Patent Publication Number: US-6662477-B2

Title: Snowblower controls

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE 
     This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/784,365, filed Feb. 15, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,292 B2, Jun. 17, 2003. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to snowblowers and more specifically to a control structure for engaging the drives to the wheels and the discharge auger and for swingably moving the discharge chute. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Snow removal equipment such as walk-behind snowblowers include a frame or chassis to which is mounted a pair of ground engaging drive wheels, an engine, and an auger in the form of a rotary blade for slicing and shifting snow toward a discharge chute where it is then expelled. To assist the operator in directing movement of the snowblower, there ordinarily exists a pair of curved handles which extend upwardly from the chassis. The ends of these handles have grips for the operator to hold and guide the machine as it is operated. Often, the handle and grip portion are bent straight out towards the operator. Typically, both drive wheels are driven together and are not independently powered. Accordingly, snowblowers are turned through pushing on one handlebar and holding or pulling on the other. With handles which extend at the operator, it can be difficult for the operator to exert the necessary forces required to turn the machine. This is particularly true for large machines and/or smaller operators. Thus, it would be beneficial to provide a handle that has a configuration and design which would decrease the amount of leverage needed to maneuver the snowblower. 
     It is common to provide snowblower controls that engage the traction drive and auger, adjust the speed and direction of the machine and orient the discharge chute at a control panel. The panel is usually secured to the handlebar(s) forwardly of the grips. Typical control levers used to engage the traction drive and/or auger are mounted to the handlebar and have an underside conforming to the shape of the handlebar. These levers pivot on the handlebar and extend upwardly from the bar when their respective auger or traction function is not engaged. To engage the auger or traction drive, an operator must press the respective lever downwardly against the handlebar and hold it there as long as engagement is desired. If the operator releases the lever, its auger or traction function will disengage. 
     Many times, control levers and handles for changing the speed and direction of the snowblower drive wheels, as well as the orientation of the chute through which snow is directed, are also located on the control panel. These levers and handles are placed throughout a top surface of the panel and spaced at a distance from the auger and traction controls which are used to engage the drives to the wheels and the auger. To adjust the speed or direction of the snowblower or to adjust the orientation of the chute, the operator must take one hand off the control and move it to the corresponding control for machine speed or orientation of the chute. In doing so, the drives to the wheels and/or the auger will no longer be engaged since the control levers for those drives will no longer be pressed against the handlebar. In other words, as a result of the spacing between the auger and traction levers and above-mentioned controls, an operator is unable to maintain engagement of both the snowblower&#39;s traction drive and auger while making another adjustment such as, for example, shifting into a different operating speed. 
     Thus, it would be desirable to provide a configuration of controls which would allow the operator to use the snowblower with both the traction drive and auger engaged, while at the same time, allowing the ability to shift into a different speed or direction and/or change the orientation of the chute through which snow is expelled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To address the above desire, there is provided a control platform which permits continued engagement of the traction drive and auger while allowing an operator to simultaneously adjust the machine speed and/or direction as well as the orientation of the snow discharge chute. Adjustment of the machine speed and/or direction can be made with the thumb of one hand while the orientation of the chute can be adjusted with the thumb of the other hand. 
     The control platform is mounted atop a handlebar framework which extends upwardly from the snowblower chassis. The platform has attached to it a bail which is pivotably moveable fore and aft within the platform. Attached to the bail is a pair of control levers, one for engaging or disengaging the traction drive and another for likewise controlling engagement and disengagement of the auger. The control for varying the speed and direction of the drive wheels, once engaged, is provided through swingably mounting the bail for fore and aft motion. To lock the speed in any of a variety of settings, there is provided a releasable pawl carried by the bail for engagement with slots in the platform to secure the bail in any of a plurality of positions as the speed or direction of the snowblower is changed. Selection of either a different speed or direction occurs when the operator engages the pawl with a particular slotted portion of the platform. 
     The bail with its levers and pawl are swingably coupled so as to allow the operator to control engagement of the traction drive and auger while, at the same time, allowing a change in the speed or direction of the snowblower. 
     Also attached to the bail is a toggle switch that controls an electrical motor which changes the orientation of the snow discharge chute and thus, the direction towards which snow is expelled from the snowblower. The toggle switch is attached to the bail and is located beside the control lever for the auger. Because of the switch location, operation of the auger and chute may occur without requiring the operator to remove his or her hand from the auger control lever since the switch is controllable by the push of a thumb. Accordingly, operation of the auger as well as manipulation of the directional movement of the discharge chute may take place simultaneously. Vertical deflection of the snow as it is discharged from the chute is achieved through use of a cap mounted on top of the chute which is controlled by a handle carried on the handlebar framework to the side of and in front of the switch. 
