# US 2020/0399844 A1 · Driving system for driving at least one auger of a snow removal device, a snow removal device provided with such a driving system, a kit for the installation of such a driving system, a method for installing such a driving system and a method for the manufacture of components or parts of the driving system

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- Number: US 2020/0399844 A1
- Document ID: US20200399844A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/013,700
- Filed: 2020-09-07
- Published: 2020-12-24
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-24
- Assignees: Les Machineries Pronovost Inc.
- Applicants: Les Machineries Pronovost Inc.
- Inventors: Christian CHAMPAGNE; Benoît BELLEVILLE; Normand BEAULIEU; Réjean PRONOVOST
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399844A1

## CPC

- E01H 5/076: {by rotary or pneumatic conveying means, e.g. impeller wheels (dislodging by rotary means E01H5/09)}
- E01H 5/045: {Means per se for conveying or discharging the dislodged material, e.g. rotary impellers, discharge chutes (dislodging apparatus provided therewith E01H5/07, E01H5/08, E01H5/104, E01H5/12)}
- F16H 7/1209: {with vibration damping means}
- F16H 7/14: of a driving or driven pulley
- F16H 2007/0844: {Mounting elements essentially within boundaries of final output members}
- E01H: STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING {OR PREVENTING} FOG IN GENERAL {CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS}(cleaning in general B08B)
- F16H: GEARING

## 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. The play is either small enough to prevent water and or debris to enter the first casing, or filled with a filling element and/or covered with a sealing element secured to the front guard or the corresponding portion of the shaft element of the at least one auger, to have the play small enough to prevent water and/or debris to enter the first casing. The second portion prevent snow or debris present around the snow removing device to contact the said second portion. A snow blower provided with the driving system, a kit comprising parts and/or components of the driving system, a method for assembling the driving system, and a method for manufacturing some components or parts of the driving system.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A snowblower used for blowing snow, the snowblower comprising:
a housing (10) for receiving snow to be blown by the snowblower;
an auger (7) being pivotably mountable about the housing (10), for urging snow to be blown towards an outlet of the snowblower, via a corresponding rotation of the auger (7);
a driving system being operatively connectable to an extremity of the auger (7), for selectively driving said auger (7) in rotation with respect to the housing (10);
at least one guard (12,13) being operatively mountable about the housing (10), for protecting the driving system, the at least one guard (12,13) having an orifice (32) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving a corresponding segment of a shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through said orifice (32); and
a sealing assembly being operatively mountable about said at least one guard (12,13), for sealing a gap defined between the orifice (32) and the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through the orifice (32), the sealing assembly comprising first and second sub-components (23,23) being connectable to one another via at least one fastener (24), so that, one assembled, an interior portion (36) of the sealing assembly has a geometrical profile being complementary in shape to a corresponding cross-sectional profile of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7), and so that an exterior portion of the sealing assembly has at least one outer groove (35) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said at least one outer groove (35) a portion of the at least one guard (12,13) defining the orifice (32), so as to not only close off the orifice (32), but also provide said orifice (32) with overlapping sealing portions on both sides of the orifice (32) due to the presence of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastener (24) includes first and second fasteners (24,24), and wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connectable onto one another via said first and second fasteners (24,24), the first fastener (24) being extendable into the first and second sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly, and the second fastener (24) being extendable into the second and first sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A snowblower according to claim 2, wherein the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a rear portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a front portion of the second fastener (24), and wherein the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a front portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a rear portion of the second fastener (24).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A snowblower according to claim 3, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the first passage of the second sub-component (23).

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

A snowblower according to claim 3, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said first passage of the first sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the first fastener (24), so that the first fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A snowblower according to claim 5, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) and the first passage of the second sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the first fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

A snowblower according to claim 5, wherein the front portion of the first fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the first fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the first fastener (24).

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

A snowblower according to claim 5, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24).

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A snowblower according to claim 8, wherein the head of the first fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the first fastener (24) is fastened into said first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is provided about an exterior portion of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 3)

A snowblower according to claim 3, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the second passage of the first sub-component (23).

