U.S. patent application number 11/704785 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-14 for guide disc attachment for snow blower housing.
Invention is credited to James L. Luhtanen.
Application Number | 20080189990 11/704785 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39684629 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080189990 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luhtanen; James L. |
August 14, 2008 |
Guide disc attachment for snow blower housing
Abstract
A Guide Disc Attachment for Snow Blower Housing affixed in
tandem to the exterior sides of a snow blower housing. Each disc is
fabricated of rigid material, conformed to cut through ice and snow
to an underlying hard surface and rotates on an axis parallel to
the hard surface. Each disc attachment is adjustable, vertically,
to regulate the distance between the underlying hard surface and
the generally horizontal cutting edge of the snow blower housing.
The invention allows the cutting edge to gather otherwise impacted
snow and also provides lateral stability when the snow blower is
moving forward.
Inventors: |
Luhtanen; James L.;
(Traverse City, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas S. Bishop;Bishop & Heintz, P.C.
P.O. Box 707
Traverse City
MI
49685-0707
US
|
Family ID: |
39684629 |
Appl. No.: |
11/704785 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
37/249 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E01H 5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
37/249 |
International
Class: |
E01H 5/09 20060101
E01H005/09 |
Claims
1. In a snow blower machine having a forward housing/bin
attachment, having an open front area with a lower edge, and two
substantially vertical sides, for gathering snow, a guide disc
attachment comprising: a rigid planar sheet member having a first
surface, second surface, perimeter edge, and a defined thickness;
and said planar member vertically adjustably affixed to a
substantially vertical side of the forward housing bin and
adjustably extendable to a defined distance vertically below the
cutting edge of the housing/bin with said planar member being
substantially at right angles to the cutting edge.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein a pair of said guide disc
attachments is provided, mounted in parallel, one on each
substantially vertical side of the housing bin.
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the rigid planar sheet member
is circular, and the guide disc attachment further comprising: an
axle housing member and an axle member insertable therein; said
rigid planar member having a centered aperture; said axle member
insertable through the centered aperture into the axle housing,
with the rigid planar member rotatable around said axle member; and
said axle housing affixed to a substantially vertical side of the
housing/bin.
4. The invention of claim 3, wherein the invention further
comprises a mounting plate having a first outward side and a second
inward side; the axle housing affixed and extending horizontally
from the first outer side, and said second inner side contacting
and adjustably affixed to a vertical side of the housing/bin.
5. The invention of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the rigid
planar sheet member, across its perimeter edge, does not exceed
0.25 inches/6.35 mm.
6. The invention of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the rigid
planar member decreases from the centered aperture, to its
perimeter edge.
7. The invention of claim 3, wherein the rigid planar member has a
tapered perimeter edge.
8. The invention of claim 3, wherein the rigid planar member has a
perimeter edge, substantially at right angles to the first and
second surfaces of the planar sheet member.
9. The invention of claim 3, wherein the thickness of the rigid
planar sheet member across its perimeter edge is 0.197 inches/5
mm.
10. In a snow blower machine having a forward housing/bin
attachment having an open front area with a lower edge and two
substantially vertical sides for gathering snow, guide disc
attachments comprising: a pair of rigid planar sheet members, each
having a first surface and a second surface and a circular
perimeter edge, with a defined thickness; each circular rigid
planar member defining a centered aperture thereon; an axle housing
member and an axle member insertable therein, associated with each
circular rigid planar sheet member; each axle member insertable
through the centered aperture of the disc member with which it is
associated, into an axle housing with the associated rigid planar
member rotatable around said axle member; a pair of mounting
plates, each having a first outward side and a second inward side,
each axle housing affixed and extending horizontally from the first
outer side of each of the mounting plate members, with the second
inner side of each mounting plate member contacting an adjustably
affixed to opposing sides of the housing/bin.
11. The invention of claim 10, wherein, wherein the thickness of
the rigid planar sheet member, across its perimeter edge, does not
exceed 0.25 inches/6.35 mm.
12. The invention of claim 10, wherein the thickness of the rigid
planar member decreases from the centered aperture, to its
perimeter edge.
