US 6,662,477 B2Granted

Snowblower controls

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsJames Thomas Dowe, Rodney Allen Fritz, Robert James Loehr

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A control platform for directing the operation of a snowblower is provided. The platform includes a bail which is pivotably moveable within the platform. Attached to and moveable with the bail are levers for controlling the engagement or disengagement of the drives that power the snowblower's wheels and auger. Also attached with the bail are controls which permit the operator to change the speed and/or direction of the snowblower as well as the orientation of the discharge chute. Through their attachment to the bail and proximity relative to one another, an operator can use each of the levers and controls simultaneously. Accordingly, the platform permits an operator to engage or disengage the drives which power the snowblower's wheels and auger while, simultaneously, enabling a change in speed or direction as well as the direction towards which snow is directed during the removal process.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A control structure for use with a snowblower having a frame, a power source, a pair of drive wheels, a snow discharge auger, a transmission carried by the frame and which is drivingly coupled to the wheels to drive the wheels in forwardly and rearwardly directions and at one of a plurality of speeds, a handlebar frame extending upwardly and rearwardly from the frame, a first clutch means between the power source and the transmission for drivingly engaging the transmission, and a second clutch means between the power source and the auger to drivingly engage or disengage the auger, the control structure comprising:

a) an elongated bail having first and second end portions and which is swingably mounted with the handlebar frame for fore and aft movement about a generally laterally extending axis;
b) linkage means coupling the bail and transmission and which is operable to actuate the transmission and shift it so that it drives the wheels in the forwardly or rearwardly direction at any of a plurality of speeds;
c) a first control lever carried on one end portion and which is operable to drivingly engage or disengage the first clutch means;
and,
d) a second control lever carried on the other end portion and which is operable to drivingly engage or disengage the second clutch means.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/391,721Filed 19 Mar 2003 · division
Priority: 15 Feb 2001
Published: US 2003/0154632 A121 Aug 2003
Granted: 16 Dec 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

E01H 5/04
Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice: apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus…
E01H
Street cleaning

Family

Application09/784,365Parent of this division · filed 15 Feb 2001
US 6,578,292 B2Parent of this division · filed 17 Jun 2003
US 2003/0154632 A1Pre-grant publication · published 21 Aug 2003
US 2002/0108274 A1Published application
US 6,662,477 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.