Patent ID: 8291623

Claim:
An independently powered snow blower for front mounting on a tractor, said blower comprising: a body having a front, rear top and bottom portions, said body defining a snow capturing cavity at said front portion; a plurality of internal components for snow movement being located within said body; a motor mount plate positioned along said top portion of said body; a power source mounted to said motor mount plate, said power source mechanically connected to said internal components via a drive train, said power source providing a motive power for operation of said internal components; a universal mounting plate attached in close proximity to said rear portion of said body at a distance away from said body, said universal mounting plate being attached to said rear portion of said body by a plurality of structural supports, said universal mounting plate structurally forming a rear-most area of said blower, said rear-most area being positioned at an extreme opposite from said snow capturing cavity, said distance being minimized so as to provide a compact section sufficient to provide space for said drive train, and said universal mounting plate constructed and arranged to facilitate quick removable connection to a connection point of a plurality of tractor lift arms; and a clutch being constructed and arranged within said drive train to selectively isolate said power source from said internal components; wherein at least two of said plurality of structural supports form a plurality of support skids attached to said bottom portion of said body, extending beyond said body, and connecting to said universal mounting plate; wherein said snow blower is operable at extreme upper and extreme lower positions of said plurality of tractor lift arms, and any position within a range of motion achievable by said plurality of tractor lift arms.