13. The invention of claim 10, wherein the rigid planar member has
a tapered perimeter edge.
14. The invention of claim 10, wherein the rigid planar member has
a perimeter edge, substantially at right angles to the first and
second surfaces of the planar sheet member.
15. The invention of claim 10, wherein the thickness of the rigid
planar sheet member across its perimeter edge is 0.197 inches/5 mm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] With regard to snow blowers which have a snow throwing
mechanism, or auger, within a housing, which housing contacts the
snow to be removed, and has a generally horizontal front or cutting
edge, the concept of utilizing skid or ski plates underneath or
adjacent to the sides of the housing, or wheels on the sides of the
housing, to allow the housing to pass over the surface being
cleared, and to adjust the height of the front or cutting edge of
the housing above the surface underlying the snow to be removed, is
known. Examples of prior art pertinent to this discussion include
U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,879, to Greider, for a Snow Blower Deadman
Control, which shows a wheel attachment (the concept of utilizing a
wheel attachment to cut through the snow, or ice, to bring the snow
blower assembly closer to the underlying hard surface, however, is
not disclosed nor taught by the '879 patent); U.S. Pat. No.
3,913,247, to Ruhl, for an Auger and Blade Therefor Useable to Move
Materials Such as Snow and the Like, likewise fails to disclose the
novel aspect of the supporting "disc" members; U.S. Pat. No.
3,349,506, to G. H. Rubin, for a Disc Snow Blower, specifically
recites "ground engaging wheels." Again, the wheels are not
specifically defined and are not a feature of any claim, or of the
invention. The idea of utilizing the "ground engaging wheels" to
"cut through" snow and ice, is not specifically taught nor
described; U.S. Pat. No. 3,239,954, to M. L. Brier, for a
Self-Cleaning Wheel for a Self-Propelled Snow Blower, provides a
small supporting wheel member "on each side." Again, nothing is
disclosed relative to said wheels being in defined width,
composition, or "disc" shape with any cited feature or application
to cut through impacted snow and/or ice; U.S. Patent Application
Publication No. U.S. 2004/0194353 A1, of Hoerle et al, for a Snow
Removal Machine with System for Applying a Surface Treatment
Material, again discloses a wheel, but does not disclose nor teach
the function of utilizing any particular type or construction of
wheel attachment to cut through snow and/or ice.
[0002] In snow blowing operations, frequently, on hard surfaces,
before the snow blowing operation, there may be all, or an area, of
the surface to be cleared which has a build up of impacted snow.
Standard snow blowers, including those referenced above as prior
art, operate with "skids," or side-mounted, standard wheels which,
in normal application, will ride on top of, and not cut through,
such impacted snow or ice. Because the "skids" and/or wheels
dictate a specified height above the bottom of the skid, or of the
wheel, where the "bin" or housing of the snow blower will scrape
and gather snow to be blown, when these skids, or standard wheels,
impact an area of impacted snow or ice, they tend to rise above it,
leaving a greater horizontal area of snow beneath the housing,
which is not removed. As stated, these designs, commonly used by
modern day manufacturers of snow blowers, tend to ride up on top of
the snow and may even themselves impact the snow, exacerbating the
"ride up" tendency by their very operation. The lower edge of the
bin, or housing, is sometimes called a "cutting plate" of the snow
blower. The problem with impacted snow and ice is compounded as the
winter season continues, and the snow and/or ice pack becomes
thicker.
[0003] An additional problem, not addressed by current snow
blowers, or any of the prior art, is that, when operating the snow
blower, with a horizontal auger, the snow blower may have a
tendency to pull sideways into deeper areas of snow. This is
particularly prevalent with a skid shoe support design for the bin
or housing, and is also present in standard wheel attachments which
ride on top of the snow, because they have little lateral
stabilizing ability.
[0004] Accordingly, a need exists, in snow blower applications, for
supporting guides (for attachment to a snow blower bin or housing)
in a rigid narrow shape, to cut through impacted snow, and/or ice,
to the underlying hard surface, to reduce snow and ice build-up to
a minimal level. A further need exists for such rigid narrow guides
for the snow blower bin or housing, mounted in line with the
direction of forward motion of the snow blower, to stabilize the
motion and resist a tendency to pull or drift to either side,
particularly in areas where the snow being removed is uneven.
