Battery loading structure for snow removing machine

Abstract: Onto an auger housing (8) is mounted a battery stand (60) also serving as reinforcement for the stand (60). The stand (60) is provided with snow dropping bores (60e and 60f). A battery (72) is loaded on the stand (60) and covered with a cover (80) having slopes (80a and 80b) used for dropping snow therealong.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a snow removing machine as defined by the preamble portion of claim 1 provided with snow removing means including a snowplow auger and a running means of a crawler or a wheel tire. Related Art Regarding a snow removing machine, conventionally, there has been technology of increasing weight of a snow removing unit of the machine to increase pressure given to snow to thereby improve its snow removing performance. For example, the Japanese Utility Model No. Sho 55-50181 discloses a snow removing machine provided at a snow removing unit thereof with a weight support, on which the necessary number of weights detachably mounted to thereby enable the weight of snow removing unit to be adjusted. The Japanese Utility Model No. Sho 61-38976 is of the same technology, which loads a hydraulic pump instead of the weights disclosed in the Japanese Utility Model No. Sho 55-50181. Among these conventional arts, the former needs the weight of separate parts of the snow removing machine, and it is troublesome to be removed and mounted every time so that the snow removing machine is hard to be compactly arranged from a viewpoint of workability. It is troublesome from the workability that a large number of parts (weights in this case) expect for tools and safety pins necessary for the maintenance are used in the machine. Also, in the latter, a compact and inexpensive snow removing machine is difficult to adopt the hydraulic pump because of cost-up. In the conventional art, the hydraulic pump is not covered and mounted onto the rear surface of an auger casing, whereby there is a fear that the hydraulic pump may be badly affected. Even if the hydraulic pump is covered, the cover is subject to snow piling which is hard to be removed unless a snowplow is used therefor. A prior art snow removing machine with the features of the preamble portion of claim 1 is known from JP 04118409 A. This snow removing machine is provided with a battery service terminal underneath a driver's seat. A manually operated snow plough provided with a scoop for collecting snow and a rotor driven by a small gasoline motor or an electric motor and rotating within a cylindrical housing for ejecting the snow through a chute is known from US-A 2 605 561. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a snow removing machine which, in spite of being inexpensive and compact, can improve the snow removing performance. In order to attain this object the present invention provides a snow removing machine according to claim 1. In accordance with the invention, a battery stand is mounted onto an auger housing of a snow removing machine, which is provided at the forward portion thereof with the auger housing for covering an auger and, preferably, a blower cover extended backwardly from the auger housing, the battery stand being also used as reinforcement for the auger housing. Furthermore, the battery stand is provided with slits through which snow drops off and the battery loaded on the stand is covered at the top thereof with a cover sloped for falling snow thereon. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon a reading of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a left side view of a crawler type snow removing machine according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a right side view of a wheel type snow removing machine; Fig. 3 is a perspective front view of the snow removing unit of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of the snow removing unit in which a battery stand 60 is mounted; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the battery stand 60; Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a battery casing 70, a battery 72 and a battery cover 80 as they appear while the battery 72 is inserted into the battery casing 70 and the battery 72 is covered with the battery cover 80; Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of alternatively modified battery cover 80; Fig. 8 is a perspective rear view of a snow removing unit on which is mounted a battery stand 111 of a modified embodiment; Fig. 9 is a plan view of battery stand 111; Fig. 10 is a perspective rear view of the snow removing unit which mounts battery 72 on battery stand 111; Fig. 11 is a perspective rear view of the snow removing unit which mounts a battery cover 115 on the same; and Fig. 12 is a front view of battery cover 115. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION At first, explanation will be given on a whole structure of a crawler type snow removing machine provided with the snow removing unit of the present invention in accordance with Fig. 1. The snow removing machine of the invention disposes a snow removing unit A at the front of the machine body and a control unit B at the rear thereof. An engine E is mounted on a transmission housing 1 serving as a main body. A drive axle 11 is rotatably supported by transmission housing 1 and project leftward and rightward therefrom so as to be rotatably supported by respective track roller frames 12. Sprocket wheels 13 are fixed onto both ends of drive axle 11, respectively. An axle 14 on both ends of which track idlers 15 are fixed is not supported by transmission housing 1 but supported by frames 12 behind the rear end of transmission housing 1. Shown sprocket wheels 13 and track idlers 15 are disposed outside frames 12, however, they may be disposed inside the same. A track 16 is wound onto sprocket wheel 13 and track idler 15 on each of left and right sides of the machine body. Axle 11 fixed to sprocket wheels 13 is driven by power of engine E through a transmission mechanism in transmission housing 1 to travel the snow removing machine. Snow removing unit A is provided at the front thereof with left and right augers 24 for raking-in snow and an auger housing 8 which covers the top, rear and both lateral sides of augers 24. A blower casing 6 for containing a blower (not shown) is extended backwardly from the lateral middle of rear end of auger housing 8. A chute 7 for exhausting snow, which is capable of whirling at about 180° , projects upwardly from the top of blower casing 6. Control unit B comprises a control panel 5, a handle 4, a running speed change lever 18, a lifting lever 19 and the like. Control panel 5 is provided at the respective lateral sides thereof with a running clutch lever 21 and an auger clutch lever 22 both of a deadman clutch lever type. Lifting lever 19 is operated so as to rotate a cam 35 through a rod 33 downwardly extending from control panel 5, thereby raising or lowering the rear end of transmission housing 1, which is vertically rotatable in relative to axle 11. As a result, snow removing unit A is vertically moved together with transmission housing 1 rotated about axle 11 as a fulcrum. Just behind auger housing 8 and at the laterally opposite side of blower casing 6 to a battery stand 60 to be discussed later is disposed a reinforcement member 50 for snow removing unit A, which may be joined to auger housing 8 and blower casing 6. Fig. 2 shows a wheel type snow removing machine equipped with snow removing unit A of the invention, which travels with drive wheels 56 mounted on a drive axle 55 corresponding to axle 11 without tracks as shown in Fig. 1. Similarly to those shown in Fig. 1, snow removing unit A, comprising augers 24, auger housing 8, blower casing 6 and chute 7, is disposed at the front portion of machine body and control unit B equipped with handle 4, control panel 5, running clutch lever 21 and auger clutch lever 22 is at the rear portion thereof. Handle 4 is gripped by an operator for properly steering the machine during the running. Instead of lifting lever 19, handle 4 is raised and lowered by the operator's hands so as to vertically rotate the snow removing machine about the fulcrum of wheels 56, thereby enabling snow removing unit A to be adjusted in height. Figs. 1 and 2 are side views when viewed from the opposite side to each other, in which parts in common can be presumed in such a manner that the right side view of snow removing machine in Fig. 1 is presumed from Fig. 2 and the left side view of the same in Fig. 2 from Fig. 1. The two snow removing machines shown in Figs. 1 and 2 have several differences other than that of driving type between a crawler type and a wheel type. Firstly, as the adjusting means for height, that is, the ground clearance of auger 24, rollers 40 are mounted to the left and right sides of snow removing unit A shown in Fig. 1. Meanwhile, skids 59 are mounted to the left and right sides of the machine shown in Fig. 2. Resulting augers 24 can be rather spaced from the ground by rollers 40 or skids 59. Regarding the mounting of rollers 40 in Fig. 1, for example, it is considered that slots are bored at the sides of reinforcement member 50 and battery stand 60 just behind auger housing 8, and brackets carrying respective rollers 40 are tightened by bolts inserted into the slots so that the bolts are changed in position within the slots, thereby adjusting rollers 40 in height. Roller 40 is enough so long as being mounted adjustably in its height. Regarding the mounting of skids 59 in Fig. 2, as shown in Fig. 12, it is considered that left and right skids 59 are fixed onto vertical reinforcement ribs 8b formed at the left or right rear surface of auger housing 8, respectively, so as to increase the support strength of skids 59. Skids 