Patent ID: 6318003
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
A snow thrower comprising a housing for supporting an engine having a vertical output shaft which extends downwardly to within the housing;a drive pulley joined to said shaft;an auger drive shaft supported by said housing for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis;an auger drive pulley joined to the auger drive shaft outside of said housing;an idler arm pivotally connected within said housing;an opening in said housing through which one end of the idler arm extends;a first idler pulley rotatably joined to said one end of the idler arm outside of the housing;a second idler pulley rotatably connected to said housing, said second idler pulley lying in an inclined plane;a belt extending about said drive pulley, auger drive pulley and said idler pulleys and passing through said opening; anda control member joined to said idler arm, said control member being selectively operable to pivotally move the idler arm between a first position in which the first idler pulley tensions the belt to translate rotation of the drive shaft to rotation of the auger drive shaft and a second position in which the belt is not tensioned by the idler pulley.