Abstract:
A snow blower augers snow scrapped from a path to a fan. The fan is co-axial with the auger at one end of an auger housing. A fan shaft extends through an auger tube. The fan shaft is supported on one end by a fan housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing in the auger tube. The auger is supported at one end by a drive housing bearing attached to the housing and at the other end by a bearing on the fan shaft. This arrangement makes it possible to have an open passage for the snow to move from the auger to the fan.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION 
     The applicant claims the benefit of his U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/251,452, filed Dec. 5, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to snow blowers. After snow falls it is desirable to remove the snow from paths. As used herein the term “paths” would normally include sidewalks and pedestrian paths as well as drive ways and in some cases roadways. Occasionally, the “paths” for cleaning the snow away will include parking lots and other areas. However, in each instance of clearing an area the snow blower will usually clean adjacent paths within the area. 
     The majority of snow blowers are powered by internal combustion engines although some may be powered by electric motors. In typical operation a scrapper lifts the snow into a housing where augers move the snow to a fan which then blows the snow out of a chute. 
     Larger snow blowers are mounted upon wheeled vehicles. A driver is seated on the vehicle to which the snow blower is attached either permanently or as a unit to a multipurpose mobile vehicle. Snow blower operators and repairmen have ordinary skill in this art. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     In some snow blowers, Gerbrandt U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,585 for example, the fan is attached to the auger so that the fan rotates at the same speed as the auger. 
     In other snow blowers, Gogan U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,730 for example, the fans are mounted at right angles to the augers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Progressive Contribution to the Art 
     A snow blower according to this invention moves the snow by an auger at right angles to the travel of the snow blower. The snow is moved to one end of the auger, where a fan catches the snow and blows it through a chute. The fan axis is co-axial with the auger axis. The fan rotates over five (5) times the speed of the auger. This is achieved by mounting a fan upon a shaft which extends though a hollow tube upon which the auger is attached. By this construction, the auger delivers the snow to the fan through an open passageway. There are no supports for the fan shaft between the auger and the fan. Therefore, it is not necessary to change the direction of the snow or to move the snow through supports between for the rotating shafts. 
     This blower is designed to be carried on the front of an all terrain vehicle. The design make it possible to have the entire snow blower unit very close to the front of the vehicle, therefore there is less weight upon the front wheels of the vehicle. 
     The total weight of the blower and the vehicle is better distributed to the vehicle wheels. This results in better steering and traction. 
     (2) Objects of this Invention 
     An object of this invention is to remove snow from a path. 
     Another object of this invention is to remove snow from a path using a small vehicle with a compact snow blower. 
     Further objects are to achieve the above with devices that are sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, low maintenance and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain. 
     Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require highly skilled people to install, operate, and maintain. 
     The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, the different views of which are not necessarily scale drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snow blower according to this invention shown attached to a carrying vehicle with the cover over the drive means removed to show the drive means. 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view of the snow blower taken substantially on line  2 — 2  of FIG. 3, with the attached vehicle partially shown. 
     FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the snow blower taken substantially on line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2, with the auger supports and ice breakers not shown. 
     FIG. 4 a sectional view of the fan on its shaft, the auger on its tube, the four bearings, and the supporting structure. 
    
    
     CATALOGUE OF ELEMENTS 
     As an aid to correlating the terms of the claims to the exemplary drawing(s), the following catalog of elements and steps is provided: 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 8 
                 vehicle 
               
               
                 10 
                 auger housing 
               
               
                 12 
                 connection 
               
               
                 14 
                 housing drive end 
               
               
                 16 
                 fan end 
               
               
                 18 
                 fan housing 
               
               
                 20 
                 open end 
               
               
                 22 
                 disc end 
               
               
                 24 
                 fan disc 
               
               
                 26 
                 fan shaft 
               
               
                 28 
                 fan bearing 
               
               
                 30 
                 auger tube 
               
               
                 32 
                 auger bearing 
               
               
                 34 
                 bearing in tube 
               
               
                 35 
                 second bearing in tube 
               
               
                 36 
                 auger rotate means i.e. 
               
               
                   
                 sprocket 
               
               
                 38 
                 fan rotate means i.e. 
               