59 may be fixed to auger housing 8 by bolts or welding. If they are tightened by bolts, vertical slots may be bored in reinforcement ribs 8b so that the bolts in the slots are vertically adjusted to adjust the height of skids 59, thereby enabling the ground clearance of augers 24 to be adjusted. Roller 40, while being superior for smooth movement of the snow removing machine to skid 59, contacts with the ground through a small area thereof almost like a point so that snow removing unit A lacks in stability. On the contrary, skid 59, which presses the ground by its flat surface, is well in stability, but deteriorates in mobility because of its being dragged on the ground. It is sufficient for selecting one of the two structures of supporting snow removing unit A against the ground shown in Figs. 1 and 2 that the selected structure agrees with emphasized requirements existing in the entire structure of the snow removing machine as an object, wherein the decision to use roller 40 or skid 59 is not limited by the formation of snow removing machine whether of crawler type or wheel type. Next, the structure of snow removing unit A in common to both the snow removing machines shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will be detailed. In Fig. 3, an opening 8a is bored at the center of the rear surface of auger housing 8 so as to communicate with the interior of blower casing 6. A transmission shaft 28 is forwardly extended from transmission housing 1 into blower casing 6 so as to transmit power of engine E to the blower therein, and further projects forwardly from opening 8a to be fitted into a gear casing 27 which contains a transmission mechanism, such as a bevel gear mechanism or a worm gear mechanism, for driving augers 24. An auger shaft 25 extends leftwardly and rightwardly from gear casing 27 and is rotatably journalled at both outer ends thereof onto the left and right side plates of auger housing 8, respectively. Next, explanation will be given on the battery loading structure. Fig. 4 shows battery stand 60 as the same as that in Fig. 2, from which a battery 72, a battery casing 70 and the like are removed. In this embodiment, battery stand 60 is fixed onto the rear surface of auger housing 8 by welding. In addition, chute 7 is disposed laterally eccentrically from the middle of blower casing 6 (in this embodiment, at the left side thereof), so that a space for disposing stand 60 is assured at the opposite side of blower casing 6 to chute 7. Chute 7 and stand 60 are not limited to such positional relationship. Battery stand 60 is made of a horizontal plate which is downwardly bent so as to form a lateral side surface (in this embodiment, a right side surface) 60a and a rear surface 60b. The front ends of horizontal surface and right side surface 60a are curved along the rear surface of auger housing 8 and welded thereto, and the left side ends of horizontal surface and rear surface 60b are curved along the right side surface of blower casing 6 and welded thereto, thereby serving as a reinforcement member for snow removing unit A (auger housing 8). As shown in Fig. 5, the horizontal surface of stand 60 is bored by slots 60e and 60f for dropping out snow. Slot 60e extends approximately parallel to a front edge 60c of the horizontal surface, and slot 60f extends approximately parallel to a left edge 60d of the horizontal surface. A distance X between front edge 60c and slit 60e and that Y between side edge 60d and slit 60f are set so as to ensure the strength of auger housing 8 and that of stand 60 against a battery loaded thereon when stand 60 is welded to auger housing 8 and blower casing 6 through both edges 60c and 60d. A substantially circular opening 60g for mounting therethrough a battery 72, is provided in the vicinity of the center of the horizontal surface of stand 60. Slots 60e and 60f and opening 60g are so disposed that, when battery 72 is loaded on stand 60, opening 60g is hidden by battery 72 and slots 60e and 60f are exposed. Next, explanation will be given on the construction of battery 72 battery casing 70 and the like in accordance with Fig. 6. A plurality of bolts 70a downwardly project from the bottom surface of upwardly open casing 70. For loading battery casing 70 on stand 60, bolts 70a are inserted into holes 60h bored in stand 60 so as to place the bottom surface of casing 70 onto the upper horizontal surface of stand 60, and then, bolts 70a are tightened by nuts respectively. Thus, an opening 70b bored in the bottom surface of casing 70 is made to coincide with opening 60g. A battery seat 71 is interposed, in a substantially inverse U-like shape when viewed in side, between the bottom surface of casing 70 and the bottom surface of battery 72. Battery seat 71 is provided at an optional position of a side edge thereof with a cutout 71a. Battery seat 71 can be easily removed from casing 70 by hooking