### Claim 12 (depends on 3)

A snowblower according to claim 3, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said second passage of the second sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the second fastener (24), so that the second fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A snowblower according to claim 12, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) and the second passage of the first sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the second fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (25) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said second fastener (24).

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A snowblower according to claim 12, wherein the front portion of the second fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the second fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the second fastener (24).

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

A snowblower according to claim 12, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24).

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A snowblower according to claim 15, wherein the head of the second fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the second passage of the first second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the second fastener (24) is fastened into said second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is also provided about an exterior portion of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have respectively first and second outer grooves (35,35), said first and second outer grooves (35,35) being positioned, shaped and sized so as to form the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A snowblower according to claim 18, wherein the first and second outer grooves (35,35) of the first and second sub-components (23,23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so as to provide the sealing assembly with a continuous outer circumferential groove (35) when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

A snowblower according to claim 19, wherein each of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have a substantially U-shaped interior portion (36), for allowing said first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly to be mounted about the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) having a substantially square cross-sectional profile; wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are substantially identical to one another; and wherein the at least one fastener (24) is at least one corresponding bolt.

### Claim 21

A snowblower used for blowing snow, the snowblower comprising:
a housing (10) for receiving snow to be blown by the snowblower;
an auger (7) being pivotably mountable about the housing (10), for urging snow to be blown towards an outlet of the snowblower, via a corresponding rotation of the auger (7);
a driving system being operatively connectable to an extremity of the auger (7), for selectively driving said auger (7) in rotation with respect to the housing (10);
at least one guard (12,13) being operatively mountable about the housing (10), for protecting the driving system, the at least one guard (12,13) having an orifice (32) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving a corresponding segment of a shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through said orifice (32); and
a sealing assembly being operatively mountable about said at least one guard (12,13), for sealing a gap defined between the orifice (32) and the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through the orifice (32), the sealing assembly comprising first and second sub-components (23,23) being connectable to one another via at least one fastener (24), so that, one assembled, an interior portion (36) of the sealing assembly has a geometrical profile being complementary in shape to a corresponding cross-sectional profile of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7), and so that an exterior portion of the sealing assembly has at least one outer groove (35) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said at least one outer groove (35) a portion of the at least one guard (12,13) defining the orifice (32), so as to not only close off the orifice (32), but also provide said orifice (32) with overlapping sealing portions on both sides of the orifice (32) due to the presence of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly;
wherein the at least one fastener (24) includes first and second fasteners (24,24), and wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connectable onto one another via said first and second fasteners (24,24), the first fastener (24) being extendable into the first and second sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly, and the second fastener (24) being extendable into the second and first sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly;
wherein the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a rear portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a front portion of the second fastener (24), and wherein the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a front portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a rear portion of the second fastener (24);
wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the first passage of the second sub-component (23);
wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said first passage of the first sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the first fastener (24), so that the first fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24);
wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) and the first passage of the second sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the first fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24);
wherein the front portion of the first fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the first fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the first fastener (24);
wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24);
wherein the head of the first fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the first fastener (24) is fastened into said first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly;
wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is provided about an exterior portion of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly;
wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the second passage of the first sub-component (23);
wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said second passage of the second sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the second fastener (24), so that the second fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24);
wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) and the second passage of the first sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the second fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (25) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said second fastener (24);
wherein the front portion of the second fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the second fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the second fastener (24);
wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24);
wherein the head of the second fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the second passage of the first second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the second fastener (24) is fastened into said second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly;
wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is also provided about an exterior portion of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly;
wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have respectively first and second outer grooves (35,35), said first and second outer grooves (35,35) being positioned, shaped and sized so as to form the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another;
wherein the first and second outer grooves (35,35) of the first and second sub-components (23,23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so as to provide the sealing assembly with a continuous outer circumferential groove (35) when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another;
wherein each of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have a substantially U-shaped interior portion (36), for allowing said first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly to be mounted about the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) having a substantially square cross-sectional profile; and
wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are identical to one another.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

A kit with components for assembling a snowblower according to claim 21.