Patent ID: 6675506
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: E01H

Abstract:
A power driven ice breaking apparatus comprising:a housing having a top, a bottom, a first lateral side and a second lateral side; a power source connected to said housing; a drive train operatively connected to said power source, said drive train including a drive shaft, said drive shaft having an axis of rotation, a first end and a second end; at least one blade adapted to reciprocate substantially vertically disposed on said bottom side of said housing, said at least one blade extends laterally from a first end disposed proximate said first lateral side of said housing to a second end disposed proximate said second lateral side of said housing; at least one connecting rod having a leading end and a following end, said following end connected to said at least one blade; at least one crank connected to said drive shaft, said at least one crank being pivotally connected to said leading end of said at least one connecting rod; a first substantially vertical guide channel connected to the bottom of said housing proximate to the first lateral side thereof, said first end of said at least one blade being slidingly engaged in said first guide channel; a second substantially vertical guide channel connected to the bottom of said housing proximate to the second lateral side thereof, said second end of said at least one blade being slidingly engaged in said second guide channel; whereby a rotational motion of said drive shaft and said at least one crank about said axis of rotation imparts a substantially vertical reciprocating motion to one of said first and second ends of said at least one blade.