GB2388142A

GB2388142A - Control mechanism for snow blower discharge shoot

Info

Publication number: GB2388142A
Application number: GB0210059A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gilles Joseph Beaudoin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-02
Filing date: 2002-05-02
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-02
Also published as: GB0210059D0; GB2388142B

Abstract

The control mechanism, for swivelling the discharge shoot of a snow blower, comprises a cable adjuster 11 that can be operated in two different directions and three rubber discs, one of which 3 is driven and the other two of which 5,6 are connected to a swivelling bracket 14. A drive chain 8 is connected to the upper of the discs on the bracket via a sprocket and to a clutch mechanism through which it is connected to a worm gear that can rotate the discharge shoot. Depending on which way the cable adjuster is tightened, the bracket swivels so that either the upper or lower of the two discs connected to it makes contact with the drive disc, which is attached to and driven by the snow auger, so that a rotational force is transferred through the mechanism to rotate the discharge shoot in one direction of the other, depending on which disc engages the drive disc. Springs 12 preferably maintain the swivelling bracket in a neural position when there is no tension in the cable adjuster.

Description

( 2388 1 42

AUTOMATED CONTROL MECHANISM

FOR A SNOW BLOWER DISCHARGE SHOOT

This invention provides for an automated control mechanism that rotates the swivelling discharge shoot in the direction of the user's desire.

Snow blowers are a common tool used particularly in cooler climates. There are many different designs, but few have automated swivelling discharge shoots. Most snow blowers have a crank that must be manually rotated to swivel the shoot in the proper direction, making it difficult to operate the snow blower at the same time. Those that do have automated discharge shoots are driven by a separate electric motor, which also requires a battery and a greater magneto. These added parts adds considerably to the cost and complexity in the construction of the snow blower. Those that are driven by the engine are mechanically complex, expensive to build and demonstrate considerable wear on rapidly rotating parts. Typical automated snow shoots of these types are shown, for example, in the following patents from the United Kingdom and the United States of America: No. Patent Number Date Surname 1. US5444927 March7, 1994 SOSENKO 2. EP0372150 June 13, 1990 HANYU 3. US6058629 May 9, 2000 PETERSON 4. US4409748 October 18, 1983 WESTIbLAYER Although automated discharge shoots have been incorporated into higher-end snow blower designs, there has been a continuing need for a less costly and simpler solution.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and mechanical method of rotating the shoot using the power provided by the main motor.

The automation mechanism comprises of three rubber discs, two of which are connect to a swivelling bracket. The bracket is directed by two cables and two cable leavers, each one connected to each handlebar. The swivelling bracket consists of two rubber discs

that make contact to a disc at the left side of the shroud. This disc is connected to the rotating snow auger inside the shroud, which is the driving force for this invention.

When one of the rubber discs malces contact with the rotating rubber disc at the centre, it rotates a drive chain that is connected to a sprocket near the discharge shoot. The sprocket rotates a clutch that rotates a worm gear, and in turn, rotates the discharge shoot.

Once the discharge shoot reaches its maximum rotating limit, the clutch disengages by slipping. The operator can move the shoot either right or left by pulling on either the left or right leaver on the handlebars and while operating the snow blower at the same time.

The auger must be engaged in order for the swivelling discharge shoot to work.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will not be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1: is a left side view of a snow blower with the automation mechanism attached to the left side of the shroud.

Figure 2: is a detailed side view of the mechanism in a neutral position, with some parts enlarged for clarity of illustration.

Figure 3: is a detailed view of a cable adjuster and a tension spring hording the mechanism in neutral.

Figure 4: is a front view of the entire mechanism without the cables and snow blower.

Figure 5: is a detailed view of the swivelling disc mechanism, including its inner parts.

( DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF IRIS INVENTION

The automated mechanism for the swivelling snow discharge shoot essentially consists of a rubber disc 3 that drives the chain 8 to rotate the worm gear 21. The rubber disc 3 is bolted to the auger of the snow blower, which is the driving force needed to rotate the snow discharge shoot. Discs 5 and 6 are bolted to a swivelling bracket 14 that is beside the disc connected to the auger 3. The bottom rubber disc 5 contains one bearing 36 forced into each side of the disc 5. The rubber disc 5 is mounted to the bracket 14 using a screw 39 and it is secured in place with a washer 46 and nut 37. The top disc 6 is bolted with three bolts 45 to a large washer 40 on each side of the rubber disc 6 and the washers 40 are welded onto a shaft 41. The shaft 41 rests inside of a bearing 38, which is press-fit into the bracket 14. This provides the easy rotation of the rubber disc 6.