     Thus, there is provided a configuration of controls for allowing an operator to obtain simultaneous activation of the drives for the wheels and the auger while, at the same time, enabling concurrent adjustments of other controls of the snowblower&#39;s operation. Additionally, the configuration provides a bail with ends having a downward slope in order to allow an operator to more easily grasp and control those ends by being able to exert greater leverage over them when operating the snowblower. Accordingly, the operator is able to minimize the pushing or pulling often required by previous designs, thus resulting in easier and less stressful operation of the snowblower. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front and side elevation view of the snowblower according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of the snowblower as illustrated in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the control platform included in the present, invention. 
     FIG. 3A is an enlarged view of the traction control lever and a thumb operated pawl. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic illustrating the snowblower drive, auger and control components. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear elevated perspective view of the control platform according to FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a rear and side elevated perspective view of the right side of the control platform. 
     FIG. 7 is a front and side elevated perspective view of the left side of the control platform. 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevated perspective view illustrating the drive control lever and pawl mounting on the handlebar. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is shown a snowblower  10  having a frame  12  supported upon a pair of ground engaging drive wheels  14 ,  16  and including an engine  18  and discharge chute  20  mounted with the frame  12 . At the front  22  of the snowblower  10 , there is provided a collector housing  24  which surrounds an auger  26 . The auger  26  is provided as a helical/spiral shape rotary blade which slices through and then shifts snow towards an opening (not shown) in the frame  12 . The opening serves as a passageway through which snow is directed to the discharge chute  20 . Upon entering the chute  20 , snow is directed outwardly and away from the snowblower  10 . At the rear  28  of the snowblower  10  is a mounting or handlebar arrangement  30  extending upwardly and away from the frame  12 . Arrangement  30  is a U-shaped extension having legs  34 ,  36  and is connected with the rear portion  28  of the frame  12 . Bolted to legs  34 ,  36  is a further U-shaped handlebar arrangement  38  having a set of members  40 ,  42  which curve to form a rearwardly bent portion  44 . 
     As shown throughout FIGS. 1-8, a mounting plate  46  is attached to the portion  44 . Plate  46  is joined to portion  44  through the use of fasteners  48  such as bolts and nuts. A control platform or unit  50  for directing various functions of the snowblower&#39;s operation is attached to the plate  46 . Those functions include engaging or disengaging the drives for the wheels  14 ,  16  as well as the auger  26 , changing the speed or direction of the machine, and providing a different orientation for the discharge chute  20 . The platform  50  is open at its sides and is constructed of sheet metal having a generally rectangular configuration with top and bottom surfaces  52  and  54 , respectively, and front and rear faces  56  and  58 . Each of the surfaces  52 ,  54  and faces  56 ,  58  provide a housing for the structure discussed below and contained therein. In the preferred embodiment, platform  50  will be covered by a casing (not shown) provided to shelter platform  50 . The top  52  of the platform  50  is an arcuately shaped surface having a downward slope beginning at the rear  60  of the platform  50  and accelerating as the top surface  52  extends towards the front  22  of the snowblower  10 . Along this downwardly sloped top surface  52  are notches  62  permitting a selection of speeds and directions in which the snowblower  10  may travel. 
     Looking specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7, the rear bottom surface  64  of platform  50  includes two upturned mounting tabs  66 ,  68 , one on either side of the bottom surface  64 . Mounts  66 ,  68  align with each other and contain an opening  70  therethrough. Pins  71  are carried in the openings  70  and pivotally connect a U-shaped bracket  72  at point A shown in FIG. 7 to each of the mounts  66 ,  68 . Bracket  72  has a pair of upwardly extending legs  74 ,  76 . As seen in FIG. 8, leg  74  and also unshown leg  76  include arcuately shaped depressions  78  at their ends  80  to which is secured a bail  82 . Bail  82 , which is partially housed within platform  50 , is thereby allowed to pivot fore and aft about the pins  71  mounted at point A to control fore and aft movement of the snowblower  10 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, bail  82  has left and right ends  84 ,  86  which extend from the middle thereof and protrude from the platform  50  for permitting an operator to grasp the bail  82  and operate the snowblower  10 . To make that grasp easier, rubber grips  88  are provided to cover each of the ends  84 ,  86 . Additionally, each grip  88  may have heating elements therein (not shown) for warming an operator&#39;s hands when using the snowblower  10 . 
     As best seen in FIGS. 6-7, left and right control levers  90 ,  92  are pivotally fastened with the bail  82 . Lever  90  is attached to the left end  84  of the bail  82  and is used to engage or disengage a drive system  94  providing power or traction to wheels  14 ,  16 ; and thus allows the snowblower  10  to obtain and maintain either forward or rearward motion. Lever  92  is connected with the right end  86  of bail  82  and controls engagement or disengagement of the auger  26 . Each of the levers  90 ,  92  has holes  96  and  97  at their respective ends  98 . Holes  96 ,  97  allow for attachment of cables  100 ,  102 , as best seen in FIG. 7, with the respective lever  100  or  102  at one end thereof. At the other end of the cables  100 ,  102 , connection is made with respective drive wheel and clutching structures that are controlled by the respective levers  90 ,  92 . 
