CA2905474A1 - Assembly to prevent the formation of ice in a snow blower track - Google Patents

Abstract

The problem of the formation of snow and ice between the wheels and the endless tracks of a snow blower is solved by positioning a scraper blade adjacent each wheel. In some embodiment, a scraper assembly is provided that includes a scraper element and at least one mounting assembly that receives the scraper element and that includes a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the snow blower so that the scraper element is adjacent at least one wheel. Such an arrangement yields a small gap between the at least one wheel and the at least one scraper element that reduces the formation of ice between the at least one wheel and the endless track.

Description

TITLE
Assembly to Prevent the Formation of Ice in a Snow blower Track BACKGROUND
[0001] Snow blowers, which are also called snow throwers, can be single-stage type or two-stage type. Two-stage machines for home use are usually self-propelled and include large wheels equipped with tire chains or, in some cases, endless tracks.

[0002] It is known in the art that snow blowers equipped with tracks are easier to handle in deep snow. However, snow tends to accumulate between both drive and driven wheels and the tracks, causing the misalignment of the tracks, their loosing, and in some cases, even their detachment.
SUMMARY

[0003] In accordance with illustrative embodiments, there is provided a device to reduce the formation of snow between an endless track and at least one wheel of a snow blower endless track assembly, the scraper assembly comprising:

[0004] at least one scraper element; and

[0005] at least one mounting assembly that receives the at least one scraper element and that includes a mounting portion to be mounted to the snow blower so that the scraper element is adjacent the at least one wheel yielding a small gap between the at least one wheel and the at least one scraper element that reduces the formation of ice between the at least one wheel and the endless track.

[0006] The device is simple to install and to adjust. It includes only a few parts with none moving while in use and, is not prone to break and is reliable.

[0007] Other objects, advantages and features of the present assembly to prevent formation of ice in a snow blower track will become more apparent upon reading the following non restrictive description of illustrated embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the appended drawings:

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment of a device to reduce the formation of snow between an endless track and wheels of a snow blower track assembly;

[0010] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device from Figure 1, showed so adjusted as to yield the maximum gap between the two blades thereof;

[0011] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the device from Figure 1;

[0012] Figure 4A is a side elevation of an endless track assembly from a snow blower, showing the device from Figure 1 mounted thereon, with the position of one blade thereof being adjusted according to the position of a first wheel;

[0013] Figure 4B is a side elevation similar to Figure 4A, wherein the position of the other blade thereof being adjusted for the position of the second wheel; and

[0014] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second illustrative embodiment of a device to reduce the formation of snow between an endless track and wheels of a snow blower track assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals, and in order not to weigh down the figures, some elements are not referred to in some figures if they were already identified in a precedent figure.

[0016] The use of the word "a" or "an" when used in conjunction with the term "comprising" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one", but it is also consistent with the meaning of "one or more", "at least one", and "one or more than one". Similarly, the word "another" may mean at least a second or more.

[0017] As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising"
(and any form of comprising, such as "comprise" and "comprises"), "having"
(and any form of having, such as "have" and "has"), "including" (and any form of including, such as "include" and "includes") or "containing" (and any form of containing, such as "contain" and "contains"), are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements.

[0018] The problem of the formation of snow and ice between the wheels and the endless tracks of a snow blower is solved by positioning a scraper blade adjacent each wheel.

[0019] As will become more apparent upon reading the following description, the proposed scraper blade is mounted via a bracket and can be adjusted to any snow blower provided with endless tracks.

[0020] A first illustrated embodiment of a device 10 that reduces the formation of snow between an endless track 12 and wheels 14-14' of a snow blower endless track assembly 16 will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4B.

[0021] According to the first illustrated embodiment, the device is shown mounted on a snow blower track assembly 16 that includes a drive wheel 14 and a driven wheel 14'. Since the nature of the wheels to which the device 10 is mounted is irrelevant to its operation, the reference to the wheels 14 or 14' will be used interchangeably hereinbelow and the expression 'wheel' will be used for both wheels 14-14'.

[0022] Also, the device 10 will be described with reference to a single one of the two track assemblies 16 (only one shown) for concision purposes, while a device 10 can be installed on both track assemblies 16.

[0023] The device 10 includes first and second scraper elements 18 and 20 and a mounting assembly 22 that receives the scraper elements 18-20 and that includes a mounting support 24 to be mounted to the snow blower 25.

[0024] As will now be described hereinbelow in more detail, the scraper elements 18-20 and the mounting assembly 22 are configured to allow adjusting the scraper elements 18 and 20 position adjacent respective wheels 14. As such, the device 10 can be adapted and adjusted for efficient use on any endless track assembly of a snow blower.

[0025] Each of the two scraper elements 18-20 is in the form of an elongated rectangular blade 26 that extends perpendicularly from a mounting portion 28.

[0026] The blade 26 is made integral to the mounting portion 28 using welding. According to another embodiment, each of the scraper elements 18 and 20 is one-piece.