The swivelling bracket 14 is bolted to the shroud, and it swivels by riding on the thread of the bolt. The operator controls the swivelling bracket 14 by pulling the leavers that are connected to the cables 1. One cable 1 is a wire cable 17 with an outer casing 1. The cable 1 rests inside of a cable adjuster 11. Inside the cable adjuster 11, the cable outer casing 1 is cut short about 1 centimetre from the setscrew 16 to allow for enough slack when the other opposing cable 1 is pulled. This slack is required to allow for the swivelling bracket 14 to move in either direction. The cable adjuster 11 is bolted to a mounting bracket 10 using a setscrew 16, which in turn is bolted to the shroud. The cable wire l 7 is connected to a cable retainer 13, and is held there by a setscrew. Springs 12 located at the end of each cable adjuster 11 is need to hold the swivelling bracket 14 in the neutral position so that it does not engage the driving disc 3 involuntarily. The nut 16 holding the cable adjuster 11 in place is adjustable to allow the correct positioning of the bracket 14 in the neutral position When one of the leavers is pulled, the cable wire 17 pulls the swivelling bracket 14 to engage one of the rubber discs 5 or 6 to the driving rubber disc 3. Looking at the snow blower from the left side, the right leaver pulls the bracket 14 to the left so that the rubber disc at the top 6 engages the driving rubber disc 3, rotating disc 6 clockwise. When the

left leaver is pulled, the bottom of the bracket 14 engages the bottom rubber disc 5 with the driving rubber disc 3. The bottom disc 5, also rotates clockwise. The bottom disc 5 is mounted on a sliding U-bracket 18, which allows it to be mated pl'.,anently by friction to the top disc 6. The U-bracket 18 is constantly pushed using a tension spring 20, which is mounted to another U-bracket 19. As the bottom disc 5 rotates clockwise while engaged to the driving rubber disc 3, it rotates the top disc 6 counter-clockwise.

The top rubber disc 6 is connected to a sprocket 44 on a small shaft 41 held on by a setscrew 45. The sprocket 44 drives a chain 8 to another sprocket 48 above the auger shroud. The top sprocket 48 is connected to a shaft 4 and is held onto this shaft 4 by a setscrew. The shaft 4 rests inside a bearing, which is located inside the bearing mount 7.

The shaft 4 is connected to the clutch 26 through top of the clutch 35, and a setscrew secures this shaft 4. The clutch 26 is made up of two different metals. Items 26 and 31 are made out of steel, while items 33 and 32 are made out of brass. Item 32 is connected to a shaft 34 with a retaining pin, and the brass bushing 33 rest on the shad 34. The steel washer 31 is welded onto a tension spring 30, which in turn, is welded to a nut 29. This nut 29 is the adjustable part of the clutch 26 creating the right amount of tension needed to turn the discharge shoot, but allowing the clutch 26 to slip once the discharge shoot has reached its maximum turning radius. The nut 29 is secured in place with another nut 28, retaining the proper adjustment of the tension spring 30. The shaft 34 is connected to a worm screw 21 which turns the discharge shoot. While looking at the snow blower from the front of the machine, the left side of the shaft is mounted to a bearing mount 47, which is welded onto the snow blower.

Claims

( CLAIMS

1. In an automated control mechanism for a snow blower discharge shoot, comprising of three different sections; o a cable adjuster allows for enough slack to operate the mechanism in two different directions; either deft or right; o three rubber discs, one which is the driving disc and two of which swivel on a bracket axis; o a drive chain connected to a sprocket and clutch mechanism and then to a wonn gear;

2. A cable adjuster as defined in claim 1, wherein the cable casing provides a protective shell around the exposed cable and enough slack to operate the swivelling bracket.

3. A cable adjuster tension spring as defined in claim 2, wherein the springs provide enough tension to the swivelling bracket on each side to maintain its position in neutral, thus preventing any involuntary engaging of the driving disc.

4. A three part rubber disc mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein discs drive a chain providing rotational power to the discharge shoot.

5. A three part rubber disc mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the bottom disc is permanently mated to the top disc using a tension spring based onto a U-mount.

6. A three part rubber disk mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the top disc is attached to a sprocket driving a chain to another sprocket near the discharge snow shoot.

7. A three part rubber disk mechanism as defined in claim 4, wherein the rubber disc connected to the auger provides the driving force needed to operate turn the discharge snow shoot.

8. A three part rubber disk mechanism as defined in claim 4 wherein the swivelling bracket allows the mechanism to operate in a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

9. A clutch mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the brass bushings slip against the steel washer once the discharge shoot reaches its maximum rotation.

1 O. A clutch mechanism as defined in claim 9, wherein the tension spring provides enough tension to turn the shaft connected to the worm gear.