     To select a particular speed and direction for the drive wheels, a pawl  104  is pivotally attached to the swinging bail  82  at a mid-portion thereof, as best shown in FIG.  3 A. Pawl  104  has a top surface  106  connecting arms  107  and a thumb tab  108 . The tab  108  can easily be actuated by an operator&#39;s thumb when his/her hand is on the lever  90  and while the snowblower  10  is operating. With this structure, the operator can engage or disengage the drive system  94  to engage the wheels  14 ,  16  by squeezing the clutching lever  90  as well as select the speed and direction of the drive wheels  14 ,  16  through engaging the pawl  104  in one of its plurality of settings. 
     To actuate the transmission and change the speed or direction of the drive wheels  14 ,  16  as the bail  82  is swung fore and aft about its pivot A, there is provided a forwardly extending post  110  secured to the base of the U-shaped bracket  72 , see FIGS. 6 and 7. The post  110  includes first and second ends  112 ,  114  with end  112  being fixedly joined to the bracket  72  at a midpoint  115  thereof. The post  110  is connected to bracket  72  at an angle to permit it to swing fore and aft and to avoid interference with platform  50  as the bail  82  moves. At the opposite end  114  of post  110 , there is provided a series of holes  116  that allow a peg  124  of collar  122  to be attached to the post in one of the holes  116 , see FIGS. 6 and 7. The collar  122  is adapted to threadably receive a linkage rod  118 , at a first end  120  thereof, which in turn is coupled with structure, discussed below, to selectively change the speed or direction of the transmission. Thus, with the connection of the swingable bail  82  to post  110  and rod  118 , bail  82  is linked to the drive system  94 , thereby allowing an operator to swing the bail  82  and change the speed or direction of the snowblower  10  while operating. 
     Collar  122  includes the peg  124  for mating engagement with the post  110  via insertion through one of the holes  116 . Peg  124  contains an opening  126  through which a fastener, preferably a spring locking pin  128  is placed, as shown in FIG.  6 . Pin  128  is placed through opening  126  so as to secure the collar  122  to the post  110  and couple the rod  118  with the post  110 . Looking now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that at a second end  130  of rod  118 , an oblong plate  132  extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rod  118 . The plate  132  is interconnected with a rotating link or pin  134  to the drive system  94  at point B for permitting movement of the snowblower  10  upon actuation of the bail  82  in a forward or rearward direction. 
     Looking now to the auger orientation control and FIG. 3, it can be seen that a bracket  136  is secured perpendicularly to the handlebar  82 . The bracket  136  carries or supports an electrical switch  138  which is connected to and controls power supplied to a motor  140 , as shown in FIG.  1 . The motor  140  is supported on top of the frame  12  adjacent the discharge chute  20  and coupled with the chute in a conventional way to swing the chute about a vertical axis to direct the discharge of snow in any of a variety of directions. In the preferred embodiment, switch  138  is provided in the form of a toggle permitting the operator to use only a thumb when desiring to control operation of the chute  20 . This form permits the operator&#39;s right hand to be kept on the bail  82  to maintain engagement of the drive system or auger  26  while at the same time allowing orientation of the discharge chute  20  to be controlled. Wires electrically connecting the switch  138  to the motor  140  are housed within a span of tubing  142 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     With FIG. 4, a schematic is provided showing connection of the control platform  50  beyond the mounting plate  46 . Connected with the first and second levers  90 ,  92 , respectively, are the cables  100 , 102 . Each cable  100 ,  102  attaches the lever  90  or  92  to the respective structure which it controls. Cable  100  connects the first or left lever  90  with a first clutch  146  which is used to deliver power to the wheels  14 ,  16  to allow the snowblower to move forwardly or rearwardly at a chosen speed. Similarly, cable  102 , as shown in FIG. 4, connects the second or right lever  92  with a second clutch  144  used to transfer power from the engine  18  to the auger  26 . Each of the cables  100 ,  102  includes a spring  148  to provide proper tensioning along the length thereof to reduce the likelihood of their lengthening or breakage. 
