Automated control mechanism for a snow blower discharge shoot

[0001] Mar. 31, 2001 CA Canada . . . 2349753

[0002] 1. U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,927 Mar. 7, 1994 SOSENKO

[0003] Automated electric discharge shoot

[0004] Relationship: an example of an electric, automated, discharge shoot that is available on many of today's snow blowers. Problems are that it requires an upgraded, magneto and a separate electric motor, which are costly.

[0005] 2. EP0372150 Jun. 13, 1990 HANYU

[0006] Automated, mechanical discharge mechanism

[0007] Relationship: an example of an automated, mechanical shoot. Design is complicated, parts wear easily, and is complicated and costly to manufacture.

[0008] 3. U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,629 May 9, 2000 PETERSON

[0009] Snowblower chute assembly drive

[0010] Relationship: an example of an electric, automated, discharge shoot that is available on many of today's snow blowers. Problems are that it requires an upgraded, magneto and a separate electric motor, which are costly.

[0011] 4. U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,748 Oct. 18, 1983 WESTIMAYER

[0012] Snowblower hydraulic chute rotation assembly

[0013] Relationship: an example of a hydraulic mechanism for shoot assembly. A design for larger tractors requiring a hydraulic pump, oil, hoses, cylinders, etc. This is not a mechanism that would work on a small snowblower.

[0014] Snow blowers are a common tool used particularly in colder 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 considerable cost and complexity to 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, the United States of American and Canada:

	US5444927	Mar. 7, 1994	SOSENKO
	EP0372150	Jun. 13, 1990	HANYU
	US6058629	May 9, 2000	PETERSON
	US4409748	Oct. 18, 1983	WESTIMAYER

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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 makes 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 makes 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.

[0017] FIG. 1: is a left side view of a snow blower with the automation mechanism attached to the left side of the shroud.

[0018] FIG. 2: is a detailed side view of the mechanism in a neutral position, with some parts enlarged for clarity of illustration.

[0019] FIG. 3: is a detailed view of a cable adjuster and a tension spring holding the mechanism in neutral.

[0020] FIG. 4: is a front view of the entire mechanism without the cables and snow blower.

[0021] FIG. 5: is a detailed view of the swivelling disc mechanism, including its inner parts.

[0022] This invention provides for an automated control mechanism that rotates the swivelling discharge shoot in the direction of the user's desire.

[0023] 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 makes 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 makes 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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 17 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.

[0026] 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 permanently 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.

[0027] 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 shaft 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.