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US 2006/0218823 A1Published application
Snow blower apparatus
AssigneeWisconsin Engineering, CZ s.r.o.
InventorsJaroslav Olmr, Richard Olmr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims56
A walk-behind snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a chassis;
- (b) an axle assembly communicating with said chassis;
- (c) a hydrostatic drive assembly drivingly communicating with said axle assembly;
- (d) a control handle, movement of said walk-behind snow blower apparatus being controlled by an operator through said handle;
- and
- (e) a user input device controllingly attached to said hydrostatic drive assembly,
- said walk-behind snow blower apparatus being movable in a first, forward direction of travel, or in a second, opposite and reverse, direction of travel, at speeds which are continuously variable between a first relatively slower speed of travel and a second substantially faster speed of travel, and multiple intermediate speeds between the first and second speeds, said user input device and said hydrostatic drive assembly, in combination, being adapted and configured to adaptively control said walk-behind snow blower apparatus based on a user input applied to said user input device which continuously variably and adaptively influences and/or controls the real time speed of travel of said walk-behind snow blower apparatus.
4 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a running gear assembly which includes
- (i) a chassis;
- (ii) a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly;
- (iii) an axle assembly communicating with said chassis, said axle assembly extending between said first and second wheel assemblies and including a differential mechanism between said first and second wheel assemblies;
- and
- (b) an auger assembly communicating with said running gear assembly;
- said axle assembly having a first axle shaft having an inwardly facing end and a outwardly facing end, and a second axle shaft having an inwardly facing end and an outwardly facing end, said inwardly facing ends of said first and second axle shafts being proximate each other and each being coupled to said differential mechanism, whereby said first and second axle shafts are rotatable about a generally common axis of rotation and are always coupled to each other by way of said differential mechanism.
4 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a chassis;
- (b) a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly;
- (c) an axle assembly communicating with said chassis, said axle assembly extending between said first and second wheel assemblies;
- and
- (d) a selectable lock assembly adapted and configured to selectively lock said first and second wheel assemblies in rotational unison with respect to each other, said selective lock assembly including a tie shaft which extends in a generally common direction with, and displaced from, said axle assembly.
2 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a running gear assembly which includes a prime mover;
- (b) an auger assembly communicating with said running gear assembly, said auger assembly including:
- (i) a chain driven auger, driven by a chain;
- and
- (ii) a shaft driven impeller, driven by a shaft;
- said auger and said impeller rotatable at first and second different angular rotational speeds, respectively;
- (c) a force transmission device having an input shaft and an output shaft, said input shaft and said output shaft extending in respective directions which are non-parallel to each other, said output shaft having a sprocket mounted thereupon;
- and
- said chain extending between and drivingly connecting said force transmission device and said auger assembly.
6 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a running gear assembly;
- (b) an auger assembly, including an auger housing which communicates with said running gear assembly;
- and
- (c) a discharge chute assembly, having a lower chute flange, and an idler wheel communicating therewith;
- said lower chute flange being rotatable about a first axis of rotation and said idler wheel being rotatable about a second axis of rotation, said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation extending generally parallel to each other, whereby said idler wheel generally guides rotating travel of said chute lower flange.
2 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) a running gear assembly;
- (b) an auger assembly, including an auger housing which communicates with said running gear assembly;
- (c) a discharge chute, having an outer wall, said discharge chute being rotatably connected to said auger housing;
- and
- (d) a control handle, movement of said snow blower apparatus being controlled by an operator through said control handle, said control handle having a proximal end proximate said running gear assembly and a remote end displaced from said running gear assembly;
- (e) a cable assembly attached to said discharge chute outer wall and having a first cable segment and a second cable segment;
- and
- (f) a cable receptacle and controller assembly mounted on said handle proximate said remote end of said handle,
- wherein when a force is applied in a first direction to said first cable segment, said discharge chute rotates in a first direction of chute rotational travel and when a force is applied in such first direction to said second cable segment, said discharge chute rotates in a second, opposite, direction of chute rotational travel.
6 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an engine having an output shaft;
- (b) a transmission;
- (c) a plurality of drive wheels drivingly connected to said transmission;
- and
- (d) an electromagnetic clutch and pulley assembly communicating with said engine output shaft and comprising
- (i) a first pulley connected to, and locked in rotational unison with, said engine output shaft and located relatively proximate said engine;
- (ii) a second pulley, located relatively distal from said engine, which selectively rotates with said engine output shaft;
- and
- (iii) an electromagnetic clutch connected to said engine output shaft and selectably coupled to said second pulley,
- said electromagnetic clutch being selectable between a first engaged condition and a second disengaged condition, said second pulley generally rotating with said engine output shaft when said electromagnetic clutch is in such engaged condition, and said second pulley generally not rotating with said engine output shaft when said electromagnetic clutch is in such disengaged condition.
7 more elements
A snow blower apparatus, comprising:
- (a) an engine having an output shaft;
- (b) a transmission;
- and
- (c) a plurality of drive wheels drivingly connected to said transmission;
- and
- (d) a pulley assembly attached to said engine output shaft;
- said pulley assembly including a first pulley, a second pulley, and a belt mounted about said first pulley, said first pulley being fixedly secured to said engine output shaft and rotating in unison therewith, said belt being constantly tensioned, and thereby being constantly driven by said first pulley, said second pulley selectively rotating in unison with said engine output shaft.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.