     Each of the drive wheels  14 ,  16  is mounted along a driven shaft or axle  150 . Also mounted on the shaft  150  are a series of structural supports  152 . Further mounted with the shaft  150  is a pair of clutches  154 ,  156 . Each of the clutches  154 ,  156  is operable upon load to transfer power and control the direction of each of the wheels  14 ,  16  after clutch  146  has been actuated. Power is transferred from the engine  18  to both of the wheels  14 ,  16  and the auger  26  via a system of pulleys and belts, designated generally as  158 , which are connected with an output shaft  159  and further shafts  160 ,  162 ,  164  to which the wheels  14  and  16  and auger  26  are attached. Allowing changes in power and direction of each of the wheels  14  and  16  is a transmission  166  which is similarly connected to the shaft  150  by a pulley and belt arrangement  158 . Transmission  166  is provided, preferably, in the form of a friction disc drive. However, the control platform  50  is also contemplated to function with a hydrostatic transmission as well. 
     In use, the control platform  50  permits the operator to perform any combination of four functions simultaneously whereby those functions include: ( 1 ) engaging or disengaging the drive system  94  to deliver or not deliver power to the wheels  14 ,  16 ; ( 2 ) adjusting the speed or direction of the snowblower  10  while in operation; ( 3 ) engaging or disengaging the auger  26 ; and ( 4 ) adjusting the orientation of the snow discharge chute  20 . Allowing these functions to be performed together is the ability to move the bail  82  within the platform as well as the proximity of the pawl  106  and toggle switch  138  relative to the bail  82 . 
     First, to provide traction or motion to the snowblower&#39;s drive wheels  14 ,  16 , an operator squeezes left lever  90  shown in FIG. 7 downwardly against grip  88  at end  84  of the bail  82 . When the lever  90  is squeezed, the cable  100  interconnecting the lever  90  and clutch  144 , as shown in FIG. 4, engages clutch  144  so as to allow power to be transferred between the engine and the respective wheel clutches  152 ,  154  and then to each of the wheels  14 ,  16 . If the lever  90  is not squeezed or otherwise pressed against the grip  88 , no power is transferred to the wheels  14 ,  16 , thus leaving the snowblower  10  in a stationary position. 
     Second and similarly as shown in FIGS. 6 and 4, an operator may hold right lever  92  downwardly against grip  88  and end  86  of bail  82  so as to engage the clutch  146  and allow power to be driven from the engine  18  to the auger  26 . When this occurs, auger  26  will begin to turn, thereby allowing snow removal to occur. In a disengaged or inactive position, clutches  144  and  146  are spring loaded, causing each of the levers  90 ,  92  to be biased upwardly and away from the bail  82 . 
     Looking to FIG. 7, while the lever  90  is held against grip  88  of bail  82 , an operator may change either the speed or direction of the snowblower  10 . An operator may change the speed or direction by moving the bail  82  and attached pawl  104  forwardly or rearwardly. To accomplish this, the pawl  104  which is pivotally attached with the bail  82  at a mid-portion thereof and to the right of lever  90 , allows the operator to use his/her left thumb to engage or disengage the pawl  104  and notch  62  of platform  50  and change the positioning of bail  82 . Pawl  104  is biased for movement in and out of a particular notch  62  by a spring (not shown) connected to the pawl  104  and pin  71  therebelow. While the bail  82  is in a stationary position, the pawl  104  rests against a portion of platform  50  and within the notches  62  provided along the left side thereof. When the bail  82  is moved, pawl  104  moves with bail  82  to pivot about point A. As this occurs, an operator may choose to lock the pawl  104  into any one of the notches  62 . Notches  62  represent a selection of reverse and neutral positions as well as positions representing six levels of speed. Further, as the operator actuates or moves the pawl  104  into a different notch  62 , the change in speed or direction with respect to drive  94  is accomplished via connection of post  110  and rod  118  with the transmission  166 . As shown in FIG. 7, post  110  is, preferably, welded to the bottom of bracket  72  and angularly forward of the legs  74 ,  76 . Post  110 , and thus bail  82 , is connected to transmission by the rod  118 . As bail  82  is moved forwardly or rearwardly and pawl  104  is positioned within one of the various notches, movement of the post  110  and rod  118  together, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, effects a change in the drive  94  thereby allowing the operator to control the snowblower  10  at a different speed or in a different direction. 
     Additionally, switch  138 , as best shown in FIG. 3, is located to the left of right lever  92  so as to allow the operator to control the orientation of the snow discharge chute  20  and thus, the direction towards which snow is thrown during the removal process. To effect a different orientation, the operator need only apply sustained pressure to the switch  138 . Doing so will activate the motor  140  which is geared to and positioned adjacent the chute  20 , as shown in FIG. 1, to cause the chute  20  to move to a different location. 
     All of the above functions may be accomplished simultaneously due to the proximity and cooperation of their respective controlling structure. Thus, the operator is permitted to retain his/her hands on both the traction and auger controls  90 ,  92  while still being able to control selection of speed and/or direction as well as the orientation of the discharge chute  20 . Accordingly, the ability to control all of these functions simultaneously enables the operator to experience greater comfort and flexibility in operation of the snowblower since his/her hands may remain on the bail at all times. 
     While the present invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is understood that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.