a finger to cutout 71a. Furthermore, cutout 71a assures a route for water to be drained. Due to the construction, water which has penetrated into casing 70 is gathered on battery seat 71 and flows therealong and downwardly through cutout 71a so as to be gathered in a space between the bottom surface of battery seat 71 and that of casing 70, and then, falls from stand 60 onto the ground through openings 70b and 60g coinciding with each other, thereby being drained from casing 70. Openings 70b and 60g are shifted from cutout 71a when viewed in plan and are intercepted form battery 72 through battery seat 71 interposed between opening 70b and battery 72. Accordingly, even when any obstacle enters from below into casing 70 through openings 70b and 60g, battery 72 is protected by battery seat 71 from the obstacle. On the upper surface of battery seat 71 is stuck a buffer 71b (in this embodiment, two buffers 71b) formed with an elastic body, such as rubber or synthetic resin. Battery 72 is placed on buffer 71b, so that, when stand 60 integral with auger housing 8 and casing 70 fixed onto stand 60 are subjected to an impact caused by gravel or the like encroaching on auger 24 during the snow removing working, transmission of the impact to battery 72 is attenuated by buffer 71b. A holder 73 is put on the top of battery 72 in battery casing 70 and cables or the like are connected to battery 72, and then, a battery cover 80 is put and tightened onto the upper edge of casing 70, by use of wing bolts 74. Since battery 72 is loaded on stand 60 mounted onto snow removing unit A as the above-mentioned, snow removing unit A can be weighted at low cost without a weight or a hydraulic pump which has been conventionally used. Resulting snow removing unit A sufficiently pressures against the snow surface on the ground, thereby ensuring good snow removing performance. Also, stand 60 fixedly jointed between auger housing 8 and blower casing 6 has a function to reinforce these members. In the structure as the above-mentioned, around casing 70 (containing battery 72) loaded on stand 60 as shown in Fig. 4, there are some portions where snow is specially easy to pile as discussed below during the snow removing. Snow accumulated on the rear surface of auger housing 8 and on the right hand curved surface of blower casing 6 tends to slide down onto stand 60 in the vicinity of front edge 60c and side edge 60d thereof and be piled thereon because of vibration of auger housing 8 and blower casing 6. Also, if it snows, battery cover 80 tends to be covered with snow. The snow piled upon stand 60 in the vicinity of edges 60c and 60d thereof is intended to drop through slits 60e and 60f. The snow piled on cover 80, which is shaped as shown in Fig. 2, is made to slide down along a front slope 80a and a rear slope 80b of cover 80. Front slope 80a is so sloped that snow falls therefrom onto front edge 60c, where the snow joins with that from auger housing 8. Therefore, front slope 80a must be sloped so as to restrict the snow falling therefrom. Meanwhile, rear slope 80b may be sloped so as to alow the snow falling therefrom to be increased to a certain extent because the snow sliding down along rear slope 80b almost falls onto the ground. Hence, slope 80a is made steeper than that 80b, which is made longer than the same to that extent, thereby increasing the snow sliding down along slope 80b more than along slope 80a. Extremely, as shown in Fig. 7, cover 80 may be formed to be vertical at the front surface, so that a downward, rearward slope 80c may be formed throughout the longitudinal length of cover 80. In addition, since snow removing unit A vibrates more largely than other parts of the machine, stand 60 largely vibrates so as to accelerate the snow piled thereon to be dropped off. In other words, stand 60 and battery 72 (including casing 70 and cover 80) mounted snow removing unit A have larger snow falling effect than those which are supposed to be mounted onto other portions of the machine. From the viewpoint of protecting battery 72 as an electrical equipment from snow, cover 80 and stand 60 which are so constructed and disposed as the above-mentioned are desirable due to their great snow dropping effect, however, they are subject to the large vibration of snow removing unit A. If the vibration is decided to be severe against battery 72, it should be considered such that snow removing unit A is alleviated by adjusting its ground clearance by use of the above means like rollers 40 or skids 59, or by mounting of a buffer like that 71b, thereby limiting the vibration of battery 72 to its allowable level while the above-mentioned snow dropping effect of cover 80 and stand 60 is ensured. The above-mentioned loading of battery 72 by use of a battery stand like that 60 as shown in Fig. 4, and alternative embodiments of it shown in Figs. 8-12 as discussed below according to the invention may be equally effectively adapted to any of the two type machines shown in Figs. 1 and 2 whichever type is disclosed in any of Figs. 4, 8, 10 and 11. If battery 72 itself is waterproof, corrosion-proof and protective against obstacles, casing 70 is not necessary. In this case, it is considered that battery 72 is mounted on a buffer stuck onto stand 60. Opening 60d may be deleted from stand 60 which is free from the requirement of draining water from casing 70, or that is preferable in order to prevent battery 72 from obstacles from below stand 60. Alternative modified embodiments of the invention, in which battery 72 is loaded without use of casing 70, will be explained in accordance with Figs. 8-12. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, a battery stand 111 is fixed at its side edge 111c and front edge 111d to blower casing 6 and auger housing 8, respectively, by welding or the like. Stand 111 is bored in the respective vicinities of edge 111d and a rear edge thereof by holes 111a, into which support rods 112 to be discussed below are inserted. A corner between edges 111c and 111d, as shown in Fig. 12, is slantwise cut so as to provide a gap 111e for draining water (snow) therethrough between blower casing 6 and auger housing 8. Gap 111e replaces slits 60g and 60h of stand 60. Stand 111 is downwardly bent at the rear end thereof to form a vertical edge 111b, thereby ensuring the strength of stand 111 itself for supporting battery 72 loaded thereon. Referring to Fig. 10, battery 72 is actually loaded on battery stand 111, wherein a buffer (not shown) may be interposed between battery 72 and stand 111. Its is enough for decision of whether the buffer is necessary or not to judge the degree of impact actually delivered onto battery 72 from snow removing unit A. After battery 72 is loaded on stand 111, two support rods 112 are made to upwardly pass through holes 111a of stand 111 before and behind battery 72, so that the bottom of stand 111 is hooked on substantially V-like bent lower ends of rods 112, whereby rods 112 are prevented from upwardly escaping. The upper ends of rods 112 upwardly pass through front and rear holes of a holder 113 put on the top of battery 72, and then, wing nuts 114 are temporarily screwed onto the upper ends of rods 112. As shown in Fig. 11, battery cables 116 are connected to terminals on the upper surface of battery 72, and then, a battery cover 115 is inserted along an arrow F between holder 113 and battery 72. Battery cover 115, as shown in Fig. 12, is of an approximately L-like shape of an elongated portion 115b and a retaining edge 115a when viewed from side. During the insertion of cover 115, elongated portion 115b is laterally inwardly thrusted between holder 113 and battery 72 until edge 115a comes into contact with the outer side surface of battery 72. After cover 115 is placed as such, wing nuts 114 are properly tightened so as to press cover 115 against the upper surface of battery 72 through holder 113.

Claims: A snow removing machine comprising a main body (1) carrying an engine (E), a traveling device disposed below said main body (1) and driven by said engine (E), a battery (72) for said engine (E), and an auger housing (8) disposed in front of said main body (1), said auger housing (8) covering an auger (24) driven by said engine (E), characterized in that a stand (60;111) loaded with the battery (72) for said engine (E) is mounted onto said auger housing (8) to press said auger housing (8) against the ground by the weight of said battery (72). The snow removing machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a blower casing (6) covering a blower driven by said engine (E) is connected to said auger housing (8) and disposed behind said auger housing (8), wherein said stand (60;111) is also connected to said blower casing (6). The snow removing machine as set forth in any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said stand (60;111) is structured to function as reinforcement for said auger housing (8). The snow removing machine as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that a bore (60e,60f) is provided in said stand (60) so as to be exposed when the battery (72) is loaded on said stand (60) for allowing dropping of snow therethrough to avoid accumulation of snow. The snow removing machine as set forth in any of claims 1 through 4, characterized in that a cover (80) is placed on said battery (72) loaded on said stand (60), said cover (80) being shaped with a slope (80a,80b) for allowing sliding. of snow therealong to avoid accumulation of snow.

Inventors: MORIMOTO MINORU, YONEDA SATORU, MORIMOTO, MINORU, YONEDA, SATORU
Applicants: YANMAR AGRICULT EQUIP, YOKA INDUSTRY CO LTD, YANMAR AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT CO., LTD., YOKA INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E01H5
IPC codes: E01H5