Including Screw-type Auger For First Stage Patents (Class 37/249)
  • Patent number: 11788244
    Abstract: A driving system for driving at least one auger of a snow removing device comprising at least one at least one self-adjusting chain tensioner. A first portion of the driving system is positioned within an auger housing and a second portion of the driving system is positioned outside the auger housing. The roller chain is adapted to move across a third opening provided in the auger housing. The first portion is covered by a front guard to prevent snow or debris contained in the auger housing to contact said first portion. The front guard is provided with an opening adapted to surround a portion of a shaft element of the auger with a play between periphery of the opening and the periphery of a corresponding portion the shaft element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: LES MACHINERIES PRONOVOST INC.
    Inventors: Christian Champagne, Benoît Belleville, Normand Beaulieu, Réjean Pronovost
  • Patent number: 11753785
    Abstract: A snow plough includes a driving source, an auger housing, a rotating shaft to be driven and rotated by the driving source within the auger housing, and an auger arranged within the auger housing and to be driven and rotated via the rotating shaft. The auger includes a snow-collecting blade located at least on one side in a width direction of the auger, the snow-collecting blade collecting snow toward a center of the auger in the width direction, and a snow-throwing blade located at the center of the auger in the width direction, the snow-throwing unit casting snow collected by the snow-collecting blade by a centrifugal force and discharging snow to an outside via a chute. The snow-throwing blade includes an outer circumferential snow-throwing plate rotating along an outer circumferential region positioned outside an inner circumferential region, the inner circumferential region being a non-snow-throwing region within the auger housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9708782
    Abstract: A snowblowing apparatus that is including an auger with a plurality of snow shovel members is herein presented, the snowblowing apparatus is further including an auger including an axle and a screw member configured to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof, the screw member having two opposed screw member portions for displacing snow toward a snow-blowing mechanism and a plurality of snow shovel members substantially disposed between the two opposed screw member portions and radially secured on a peripheral support about the axis of rotation, the snow shovel members can also be disposed at an angle thereof to provide a vertical component to snow propelled therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: IMMEUBLES MFP 1006 INC.
    Inventors: Pascal Houle, Gaston Houle
  • Publication number: 20140202046
    Abstract: A snow removal machine, in which an engine drives an auger and a blower, includes a mode switching operation section for selecting and switching to any one of a plurality of control modes differing from each other in engine output control characteristic; and a control section for controlling the engine by executing any one of the plurality of control modes in accordance with an operation signal output from the mode switching operation section. The control section makes a determination as to whether an operating state of the engine in the currently-executed control mode is in a recommended operating range preset on the basis of at least a rotating speed and degree of throttle opening of the engine, and instructs a display section to display a result of the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuo Yamazaki
  • Publication number: 20140068976
    Abstract: A snow thrower comprises an auger housing and an auger flight assembly. The auger flight assembly comprises a helical auger flight blade and a helical pliable flight extending radially beyond the helical auger flight blade.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Mast, Peter C. Jerger, Jorge A. Colmenero, James J. Dimsey, Samuel J. Gerritts
  • Patent number: 8065823
    Abstract: A snow blower has an auger housing that pivots relative to an axle supporting ground engaging members of the snow blower or about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the snow blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas D. Morrell
  • Patent number: 7712232
    Abstract: A snow blower attachment includes a concentric axis fan and auger, the fan and auger being independently powered by respective motors and being axially operably coupled for support and for independent rotation of the fan and auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Inventor: David S. Majkrzak
  • Patent number: 7703223
    Abstract: A chute control assembly and related methods for mounting a motor to a snowblower are disclosed, wherein the motor is capable of being operated to rotate the chute of the snowblower. The motor and a chute bottom holding bracket can be preassembled so that the assembly can then be slipped over the chute gear for final assembly. The motor can receive electrical impulses from the movement of a standard control handle mounted on the snowblower. The electrical impulses can cause the motor to rotate a worm gear or pinion in either direction depending on the movement of the handle. The worm gear or pinion can rotate a gear chute in an appropriate direction, thereby rotating the chute of the snowblower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Todd Walker, Scott J. Kaskawitz
  • Patent number: 7617561
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicle snow clearing systems and more specifically, to an apparatus for clearing snow and ice from the roof or top surface of a commercial vehicle such as, a tractor trailer. The apparatus includes at least one upright member with a longitudinal axis and a lifting carriage assembly coupled to the at least one upright member for movement along the longitudinal axis thereof. A carriage driving assembly is operatively connected to the lifting carriage assembly and the lifting frame for selectively moving the lifting carriage assembly along the longitudinal axis of the at least one upright member. Also provided is a snow clearing assembly carried by the lifting carriage assembly and positionable on the roof or top surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: 6954901 Canada Inc.
