Snow groomer assembly
AssigneeBoard of Control of Michigan Technological University
InventorsPhilip J. Quenzi, Russell G. Alger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snow groomer includes a movable platform, a prime mover mounted to the platform and a grooming drum rotatably driven by the prime mover for rotation in a direction opposite the traveling direction of the snow groomer. The grooming drum includes axially spaced apart and radially protruding ribs that extend circumferentially around the drum. The ribs include circumferentially spaced apart apertures and the apertures of each rib are aligned with the apertures of the other ribs. Elongated cutting teeth extend through the apertures of the ribs and have a cross-sectional area that is smaller than the apertures such that the cutting teeth are free to vibrate within the apertures as the drum rotates, thereby enhancing the pulverization of chunks of snow and ice.
Claims24
A grooming drum adapted for use with a snow grooming device, said drum comprising:
- an elongated cylinder including a central axis, said cylinder supportable by the snow grooming device for rotation about said central axis;
- a plurality of axially spaced apart and radially protruding ribs extending circumferentially around said cylinder, said ribs including circumferentially spaced apart apertures, the apertures of each rib being substantially aligned with the apertures of at least one other rib;
- and
- a plurality of elongated cutting teeth, each cutting tooth extending through aligned apertures of said ribs, said cutting teeth including a cross-sectional area, wherein said apertures are larger than said cross-sectional area to permit said cutting teeth to move with respect to said ribs as said drum rotates.
A snow groomer for use on a snow-covered landscape, said snow groomer comprising:
- a movable platform adapted to move in a forward direction;
- a prime mover mounted to said platform;
- a grooming drum rotatably mounted to said platform;
- and
- a power transmission assembly operatively interconnecting said prime mover with said grooming drum,
- wherein in response to operation of said prime mover, said drum counter-rotates with respect to the forward direction to agitate and groom snow on the snow-covered landscape.
A snow groomer for use on a snow-covered landscape, said snow groomer comprising:
- a movable platform adapted to move in a forward direction;
- a prime mover mounted to said platform;
- a grooming drum rotatably mounted to said platform, said grooming drum including a central axis, a plurality of axially spaced apart and radially protruding ribs extending circumferentially around said drum, said ribs including circumferentially spaced apart apertures, the apertures of each rib being substantially aligned with the apertures of at least one other rib, and a plurality of elongated cutting teeth, each cutting tooth extending through axially aligned apertures of said ribs, said cutting teeth including a cross-sectional area;
- and
- a power transmission assembly operatively interconnecting said prime mover with said grooming drum,
- wherein in response to operation of said prime mover, said drum counter-rotates with respect to the forward direction and wherein said apertures are larger than said cross-sectional area to permit said cutting teeth to move with respect to said ribs as said drum rotates to agitate and groom snow on the snow-covered landscape.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.