Snowthrower impeller assembly with rigid cutting implement

An impeller assembly for a snowthrower, comprising:

• a driven shaft configured to rotate about an axis;
• a flexible impeller paddle coupled to the driven shaft for rotation about the axis, the flexible impeller paddle configured to clear snow from a surface to be cleared, wherein the flexible impeller paddle extends radially from the axis to a paddle radial distance;
• and
• a rigid cutting implement coupled to the driven shaft for rotation about the axis and configured to break up snow or ice on the surface to be cleared, wherein the rigid cutting implement extends radially from the axis to a cutting implement radial distance less than the paddle radial distance;
• wherein the rigid cutting implement is one of a plurality of rigid cutting implements;
• wherein the plurality of rigid cutting implements comprise two cutting disks, each cutting disk attached near an end of the driven shaft and each cutting disk attached to the flexible impeller paddle to couple the flexible impeller paddle to the driven shaft;
• wherein the plurality of rigid cutting implements further comprise a blade attached by a plate to a central portion of the driven shaft between the two cutting disks and wherein the flexible impeller paddle is attached to the plate;
• and
• wherein the plurality of rigid cutting implements further comprise a tine attached to the driven shaft.