# US 2021/0277616 A1 · Snowblower > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277616 A1 - Document ID: US20210277616A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/188,421 - Filed: 2021-03-01 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-03 - Inventors: Michel Girouard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277616A1 ## CPC - 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)} - E01H 5/098: {about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing} - 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) ## Abstract A snowblower includes a main frame, an auger mounted to the main frame via a rotating shaft that defines a rotational axis, a fan rotatably mounted to the main frame coaxially to the auger; and a gear box for operatively coupling both the auger and the fan to an external drive shaft. The gear box has an input shaft for operatively coupling to the external drive shaft, a first output shaft coupled to the auger and a second output shaft coupled to the fan. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A snowblower comprising: a main frame; an auger mounted to the main frame via a rotating shaft defining a rotational axis; a fan rotatably mounted to the main frame coaxially to the auger; and a gear box for operatively coupling both the auger and the fan to an external drive shaft; the gear box having an input shaft for operatively coupling to the external drive shaft, a first output shaft coupled to the auger and a second output shaft coupled to the fan. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The snowblower as recited in claim 1, wherein the auger includes two lateral side portions, each positioned on a respective lateral side of the fan. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The snowblower as recited in claim 2, wherein each of the two lateral side portions of the auger includes an helicoidal blade mounted to a tube; both tubes being coupled by a linking shaft and are rotatably mounted to the main frame; the tubes and linking shaft together defining the rotating shaft of the auger. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The snowblower as recited in claim 3, further including a first drive assembly for operatively coupling the first output shaft of the gear box to the auger, and a second drive assembly for operatively coupling the second output shaft of the gear box to the fan. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The snowblower as recited in claim 4, wherein the first drive assembly includes a first sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the first output shaft, a second sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft and a transmission chain operatively mounted to both first and second sprocket wheels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The snowblower as recited in claim 5, wherein the second sprocket wheel is mounted to the linking shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The snowblower as recited in claim 3, further comprising two mounting plates secured to the frame and receiving the linking shaft for rotation therein. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The snowblower as recited in claim 1, further including a first drive assembly for operatively coupling the first output shaft of the gear box to the auger, and a second drive assembly for operatively coupling the second output shaft of the gear box to the fan. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The snowblower as recited in claim 8, wherein the first drive assembly includes a first sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the first output shaft, a second sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft and a first transmission chain operatively mounted to both first and second sprocket wheels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The snowblower as recited in claim 9, wherein the fan includes a plurality of vane equidistantly mounted to a tube; the tube being mounted to the rotating shaft for free rotation thereof about the rotating shaft; wherein the second drive assembly includes a third sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second output shaft, a fourth sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the tube and a second transmission chain operatively mounted to both third and fourth sprocket wheels. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The snowblower as recited in claim 10, further comprising two mounting plates secured to the frame and receiving the linking shaft for rotation therein; the fan being positioned between the two mounting plates; the first and second drive assemblies being positioned adjacent a respective one of the two mounting plates. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The snowblower as recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first and second drive assemblies further including a tensioning mechanism including a lever arm that is pivotably mounted to the respective one of the two mounting plates and having a small sprocket at a free end thereof that engages a respective one of the first and second transmission chains, and a biasing member mounted to both the main frame and to the lever arm, therebetween, so as to put tension on the respective one of the first and second transmission chains. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The snowblower as recited in claim 1, wherein the fan includes a plurality of vanes equidistantly mounted to a tube; the tube being mounted to the rotating shaft for free rotation thereof about the rotating shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The snowblower as recited in claim 13, further including a first drive assembly for operatively coupling the first output shaft of the gear box to the auger, and a second drive assembly for operatively coupling the second output shaft of the gear box to the fan; wherein the second drive assembly includes a first sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second output shaft, a second sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the tube and a transmission chain operatively mounted to both first and second sprocket wheels. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The snowblower as recited in claim 13, wherein the vanes are scoop-shaped, defining a concave side thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The snowblower as recited in claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of vane is defined by a plate bended at its center to define two straight sides defining an obtuse angle therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The snowblower as recited in claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of vanes includes two parallel lateral side walls, each extending from a respective lateral side edge of the plate on the concave side thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The snowblower as recited in claim 1, wherein the gear box is configured so that a rotational speed of the second output shaft is greater than a rotational speed of the first output shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The snowblower as recited in claim 18, wherein the gear box is configured to cause the fan to rotate at about 540 rpm (revolutions per minute), and the auger at about 200 rpm. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The snowblower as recited in claim 18, wherein the gear box is configured to cause the fan to have a rotational speed of about 1.5 to 3 times the rotational speed of the auger. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The snowblower as recited in claim 1, wherein the main frame has a top wall, a rounded rear wall extending longitudinally from the top wall, two side walls, each extending laterally from both the top and rear walls on respective sides thereof, and an open side opposite the rear wall, defining an inlet for snow; the top wall including a hole that is registered with the fan, defining an outlet for the snow; the snowblower further comprising a chute that is mounted to the frame so as to be in fluid communication with the outlet. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The snowblower as recited in claim 21, wherein the fan is longitudinally centered along the main frame. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The snowblower as recited in claim 21, wherein the main frame defines a longitudinal axis that is parallel to the rotational axis; the main frame having a width that is adjustable. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The snowblower as recited in claim 21, wherein the top and rear walls both includes two longitudinal sides; one of the two longitudinal sides being mounted to the other for telescopic movement in and out thereof. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The snowblower as recited in claim 21, further comprising at least one cylinder to actuate the telescopic movement. ### Claim 26 A snowblower comprising: a main frame; an auger mounted to the main frame via a rotating shaft defining a rotational axis; a fan rotatably mounted to the main frame coaxially to the auger; the auger including two lateral side portions, each positioned on a respective lateral side of the fan; each of the two lateral side portions of the auger including an helicoidal blade mounted to a first tube; both first tubes being attached by a linking shaft and being rotatably mounted to the main frame; the first tubes and linking shaft together defining the rotating shaft of the auger; the fan including a plurality of vane equidistantly mounted to a second tube; the second tube being mounted to the linking shaft via at least one bearing assembly for free rotation thereof about the linking shaft; the snowblower further comprising: a gear box for operatively coupling both the auger and the fan to an external drive shaft; the gear box having an input shaft for operatively coupling to the external drive shaft, a first output shaft coupled to the auger and a second output shaft coupled to the fan; the gear box being configured so that a rotational speed of the second output shaft is greater than a rotational speed of the first output shaft; a first drive assembly for operatively coupling the first output shaft of the gear box to the auger; the first drive assembly including a first sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the first output shaft of the gear box, a second sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the rotating shaft of the auger and a first transmission chain operatively mounted to both first and second sprocket wheels; and and a second drive assembly for operatively coupling the second output shaft of the gear box to the fan; the second drive assembly including a third sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second output shaft, a fourth sprocket wheel fixedly mounted to the second tube and a second transmission chain operatively mounted to both third and fourth sprocket wheels.