    Inventor: Michel Couture
  • Patent number: 7540102
    Abstract: A snow blower has an adaptive speed control, optionally an open carrier differential, which is optionally selectively lockable. The auger is preferably chain driven. The engine output shaft optionally has a first fixedly secured pulley and a second clutched pulley. The discharge chute can be guided in rotation by an idler wheel. The chute can be rotatably actuated by a cable assembly controlled by a rotatable handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Wisconsin Engineering, CZ s.r.o.
    Inventors: Jaroslav J. Olmr, Richard M. Olmr
  • Patent number: 7493711
    Abstract: A ride-on snow blower is described that includes a cab for housing and protecting a rider of the snow blower from the elements, a seat, a door, cab windows, a front frame section, an adjustable snow chute operable for flexible snow disposal, a motor, a motor powered auger for transporting snow to the snow chute, rear wheels located generally under the seat, front wheels located in general proximity to the motor, rear wheel steering mechanisms, drive mechanisms for locomotion of the snow blower in a desired direction, and a power source to power electrical components of the snow blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Inventors: Ronald Michael Gautreau, Uclise Joseph LeBlanc
  • Publication number: 20080189990
    Abstract: A Guide Disc Attachment for Snow Blower Housing affixed in tandem to the exterior sides of a snow blower housing. Each disc is fabricated of rigid material, conformed to cut through ice and snow to an underlying hard surface and rotates on an axis parallel to the hard surface. Each disc attachment is adjustable, vertically, to regulate the distance between the underlying hard surface and the generally horizontal cutting edge of the snow blower housing. The invention allows the cutting edge to gather otherwise impacted snow and also provides lateral stability when the snow blower is moving forward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: James L. Luhtanen
  • Patent number: 7305778
    Abstract: A self-propelled working machine has a pair of transporting parts, a working part, an engine for driving at least the working part, and a main switch for turning the engine on and off. A locomotion preparation switch produces a command for moving the transporting parts when turned on and produces a stop command for stopping movement of the transporting parts when turned off. A locomotion speed setting member orders a target locomotion speed of the transporting parts. A work switch switches the working part on and off. A control part stops the engine when a first condition that the main switch is on, a second condition that the locomotion preparation switch is off, a third condition that the transporting parts have stopped moving and the target locomotion speed ordered by the locomotion speed setting member is zero, and a fourth condition that the work switch is off, are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Norikazu Shimizu, Toshiaki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7305777
    Abstract: A snow throwing machine including a housing, an engine, an impeller and an auger for collecting snow and directing it to the impeller. The auger including an auger shaft disposed transversely in the housing and drivable by the engine, and a plurality of flytes mounted on the auger shaft. Each flyte includes a hub and a plurality of fins and is mounted on the auger shaft with a shear pin extending through the hub and auger shaft. The flytes are configured such that an outer peripheral edge of adjacent flytes forms a helix around the auger shaft directing snow toward the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventors: Travis Kettering, Roy G. Pullum
  • Patent number: 7159377
    Abstract: A powered appliance includes a working member, a handle operably coupled to the working member and a control movable between a first position proximate the handle in which movement of the working member is permitted and a second position distant the handle in which movement of the working member is at least reduced. One of the handle and the control is configured to at least partially receive the other of the handle and the control when in the first position. At least one of the handle and the control includes a flexible member adjacent the other of the handle and the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignees: M Group, Inc., JRF Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: James J. Ross, Robert L. Fuller, David J. Merten, Jay Z. Muchin
  • Patent number: 7059071
    Abstract: A self-propelled walk-behind snowplow vehicle has a vehicle body and a vertical engine mounted on an upper part of the vehicle body. The vertical engine has a crankshaft disposed generally vertical and a cylinder head disposed generally horizontal to a longitudinal direction of the snowplow vehicle. The cylinder head projects from the vehicle body in a rearward direction of the snowplow vehicle. Left and right traveling units are mounted on a lower part of the vehicle body at left and right sides thereof. A muffler is connected to the engine and is disposed below the engine and located between the left and right traveling units. The vehicle body and the left and right traveling units together define a downward opening space within which the muffler is disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jitsumi Hanafusa, Naotoshi Ono, Kenji Kamata, Nobuo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7051461
    Abstract: A walk-behind working machine has a traveling unit, a working unit, an engine, and an illumination section disposed forwardly of the engine for projecting light. A cover member collectively covers the engine and the illumination section. The cover member has a light transmitting section for transmitting therethrough light projected by the illumination section. The light transmitting section or a portion of the cover member near the light transmitting section has at least one through-hole through which heat generated by at least one of the engine and the illuminating section is radiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Itou, Hiromi Yuzuriha, Ai Amano, Seishu Sakai, Masatoshi Nagaoka, Takahiro Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020095824
    Abstract: A snow blower augers snow scrapped from a path to a fan. The fan is co-axial with the auger at one end of an auger housing. A fan shaft extends through an auger tube. The fan shaft is supported on one end by a fan housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing in the auger tube. The auger is supported at one end by a drive housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing on the fan shaft. This arrangement makes it possible to have an open passage for the snow to move from the auger to the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: John Johnson
  • Patent number: 6327798
    Abstract: A snow shoveling machine comprising an engine and an auger housing accommodating therein an auger paddle. The engine is actuated to thereby rotate the auger paddle. The auger housing includes an upper half and a lower half. The upper half is made from resin. The lower half is formed of a sheet of steel. The upper and lower halves are connected to each other through a connecting member. The connecting member serves a function of reinforcing the auger housing. As snow collected by the auger paddle is thrown upwardly into a snow throwing aperture formed in the upper half, some snow fails to enter the aperture. The connecting member serves to allow such snow to fall to the auger paddle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Seishu Sakai, Yasunori Matsubara, Hiroaki Uchitani
  • Publication number: 20010025441
    Abstract: A walk behind self-propelled crawler snowplow includes a snowplow mechanism driven by an engine via a belt drive power transmission mechanism, and an overload protection device associated with the belt drive power transmission mechanism for protecting the engine against overload. The overload protection device comprises a tension sensor for detecting the tension in an endless belt and generating an electric overload signal to disengage an electromagnetic clutch in the belt drive power transmission mechanism when a belt tension greater than a predetermined value is detected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Jitsumi Hanafusa, Masanori Takeishi, Kenji Kuroiwa
  • Publication number: 20010008055
    Abstract: A power transmission system wherein drive power is transmitted from a drive source to an auger transmission for rotating an auger, and a snow blower is provided. An overload protecting mechanism is located between the snow blower and the auger transmission, thereby absorbing overload to be exerted on a power delivery path between the drive shaft and the auger transmission. Thus, snow-removing operation is not interrupted even when the power delivery path encounters overload. The overload protecting mechanism may comprise, for example, either a friction coupling employing a plurality of friction plates or a rubber coupling employing cushion rubbers. The overload protecting mechanism is located in a large space between the auger transmission and the snow blower, allowing existing space to be effectively utilized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2001
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sueshige, Takahiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kobayashi, Seishu Sakai, Tomoaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6199306
    Abstract: A high efficiency snow thrower relying on a cutting action to create snow chunks which are conveyed and discharged, using one or more cutter bar arrays arranged in the front opening of a housing and an auger member which also has a cutting edge on helically wound strips splitting the packed snow and conveying chunks of the same while importing significant velocity to an impeller pocket at the center of the helical strip, which discharges snow chunks out through a discharge chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventors: Richard W. Kauppila, Raymond W. Kauppila
  • Patent number: 5966846
    Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower includes a housing with an open front portion, the housing including two side walls, a rear wall therebetween and a discharge chute. The rear wall includes deflecting ledges that angle upwardly toward the discharge chute, inwardly toward the center of the housing and forwardly toward the open front. The deflecting ledges provide both an inward and an upward component to snow travelling in the housing. The snowthrower also includes an impeller having axial ends and a radial edge. The impeller is comprised of two molded identical body sections that are joined about a shaft. Each body section includes a central portion, two end portions and a pair of helical portions with one helical portion between each end portion and the central portion. A portion of the radial edge of the impeller includes a shovel-like projection that is oriented in a direction extending laterally away from the impeller in the direction of rotation of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Ariens Company
    Inventors: Clarence L. Harms, Edward A. Raleigh, Daniel R. Bullis, Jr., Knute Alstad
  • Patent number: 5813152
    Abstract: A snowblower chisel attachment includes an oscillatable elongate blade member oscillatably disposed at a bottom front of a snowblower housing; a pair of support arms pivotally suspended from the sidewalls of the housing and being secured to the oscillatable elongate blade member; a pair of stub shafts journaled through the sidewalls of the housing; a pair of three lobed cams mounted to the stub shafts for contacting and urging the support arms and intervally urging the oscillatable elongate blade member forwardly relative to the housing; a plurality of sprockets for rotating the stub shafts and the cams; a pair of biased elements for urging the oscillatable elongate blade member rearwardly toward the housing; and skid members for vertically positioning the oscillatable elongate blade member relative to the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Inventor: Arlan Weight
  • Patent number: 5758436
    Abstract: An improved single stage snowthrower includes a housing with an open front portion, the housing including two side walls, a rear wall therebetween and a discharge chute. The rear wall includes deflecting ledges that angle upwardly toward the discharge chute, inwardly toward the center of the housing and forwardly toward the open front. The deflecting ledges provide both an inward and an upward component to snow travelling in the housing. The snowthrower also includes an impeller having axial ends and a radial edge. The impeller is comprised of two molded identical body sections that are joined about a shaft. Each body section includes a central portion, two end portions and a pair of helical portions with one helical portion between each end portion and the central portion. A portion of the radial edge of the impeller includes a shovel-like projection that is oriented in a direction extending laterally away from the impeller in the direction of rotation of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Ariens Company
    Inventor: Clarence L. Harms
  • Patent number: 5438770
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the steering of a wheeled or track-driven machine, such as a snowblower, the apparatus having a levered wheel mounted to the frame of the snowblower and actuated using an idler wheel connected to the levered wheel via a cable and pulley system; when actuated the levered wheel raises one side of the snowblower and provides a pivot point about which the other side of the snowblower can be pivoted. An apparatus for deflecting the hot exhaust of the snowblower's engine into the base of the snow exhaust chute to prevent and clear clogs therein and an adjustable apparatus for partially covering the opening of the auger housing to effect the force applied to the snow to be collected and cleared through the snow exhaust chute are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Inventor: Donald L. Miller
  • Patent number: 5398432
    Abstract: An endless spiralling screw for a snowblower comprising a rotatable elongated shaft, to be power driven; a first, elongated, rigid sheet, integrally mounted to the shaft at a radially inward edge of the sheet and spiralling along the lengthwise axis of the shaft, the main portion of the sheet having a substantially straight section, the external marginal portion of the sheet being folded relative to the main portion thereof, the plane of the main portion being located downstream relative to the direction of rotation of the endless screw; reinforcing struts being anchored to the spiral sheet and having a smaller external diameter than the spiral sheet, and being fixedly connected thereto short of but proximate to the radially outward edge of the spiral sheet and fixedly secured to the shaft at its radially inward edge at an area spaced from the securing area of the radially inward edge of the spiral sheet to the shaft; and counterweights, located inside the hollow of the spiral and integral to a portion of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Vohl (1992) Inc.