[0027] The length of the blade 26 is such that it extends along the full width of the wheel 14 when it is mounted adjacent thereto. The thickness of the blade 26 is sufficient to withstand the impact of ice and snow without substantial deformation, considering the rotational speed of the wheels 14. It has been found that a blade 26 having a thickness of 3/16" is sufficient in most conditions.

[0028] The blades 26 are not limited to having a rectangular shape.
Any other flat or tridimensional shape provided with an elongated edge that can be positioned adjacent the peripheral side of the wheel 14 can also be used.

[0029] The mounting portion 28 is in the form of a plate that includes an elongated fastener-receiving aperture 30.

[0030] The mounting support 24 includes two distanced threaded rods 32 that extend generally perpendicularly from a small plate 34. The plate is secured to the snow blower 25. According to the first illustrative embodiment, the mounting support 24 is removably mounted to a protective cover 36 of the snow blower 25, between the two wheels 14-14' of the endless track assembly 16, by inserting the rods 32 through apertures (not shown) provided in the cover 36.

[0031] According to another embodiment (not shown), the plate 34 is secured by welding to the cover 36. According to still another embodiment, the plate 34 is secured to the cover 36 using fasteners (not shown).

[0032] The plate 34 is not limited to the illustrated embodiment and can be provided with other shape and size. Also, when the cover 36 is provided with apertures, the plate 34 can be omitted.

[0033] According to other embodiments (not shown), the mounting support can be mounted to another element of the snow blower 25 than the cover 36. Also, the plate 24 can be substituted or complemented by other elements (not shown) in order to fixedly position the two threaded rods 32 between the two wheels 14-14'.

[0034] The two scraper elements 20 are mounted to the support 24 via their respective mounting portion 28, the threaded rods 32 being inserted through their apertures 30. The scraper elements 20 are oriented so that the blades 26 are positioned on opposite sides of the threaded rods 32.

[0035] Friction-reducing layers 38 and 40, that are in the form of adhesive tape, are affixed to facing sides of the plate 34 and mounting portions of the scraper elements 18 and 20 prior to their assembly. A non-limiting example of such a tape is one that is made from Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), such as the well-known Teflon tape.

[0036] According to another embodiment (not shown), the friction-reducing layers 38 and/or omitted.

[0037] A pair of disk-shaped washers 42 and self locking nuts 44 are used to secure the two scraper elements 18-20 to the mounting assembly 22.

[0038] As will now become obvious to a person skilled in the art, providing the scraper elements 20 with elongated apertures 30 allows adjusting the lateral positions of the blades 26. More specifically, the blades 26 are positioned so that each defines a small inter-space 46 or 46' with a respective wheel 14, 14'.

[0039] When installing the device 10, the plate 34 is first secured to the snow blower 25. The two scraper elements 18 and 20 are then mounted thereto as described hereinabove and according to the sequence shown in Figure 3. With the nuts 44 in position, but before their tightening, the two mounting support 28 are slid relative to the rods 32 (see arrows 48 and 48'), one (see Figure 4A) after the other (see Figure 4B) so that the blades 26 nearly abut the peripheral edge of a respective wheel 14-14'.

[0040] In operation, only a small layer of snow and ice, having a width equal or less than the inter-space 46 and 46', can be formed between the wheels 14-14' and track 12; any additional thickness of snow or ice being scraped by the blades 26.

[0041] According to the first illustrative embodiment, the device is made of steel parts. However, other material harder than ice and capable to withstand a large number of impacts can also be used.

[0042] Turning now to Figure 5, a device 50 that reduces the formation of snow between an endless track 12 and wheels 14 according to a second illustrative embodiment will now be described with reference to Figure 5.
Since the device 50 is similar to the device 10, only the differences therebetween will now be described herein in more detail for concision purposes.

[0043] As a main difference with the device 10, the mounting support 24 is omitted in the device 50, which is secured to the snow blower 25 between the two wheels 14-14' via the mounting rods 52 of the track aligning assembly 54.

[0044] It is to be noted that other modifications could be made to the assembly to prevent the formation of ice in the endless track of a snow blower described hereinabove and illustrated in the appended drawings. For example:

[0045] ¨ the assembly can be adapted to provide scraper elements to a different number of wheels than two (2); and

[0046] - the assembly can be adapted for operation onto wheels and/or tracks having other configurations than those illustrated.

[0047] It is to be understood that embodiments of the device to reduce the formation of snow between an endless track and wheels are not limited in their application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. Other embodiments can be foreseen and . practiced in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device to reduce the formation of snow between an endless track and at least one wheel of a snow blower endless track assembly, the scraper assembly comprising:
at least one scraper element; and at least one mounting assembly that receives the at least one scraper element and that includes a mounting portion adapted to be mounted to the snow blower so that the scraper element is adjacent the at least one wheel, yielding a small gap between the at least one wheel and the at least one scraper element that reduces the formation of ice between the at least one wheel and the endless track.