[0005] An invention which addresses these needs, allowing snow to
be removed to minimum amounts, and, by stabilizing the front of the
snow blower, reducing side pull at the edge of drift or hard packed
snow, may further result in a reduction of potential fatigue to the
operator
[0006] In addition, the present invention is directed toward
providing maximum snow blower operation and thrown snow distance,
by reducing the amount of power of the snow blower which must be
directed toward propelling the machine.
[0007] The instant invention is directed toward providing guide
disc attachments to a snow blower bin or housing which are
vertical, rigid and narrow, to cut through impacted snow and ice,
and, when they come in contact with the underlying hard surface, to
hold the cutting edge of the snow blower above the hard surface at
a predetermined height.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been designed to overcome the
shortcomings in the prior art noted above. The invention primarily
consists of a pair of rigid, narrow discs, mounted in tandem, one
on each side, on a snow blower bin and housing. Each disc is
mounted on, and rotates about, an axle perpendicular to the side of
the housing, and in parallel with the cutting edge of the snow
blower. The rigid, narrow features of the disc permit it to cut or
break through impacted snow and ice, and to reach and contact the
hard surface lying beneath the snow or ice which is being removed.
The rotating feature of the disc mounted on an axle allows the disc
to rotate, as the snow blower is moved forward, and minimizes
friction resistence normally attendant in a non-rotating skid. It
is possible to utilize only the rigid narrow feature of the disc,
without rotation, as a support on each side of the snow blower bin
or housing to provide that the cutting feature as well as sideways
stability, but optimum economy of the invention is obtained when
the discs rotate to minimize friction resistence to the forward
movement of the snow blower.
[0009] Each disc is mounted in a manner which allows vertical
adjustment of the disc assembly, while maintaining alignment in
parallel with the forward direction of the snow blower. In
practice, the adjustment feature can be provided by alternative
mounting holes, by vertical slots in a mounting bracket holding the
disc and axle assembly, through which a bolt is inserted, with the
device being vertically adjustable when the bolt is loosened, and
held in place when the bolt is tightened, or by other equivalent
methods. The mounting brackets, on each side of the bin or housing,
are adjusted correspondingly, to provide that the forward lower
cutting edge of the snow blower housing rides at a substantially
even distance above the hard surface to be cleared, across its
horizontal width. It is an object of the instant invention to
provide mounted guide attachments for a snow blower, which will cut
through impacted ice and snow, to the surface to be cleared, while
maintaining the cutting edge of the snow blower, and, hence, the
level of snow to be cleared, at a constant level.
[0010] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of this
invention will be set forth and will become apparent in the
detailed description which follows with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow blower, with a
forward snow gathering bin and auger housing, showing a rotatable
disc of the present invention mounted thereon.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a snow cutter disc assembly of the
present invention, showing the backside of the mounting bracket,
for attachment to the snow blower bin, the axle housing, and the
rotatable disc.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a side view of the disc attachment of the present
invention, showing the disc, axle, and, transparently showing the
mounting bracket and axle housing.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the rotatable disc of
the present invention, adjustably mounted on one side of a snow
blower bin, and demonstrating the disc cutting through impacted
snow and ice.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of side of a snow blower bin and
housing, with the device adjustably mounted thereon, showing the
forward cutting edge of the bin at a predetermined height above the
underlying hard surface, and the rotatable disc of the present
invention cutting through impacted snow and ice.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the rotatable disc attachment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The invention Guide Disc Attachment for Snow Blower Housing,
broadly considered, is a guide and weight support attachment 20 for
a snow blower machine 10 having a forward snow gathering bin and
auger housing assembly 11, housing a snow moving auger 12 located
forward on the machine 10. The forward housing bin attachment 11
has a pair of substantially vertical sides 13, for gathering snow,
each having a bottom edge 13a, and a forward cutting edge 14
extending horizontally between the bottom edges 13a of the two
substantially vertical sides 13. When the snow blower machine 10 is
moved forward, the lower cutting edge 14 provides a scraping
function as shown in FIG. 5, and the height of cutting edge 14
above the surface to be cleared 15 defines how much, if any, snow
16, again as shown in FIG. 5, will remain on the surface after the
machine has traveled over it. The instant invention 20 includes a
rigid, planar disc member 21 which is constructed out of rigid
material, which may be steel, other metal, or rigid composite, or
similar material with a first, or outer, surface 22 and a second,
or inner, surface 23. Disc member 21 has a perimeter edge 24, which
defines its shape, which is circular, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, in the
embodiment herein described. In practice, however, the rigid planar
sheet member 21, if rotation was not desired, or deemed necessary,
could be of other shapes, having an upper edge 25 and a lower edge
26, which lower edge could be substantially horizontal, or
radial.
