet;

an adjustable handle defining an angle with the duct, a first adjustment of the handle causing a change to the angle.

2. (canceled)

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duct defines a cylindrical channel, the material moving member extending through the channel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the length of the handle is variable according to a second adjustment of the handle.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle is a telescoping, handle.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the handle is adjustable according to its second adjustment between a length of about 35 cm and about 65 cm.

7. (canceled)

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one blow head in communication with the outlet of the duct the material being ejected from the duct via an outlet and the blow head.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blow head is rotatable about the duct.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the blow head has an adjustable length.

11. (canceled)

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material moving member comprises an auger.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the auger comprises a double auger.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a controller configured for controlling, based on a user input, at least one of either the direction of rotation of the material moving member or the speed of rotation of the material moving member.

15. A portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, the apparatus comprising:

a duct having an inlet portion and an outlet portion;

an auger; and

at least one motor adapted to operate the auger to displace the material from the inlet portion to the outlet portion of the duct.

16. (canceled)

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the auger extends between the inlet portion and the outlet portion along a channel defined by the duct.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the auger is a double auger.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a controller configured for controlling, based on a user input, at least one of either the direction of rotation of the material moving member or the speed of rotation of the material moving member.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a blow head in communication with the channel and adapted to rotate about the duct.

21. A portable apparatus for displacing snow or a similar material, the apparatus comprising:

a duct defining a channel;

a material moving member;

a blow head in communication with the channel and adapted to rotate about the duct; and

at least one motor adapted to operate the material moving member to displace the material from an inlet of the duct to the blow head.

22. (canceled)

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the blow head has an adjustable length, and wherein rotation of the blow head about the duct changes an angular position of the blow head about the duct within a plane perpendicular to the duct.

24. (canceled)

25. The apparatus of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the blow head further comprises a guide plate positioned within the channel of the duct and adapted to guide material in the channel to an outlet of the blow head.

26. (canceled)

27. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an adjustable handle coupled to the duct and defining an angle with the duct, a first adjustment of the handle causing, a change to the angle.

28. (canceled)