    Inventor: Jean-Rene Vohl
  • Patent number: 5398431
    Abstract: A snowthrower (20) including an improved impeller (50) which has an "open center" configuration and which is substantially made from a single piece of plastic. Impeller (50) includes a pair of curved blades (60) which are supported, braced and stiffened by a plurality of "spiders" (62, 64, 66, 68, 72, 74, 76 and 78) which form recesses for receiving a shaft (42) which spans between the side walls (36) of the snowthrower housing (22). Curved blades (60) of impeller (50) extend transversely between a pair of somewhat circular plates (52, 54). Plates (52, 54) preferably include teeth (54b, 54c, 52b, 52c) which help to break up snow and ice and assist in propelling snowthrower (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Randall A. Beihoffer, Floyd D. Niskanen
  • Patent number: 5209003
    Abstract: An auger type snow blower assembly having an auger with two sets of rotating ribbon spokes which transfer snow from the auger to an impeller inlet located at the mid-portion of the auger assembly, the ribbon spokes terminating a substantial distance short of the center of the auger assembly whereby snow lying directly in the center of the path of the auger assembly may move directly to the impeller inlet without contact with the ribbons. Further, the ribbons revolve around a generally cone-shaped structure at the ends of the auger assembly whereby the ribbons and the stationary cones cooperate to impel snow entering the auger assembly toward the impeller inlet. The auger assembly further includes a bi-directional, variable speed hydraulic drive system for the ribbon system consisting of variable forward speeds and reverse speeds, the forward speeds including a low ribbon speed high torque speed, and a high ribbon speed low torque speed, together with pressure relief valves to avoid the use of shear pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1993
    Assignee: Oshkosh Truck Corporation
    Inventors: LeRoy Maxfield, Donald H. Verhoff, David R. Church
  • Patent number: 5101585
    Abstract: A digging implement, for example, a snowthrower has a casing with a discharge from the casing and a coiled blade mounted in the casing on a lateral shaft. The blade is arranged for advancement sideways into a body of particulate material, e.g. snow. The blade shaft also carries a pair of discs attached to the shaft at opposite ends of the blade, with each of the discs having a cutting edge portion formed into radial corrugations. The discs cut kerfs in the snow at either end of the blade and reduce the power required to advance the implement into the material being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: Met-Line Inc.
    Inventor: George Gerbrandt
  • Patent number: 4651452
    Abstract: A snow remover to be used in connection with a truck or other suitable vehicle. The apparatus comprises a snow container which moves on the ground scooping up snow like a snow shovel and is provided with at least one spiral conveyor and a discharge pipe. The snow gathered in the snow container by the spiral conveyor is let out through the discharge pipe, which pipe is provided with a choker. The spiral conveyor (3) is installed within the snow container (1) in a vertical position so that only its bottom part (31) is attached to the snow container. The spiral conveyor (3) has a conical form and is fitted within a conical sheath (5). The top part of the sheath thus forms the choker (52), which is connected to the bottom part (41) of the discharge pipe. The discharge pipe (4) has a cross-sectional area larger than that of the choker (52). The discharge pipe (4) is curved, and its radius of curvature (R) is constant. The discharge pipe (4) is formed of two parts, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kuuslahden Konepaja Oy
    Inventor: Voitto L. S. Husso
  • Patent number: 4514917
    Abstract: A self-propelled working vehicle including an engine, a working implement and a running mechanism driven both by the engine, and a friction disc type main transmission for transmitting the driving power of the engine to the running mechanism. The working vehicle has a sub-transmission interposed between the engine and the main transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1985
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takeo Ogano, Hiroshi Sueshige, Sakichi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 4498253
    Abstract: A snowblower with a propeller drum seated on a free support axle that is disposed horizontally and perpendicular to the driving direction. The support axle is operated by a drive which is situated centrally within the drum. The snowblower also serves a lateral snowblowing function by the connection of a snowplow in place of the usual second drum. The side of the snowplow adjacent to the propeller drum is fixed rigidly to the housing. The back side of the snowplow is connected to a bushing which can be placed on the support axle normally provided for the removed propeller drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1985
    Inventor: Alfred Schmidt