               
                 40 
                 auger 
               
               
                 41 
                 auger supports 
               
               
                 42 
                 fan blades 
               
               
                 43 
                 ice breaker 
               
               
                 44 
                 chute 
               
               
                 46 
                 rails 
               
               
                 48 
                 rollers 
               
               
                 50 
                 frame 
               
               
                 52 
                 motor 
               
               
                 54 
                 drive means 
               
               
                 56 
                 skids 
               
               
                 58 
                 scraping blade 
               
               
                 60 
                 cable 
               
               
                 62 
                 windless 
               
               
                 64 
                 chute cable 
               
               
                 66 
                 cable shaft 
               
               
                 68 
                 wings 
               
               
                 70 
                 rod 
               
               
                 72 
                 curvature 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     According to this invention there will be a source of snow that the snow blower (blower) moves over. Common areas where snow may accumulate and that may be cleared using this invention include driveways, sidewalks, parking lots, roads, or any other surface that the user desires to clear of fallen snow. These common areas are sometimes referred to as “paths” herein. 
     The blower unit is free standing unit allowing for a carrying vehicle  8  to be attached to or removed from the blower unit. Once the blower has been correctly attached to the carrying vehicle, the blower can be adjusted vertically in height dependent on the thickness of snow. 
     Those with ordinary skill in the art are aware that as snow depth increases it may become necessary to raise the blower necessitating multiple passes before the path is cleared. Adjustable skids  56  mounted to the bottom of auger housing  10  allow for minor height adjustments. Additionally, the blower unit may be raised or lowered by rails  46  connected to the auger housing  10  and rollers  48  attached by frame  50  to the carrying vehicle  8 . This raising and lowering may be accomplished manually. However, the preferred means is by attaching a cable  60  to the back of the auger housing  10  where the cable is extended and retracted from a battery powered windlass  62  mounted on the vehicle  8 . 
     As the carrying vehicle  8  with mounted blower travels over the snow, the snow entering the auger housing  10  is channeled towards a fan end  16  by auger  40 . A scraping blade  58  located at the bottom of the auger housing  10  under the auger  40  spans the width of the auger housing  10 . The blade  58  functions to push any snow the auger  40  does not capture into the auger housing  10  and thus the auger  40 . Once the snow reaches the fan end  16 , fan blades  42  propel the snow vertically through directional chute  44 . 
     The user can adjust the direction of snow discharge by rotating the directional chute  44 . A chute cable  64  extends around the chute with one end wrapped over the top of a cable shaft  66 . The other end is wrapped around under the cable shaft  66 . This provides easy rotation of the chute  44 . 
     The auger housing  10  has a housing drive end  14  and the fan end  16  encasing the auger  40 . The initial means for moving the snow is encased by this auger housing. The auger housing  10  has a discharge opening at the fan end  16  leading to fan housing  18 . The span of the auger housing  10  is open to the auger  40  to provide entry for snow. 
     Wings  68  pull the snow from outside the width of the drive end  14  and the fan end  16  into the auger housing  10 . The wings are connected by rod  70  as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     Vertically adjustable skids  56  are mounted to the bottom of the auger housing  10  by fastening devices (bolts, etc.) securing the skids. In addition to this means for minor adjustment, the rollers  48  attached to frame  50  and riding in the rails  46  provide for major vertical adjustments, as explained earlier. 
     The fan end  16  of the housing  10  is connected to cylindrical fan housing  18  which has an open end  20  and a disc end  22 . The open end  20  receives the snow which is moved to the fan blades  42  by the auger  40 . It is emphasized that there is no obstruction between the auger  40  and the fan blades  42 . Stated otherwise, there is an open passageway from the auger to the fan. This arrangement is free of any interference allowing for all of the flow of snow entering the fan housing  18  to proceed directly into the fan blades  42  and out the discharge chute  44  with no obstruction, and minimum change of direction. 
     A fan disc  24  closes the disc end  22  of the fan housing  18 . Fan shaft  26  is telescoped in auger tube  30  and is supported by two bearings, fan bearing  28  attached to the fan disc  24  of the housing  18  and one bearing  35  in the tube  30  at the drive end  14 . The fan shaft  26  extends co-axially through a bearing  34  in the auger tube  30 . The fan shaft  26  is aligned with the auger housing  10 . The auger tube  30  is supported by two bearings, the auger bearing  32  on the housing drive end  14  of the housing  10  and the bearing  34  on the shaft  26  in the tube  30 . 
     The auger  40 , extends coaxially from and along the auger tube  30  from the drive end  14  to the fan end  16  of said auger tube. The coiled, helical formation of the blade works to push the snow entering the auger housing towards the fan end  16 . The auger  40  is connected to the auger tube  30  by supports  41  that extend radially from the auger tube  30  slightly past the outer most edge of the auger  40  forming an extension or ice breaker  43 . The ice breaker  43  will crush ice which may form on the blade  58  or housing  10 . Also it is not uncommon for ice to lie underneath the loose snow, these support ice breakers  43  work to break it up. 
     The auger tube  30  is connected at the housing closed end  14  to an auger rotating means  36  in the form of a sprocket for rotating the tube at an auger speed. The fan shaft  26  is connected at the housing end  14  to a fan rotating means  38  (another sprocket) for rotating the fan shaft  26  at a fan speed which is faster than the auger speed. Relative rotational velocity between the auger tube  30  and the fan shaft  26  may vary, but the speed of the fan shaft  26  should be at least approximately five (5) times that of the auger tube  30 . A fan speed thirteen (13) times the auger speed seems to be the optimum while larger ratios are operable. A motor  52  with a drive means  54  attached to both a top of the rails  46  and the auger housing  10  is also attached to the means for rotating the fan shaft  38  and the auger tube  30 . Preferably the motor  52  is an internal combustion engine. 
     The fan blades  42  used to discharge the snow have curvature  70  on the leading edge to better capture and then release the snow into the directional chute  44 . 
     Furthermore, it can be seen that alternative means for vertical adjustment of the auger housing, means  38  for driving the fan shaft and means  36  for driving the auger tube other than what is mentioned in this application would still be operable. The speed and means set forth are the preferred embodiment in part based on efficiency, simplicity, and cost effectiveness. 
     The embodiment shown and described above is only exemplary. I do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. 
     The restrictive description and drawings of the specific example above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to point out the advantages and the progressive contribution to the snow blowing art and to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.