[0018] Attachment 20, in practice, and in the embodiment shown, is
utilized in tandem, with one attachment 20 being affixed to one
substantially vertical side 13 of the housing bin assembly 11, and
the other being attached in parallel to the opposing side 13 of
said housing bin assembly 11. Each attachment 20 is affixed to the
bin assembly 11, in a manner which provides that the lower edge 26
of the planar member 21 extends below the cutting edge 14 of the
bin assembly 11, and bottom edge 13a of the bin assembly, as shown
in FIG. 5. The rigid sheet member 21, in the embodiment shown, is a
circular wheel, as shown in FIGS. 1-6, of which surfaces 22 and 23
define a centered aperture 30. Also provided in assembly 20 are an
axle 31, a horizontally mounted axle housing 32 and mounting plate
assembly 33. The axle member 31 is inserted through centered
aperture 30, and horizontal axle housing 32, and affixed to
mounting plate assembly 33. In the embodiment shown, the axle
member 31 is affixed to mounting plate 33 in a male-female
relationship, by a threaded male member 23 threadedly inserted into
a correspondingly threaded female aperture 35. In the exploded view
of FIG. 6, a washer 36 may be provided between the outer cap 37 of
axle member 31, and rigid planar disc member 21. Mounting plate 33
is then affixed to a vertical side 13 of housing/bin assembly 11.
In the embodiment shown, the method of affixation is by providing
one or more apertures 38, with a bolt 39 and nut 40 assembly being
provided for each aperture 38. In the embodiment shown, apertures
38 are vertically oblong with an aperture height A substantially
greater than the diameter B of bolt 39, to allow the mounting plate
assembly 33 to be moved vertically to adjust the desired position
of assembly 20 and, hence, the position of cutting edge 14 above
the surface to cleared 15. When assembly 20 is in the desired
position, each nut 40 is tightened to hold mounting assembly 33 in
the desired position.
[0019] Rigid disc member 21, around its perimeter 24, has a width
C, designed to be a minimal width available while maintaining
structural integrity of disc member 21, to maximize cutting ability
of the perimeter edge 24 through compacted snow 16 or ice. Width C
may vary depending upon the material composition of rigid disc
member 21, but is generally of a diameter of 0.25 inches/6.35 mm,
or less. In the preferred embodiment, the thickness of the rigid
disc member 21, also called a rigid planar sheet member, across its
perimeter edge 24 (width C) is 0.197 inches/5 mm. In practice,
rigid disc member 21 has its perimeter edge 24, at right angles to
sides 22 and 23. Although the thickness of rigid disc member 21 may
decrease from the centered aperture 30, to its perimeter edge 24,
perimeter edge 24 may also be tapered and, in such instance, may
provide an even smaller and sharper edge to cut through compacted
snow 16 and ice. FIG. 4 shows the invention assembly 20, affixed to
a vertical side 13 in housing 11, with rigid disc member 21 cutting
through snow 16 and ice as shown by the trailing track 50.
[0020] As previously stated, adjustment of the invention assembly
20, vertically, will vary the distance of the cutting edge 14 and
the surface to be cleared 15.
[0021] While one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated
and described in detail, it will be apparent that various changes
may be made in the disclosed embodiment without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *