US2536166A - Rotary snowplow for driveways, sidewalks, etc. - Google Patents

Description

Jane 2, 1951 M. GARLAND ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1945 Jam 1951 M. GARLAND ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 29, 1945 m l/m d z/ M/d Z 7% 9 m W M W W W m i 2 02 /A i/M w 4 m 114? Jan. 1951 M. GARLAND ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC

Filed March 29, 1945 4 SheetsSh eet 4 Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNI'E'ED STATES PTET ROTARY SNOWPLOW FOR DRIVEWAYS, SIDEWALKS, ETC.

This invention relates to a power plow of the so-called rotary type for moving and discharging snow and other material from a surface. The invention relates particularly to a comparatively small, compact, self-contained unit of the class described which is particularly well adapted for removal of snow and other material from driveways, yards and sidewalks and which in the form disclosed, is adapted to be guided and controlled by an operator walking behind the device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a compact. economical rotary plow of high capacity which will pick up and remove a quantity of snow or other material in its operation, while simultaneously windrowing the material at the sides of the path or swath out.

A further object is the provision of an efficient rotary snow plow wherein the improved construction of the rotor and its relationship to its housing, mold board and other snow guiding means, produces a very efficient and rapid cutting and rearward movement of the snow or other material as well as a rapid disintegration and loosening of the material and materially reduces the re uisite power for handling and removing a pre-determined amount of material in a predetermined time as contrasted with devices of the prior art. The said advantages are obtained through the construction of a rotor comprising radial blades of considerable depth having leadin edges arranged generally in the periphery of a forwardly and horizontally extending cone and curved laterally in the direction of revolution of the rotor and related with the rotor housing and mold board or material-guiding means to produce subsequent expansion. and loosening of the snow and other material upon entering the rotor housing whereby compaction and clogging of the rotor is eliminated. The cutting of the accumulated material by the individual rotor blades and the uniform distribution of the material centrifugally and uniformly throughout the depth of the tips of the rotor blades, is also a very important factor in producing the high capacity of my device.

Another object is the provision of a self-contained rotary plow unit mounted on traction wheels and provided with a motor which by suitable transmission mechanism, drives the traction wheel and which also drives the rotor, the device being readily controllable and guided by an operator who walks behind the device grasping rearwardly extending handles.

'iore specifically, itis an object to provide a compact rotary plow of the class described 2 wherein the motor, the drive transmission mechanism, the rotor and the material-guiding and moving parts are all supported from a single axle supported upon two wheels with the cutting blade and mold board disposed forwardly of the axle and balanced with the rearwardly disposed motor and other mechanism whereby the entire unit may be bodily swung around the axle to clear obstructions and also break snow drifts and masses of accumulated material.

It is another object to provide in combination with said pivotal relation of the plow unit to the axle, resilient means of support disposed rearwardly of the axle whereby the operator may depress or jiggle the rearwardly extending handle to reciprocate or vibrate the leading edge of the' blade as well as the leading edges of the rotor for breaking up accumulated material such as drifts.

A further object is the provision of a rotary plow of the class described. wherein the speed of the motor, the driving of the traction wheels and the accurate and instant guiding of the plow may be instantly controlled by the operator walking behind the unit, some distance rearwardly from the front of the plow.

t is'another object to provide a rotary plow of the class described mounted on a single axle and including a snow moving and discharging rotor and utilizing pneumatic or other highly resilient wheels for support of the axle, disposed some distance rearwardly from the blade and rotor of the plow, whereby with a rearwardly extending handle, said resilient wheels may be tensioned by bodily swinging of the unit by the handle in a rearward direction and thereafter released to produce successive more or less vertical reciprocating movements of the blade and rotor for breaking up drifts and accumulated material.

A further object is the provision in such a device, of an independent mounting for the rotor as contrasted with the rotor housing whereby a flexible or floating relationship of the rotor in the housing is obtained to enable congestion within the housing to be relieved and to enable small hard chunks or particles to pass through the plow without clogging the same.

-- Another object is to provide in such a device,

snow moving and guiding means which will overcome side draft in the travel of the plow and which will further enable the material at the side or sides of the out to be windrowed. In this connection, I prefer to provide means in the nature of a reversible fiareboard applicable to either right or left side of the plow for guiding material from ahead of said plow inwardly and thereby making the cut up to the sides of a building or other vertical wall.

Another object is the provision in combination with the unit proper of an improved chute construction of polygonal cross-sectional shape in its attachment portion to the rotor housing whereby snow may be discharged by adjustment of the chute in various related positions in a number of different directions. My improved chute may be lifted and adjusted by hand and is adapted for both casting and loading material in its discharge.

A further object is the provision of a shearpin or equivalent so re'ated with the rotor and the driving mechanism for the traction wheels as to protect the rotor, the reduction gears and the various elements in the drive transmission to the wheels in the event the rotor or the wheels encounter obstacles or hard chunks of material which cannot be cut or disintegrated by the rotor.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the plow looking at the same from one side and at the rear thereof;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation, some parts being shown in different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plow looking at the same from the front;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the plow, some parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation showing the discharge chute;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. '7, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is a View in side elevation, some parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, a plow for moving snow or other material is shown comprising a frame including spaced, longitudinally extending members It, and while these members might be various y formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, they are shown as angle bars having their angles directed toward each other and their top sides substantially horizontal. As shown in Fig. '7, members h) are offset downwardly intermediate their ends and the front and rear portions thereof extend substantially horizontally. Another member I I, also illustrated as an angle bar, fits against the downwardly and rearwardly inc ined ends of the bars I a and is secured thereto in any suitable manner as by we ding, said bar I I extending transversely of the plow and at right angles to members H). A plate or b ade I2 extends transversely of the plow in front of member II, the same being disposed at an acute angle to the horizontal and having a front edge lZa adapted to move along or in contact with the surface to be cleared. Plate I2 is secured to member II and a plate 13 is disposed between plate I2 and member ll, said plates being secured together in any suitable manner, as by rivets M. Plate 13, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 extends upwardly and rearwardly and has a rear substantially horizontal portion 13a. (See Figs. 3 and 4.) A rotor casing l6 of generally cylindrical form is supported from its lower end on and above plate 13, the

same having its axis extending substantially longitudinal y of the plow and disposed substantially centrally of the plow transversely thereof. At one side at its top and extending tangentially thereof, casing l6 has a discharge neck I! extending upwardly therefrom and this neck particularly adjacent its top is of polygonal shape in cross section, the same being specifically shown as octagonal. (See Figs. 3 and l.) Disposed at each side of casing I6 is an upwardly extending snow guiding plate I8. As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, each plate 18 extends vertically and has an inner side I811, which at its top and bottom extends inwardly slightly toward the center of casing [5 and which at its central portion inclines slightly outwardly, said central portion, as shown in Fig. 2, extending somewhat inwardl of the perimeter of easing [6. Each plate H) has an outer bafile side 18b which slopes outwardly and rearwardly, the outer vertical edge thereof being substantially flush with the end of plate l2. The plates 18 extend along plate l3 at their lower ends and each has a substantially horizontally disposed triangular portion at its top from which projects a portion or lug I8c extending rearwardly around the outer side of casing I6 and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by welding. The inner flange pates I8 engage the snow and move the same inwardly but their outer sides 18b act to move the snow into windrows at the sides of the plow.

A reversible flare board attachment is provided comprising a plate l9 adapted to be at tached to either of the plates [8. Flare board 19 is shown as attached to the plate I8 at the left hand side of the plow, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4. Flare board l9 extends vertically and is folded into substantially triangular form in horizontal cross section, the same having a snow guiding side 19a extending forwardly and outwardly to the front of plate l8. Plate [9 has an outer or bracing side [9d extending substantially longitudinally of the plow and said outer side has a bent portion we at its rear end. Plate l9 has a side lab extending a ong the outer side of plate It. Lugs or clips 20 are secured adjacent the top and bottom of the side 19a and hook over the front of pate l8. Plate I 9 is also secured by headed bolts 22 extending through the rear portion of plate [8 and through the portions I9d and I of plate l9, said bolts being shown as provided with wing nuts 23. Plates 24 are disposed at either side of casing l6 having portions above and below said casing extending inwardly toward the same. If desired, plates 24 could be formed as part of plates l8. With the attachment of pate I9 the plow can be moved along close to a wall and the outer s de [9b of plate l9 wi l move close to and parallel to said wall and the guiding side [9a will move the snow to plate l8 and into the rotor casing. A plate 24a is disposed above and slopes toward casing I6.

A member 25 extends between members H1 at the rear ends and across the tops thereof, said member being illustrated as an angle bar having one flange secured to the tops of members NJ and its other flange extending vertically and secured to a vertical member 26. Member 25 has a top surface on which rests a pair of members or blocks 28. Members 28 extend forwardly and rearwardly and support brackets 29 respectively which have arcuate portions 29a fitting around the lower side of the casing of a motor 30. While motor 32 might be of various types, it is preferably of the internal combustion type. Brackets 29 are secured to members 26 and 28 by bolts 3| and 32. Motor 30 is only diagrammatically illustrated, the same having a fuel tank 30a. A bracket 33 is provided at one side of the plow, the same resting on and being secured to the top of one member [0, and the same has secured thereto a cap bracket 34. Brackets 33 and 34 are connected by the headed bolts 35. Said brackets form the bearing for an axle 35 to the ends of which are secured wheels 31, the same being equipped with pneumatic tires. As shown in Fig. 4, wheels 3'! have hubs 31a secured to the reduced ends of axle 36 by keys 38 respectively. Washers 39 are disposed on an axle 38 at the outer ends of hubs 31a and are held in place by nuts Ml threaded on the reduced ends of axle 33.

Disposed within casing l6 and mounted slightly eccentrically thereof is a snow cutting and moving rotor 32. Rotor 32 comprises a hub 42a of elongated form having projecting therefrom radially circumferentially spaced ribs 421). Plates or blades 420 are secured to ribs 42b adjacent their inner edges by the headed and nutted bolts 42c. Said rotor includes a circular rear plate or disc 42 extending perpendicular to the axis of hub 42a and disposed in slight eccentric relationship to the inner periphery of rotor casing I6. As shown, the axis of hub 42a and of the rear disc 42f, is olfset from the axis of housing l8 upwardly and to the right when viewed in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 along a 45 angle with the horizontal. This causes the clearance between the cylinder described by the tips of the rotor blades in operation and the inner periphery of casing 16 to pro gressively increase in the direction of rotation from a point just beyond the tangential outlet of discharge neck ll to a point just below the communication opening between rotor housing It and neck 11. This particular eccentric relationship is for the purpose of increa ing clearance between the revolving rotor and the casing as the blade tips approach the discharge position, thereby preventing clogging or compaction of material near the discharge. The improved construction and shape of my rotor is particularly important in increasing the capacity and lessening the power requirements of my device. The forward edges of several radial rotor blades 42c are disposed generally at acute angles to the axis of hub Ma and lie in the general periphery of a forwardly and horizontally extending cone. Said forward edges are curved laterally (as shown in Figs. 3 and 4) in the direction of revolution of the rotor. The rear edges of the blades 420 are rigidly connected as by welding with the rear disc or plate 4 1. The forward and laterally curved edges of the rotor blades are constructed, by cutting and bending or by any other suitable manner, to define in each blade, a plurality of forwardly projecting teeth 42g, each of said blades having a tooth disposed in juxta-position to the hub 42a and having one or more intermediate teeth the ends of which. because of the general conical relationship of the forward edges. are disposed rearwardly and radially outward of the first mentioned teeth.

' Said radial rotor blades 420 have substantial depth, preferably in excess of two-thirds the radial length of each blade from the axis of the rotor. These blades, because of their conical leading edge arrangement and the described curving and due to the forwardly'projecting teeth, produce very eilicient results in cutting, disintegrating, removing and uniformly distributing by centrifugal action, the material engaged as will hereafter be more specifically explained.

Motor 30 has a driving shaft 361) extending through and fitting in hub 42a, which shaft carries the rotor 42. Rotor casing It has a rear substantially vertical wall I 5a which is apertured for the passage of hub d201,. Shaft 30b is connected to hub 42a adjacent the front end thereof by a headed shear pin 44. As shown in Fig. 6, pin 44 is illustrated as being split in one end and having the portions thereof bent in opposite directions about hub 42a. Pin 44 will have a desired degree of frangibility so that it will shear off if excessive stress is placed on rotor 42. A washer 45 is disposed at the outer end of shaft 3% and extends in front of hub 42a to prevent the same from moving off of shaft 3%, said washer being held in place by a headed bolt 46 extending therethrough and threaded into the end of shaft 3%.

Hub 42a has secured thereto at the rear of wall Mia, and in any suitable manner as by the set screw 48, the hub of a sprocket 49. A chain 53 runs over sprocket 49 and over another sprocket 51 secured to a shaft 52 mounted in a bearing sleeve 54 having a cylindrical portion fitting into the bore of a portion 56a of a transmission casing designated generally as 55 and mounted on one of the members ill and the member 25. Said casing has a lug 551; secured by the headed bolt 5? to one side of the casing of motor 39. Bearings 53 are held in spaced relation by a sleeve 55. Bearing sleeve 54 has an end flange engaging the end of portion 56a and is held in place by a plate 58 secured by circumferentially spaced headed bolts 59 extending therethrough and'into the flanged end of portion 56c. Shaft 52 has a half clutch at secured to its rear end. A shaft 6! is journaled in bearing 82 carried in a bearing block 53 disposed in a bore at the end of portion 555a opposite plate 58, and said bearing block 63 has a flange engaging the end of portion 55a and secured by circumferentially spaced headed bolts 64 extending therethrough and through a plate 65' at the end of portion 56a. Bolts E34 are threaded into the flanged end of portion 56a. Shaft 6! has slidable thereon a clutch member 6! having a peripheral groove into which extend clutch blocks 58 carried in the respective ends of a clutch fork 69 extending upwardly through an opening in the top of portion 56a and being secured by a screw H! to a rod ll which is slidable in bores in the ends of a bracket '62 having side flanges secured to the top of portion 560. by the headed bolts l3. Clutch member 5'! has a half clutch at one end adapted to be engaged with the ha clutch Bil, said half clutches having circumferentially spaced teeth adapted to be interengaged or meshed. The end of shaft 6! opposite bearing 52 is supported in a bore in the end of shaft 52. Shaft 6i projects beyond plate 65 and has secured thereto a double sprocket l5 held in place by a. collar '55 in turn held in place by a nut 77 threaded on the reduced end of shaft 6i. A pair of chains 78 run over sprocket l5 and over another double sprocket '39 secured to the end of shaft 86. Shaft 59 is journaled in spaced bearings 8i, illustrated as of the ball type, one of which is carried in a bearing sleeve 82 fitting in a bore in the rear end of a portion of transmission casing 56. Sleeve 82 has a flange at its end and is held in place by circumferentially spaced headed bolts 83 extending through said flange and through a plate 8 at the end of portion 5527 into which portion bolts 83 are threaded. The other bearing 8| is mounted in a bore in portion 56a, said'bearings being held in spaced relation by a sleeve 84a. Sprocket I9 is held in place by a collar 86 in turn secured by a nut 81 threaded on the reduced end of shaft 89. The bearing portion 562) has an end plate 560 which has a hub 56d forming a bearing for the other end of axle 36. Within portion 58b axle 36 has secured thereto a beveled gear 89 with which meshes a beveled pinion 90 secured to one end of shaft 80 and engaging one of the bearings 8!. The transmission casing 55 includes a rear cover member 56c enclosing chains F8 and adjacent parts and having a lug 561 secured by a headed bolt 85 to a portion of the casing of motor 30.

The discharge neck I1 is embraced at its top by the lower end of a rigid discharge chute 92 comprising a plate bent into hexagonal form and having outwardly extending flanges 92a at its adjacent ends connected by a bolt 93 shown as equipped with a wing nut 94. The discharge chute 92 extends upwardly and laterally, as shown in Fig. 5. Said chute is open at its lower side, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. Chute 92 is provided with handles I08 at the sides thereof and adjacent its lower end and said chute is supported upon a plurality of angular brackets I09 secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to opposite sides of discharge neck I'I. Chute 92 can be lifted and disconnected and reconnected with neck and in various positions relative neck I I so as to direct the snow or other material in different directions.

A pair of guiding handles II2, illustrated as formed from tubes or pipes, extend along the undersides of members Ill and are secured thereto respectively by pairs of U-bolts H3 extending through the top flanges of members I and equipped with nuts 3a. Handles II2 extend rearwardly and upwardly and at some distance in the rear of motor 3!! are connected by a cross bar II2a which projects beyond members H2 and is equipped with hand grips N21). The rod II has an apertured lug at its rear end embraced by the bifurcated end of a rod H4 and secured thereto by a bolt H5. The rear end of rod H4 is provided with an apertured lug secured by a bolt H6 to the end of one arm of a bell crank lever I I7 pivotally mounted on a bolt I I3 extending through a lug or bracket H9 on one of the handle members I I2. The other arm of bell crank lever H1 is pivotally connected by bolt I to a rod IZI pivotally connected by bolt I22 to an intermediate point on a hand lever I23 having a hub which is carried on and rotatable on cross bar 2:1. From said described structure, it will be seen that oscillation of handle I23 will move rod I2I, swing'bell crank lever II! and move rod I I4 to engage or disengage the clutch member 61. The accelerator or throttle of motor 35 is controlled by a member such as a flexible rod extending through the conduit I25 which extends along one of the handles I I2, being held in place by a collar I20. Said conduit I25 extends to a small bracket I21 secured to cross bar I I2a. The said flexible rod can be reciprocated by a handle I28 pivotally mounted on a bracket I29 secured to cross bar II2a to accelerate or decelerate the motor 30.

A pair of resilient skids I39 are secured to the undersides of the forward portions of members I0 respectively by the headed and nutted bolts I 3I. Skids I38 extend rearwardly of wheels 31 and have downwardly and upwardly curved rear ends, the convex sides of which engage the surface to be cleared. Skids I are made of resilient material and act to swing the plow about the axis of wheels 31 thus tending to hold the front end of plate I2 in engagement with the surface to be cleared.

In operation the motor 30 will be operated and this will rotate shaft 3% which will in turn through the pin 44, rotate the rotor 42 at high speed. The operator will stand at the rear of the plow and grasp the handles I I2b. The operator can reach throttle lever I28 with his fingers and can accelerate motor 30 as desired. When it is desired to have the plow move forward the operator will swing handle I23 which is within convenient reach of his hand and will engage clutch 61. Power is then transmitted from sleeve 4211 through sprocket 49, chain 50 and sprocket 5I to shaft 52. When clutch 67 is engaged, shaft GI will be driven together with sprocket 15, chain I8, sprocket I9 and shaft 80. Shaft 8!] drives beveled pinion which in turn drives beveled gear 89 so that axle 36 and wheels 3'! will be guided as desired by the operator grasping the handles I I2b.

The snow or other material will be engaged by blade I2 and moved upwardly and rearwardly toward rotor 42. The snow will likewise be engaged by plates I8 and 24 and will be guided inwardly toward rotor 42. The snow will be engaged by the foremost teeth 42g on the blades which are adjacent the center thereof and will be cut and broken up. As the rotor moves into the snow the outer teeth 429 will also engage the snow and cut and disintegrate the same. The snow or other material travels toward the rear of the rotor and the rotation of the same increases the velocity of said snow or material and the centrifugal force causes it to move radially of the blades 42c until it reaches a point where it is thrown outwardly and di charged through the chute IT. The teeth 42g and laterally curved forward edges of the rotor blades effectively cut and disintegrate the snow or other material even when con iderably compacted or frozen and the relation hip of the forward edges of said blades, lying generally in the periphery of a forwardly extending cone, causes the particles or small chunks of material in the rapid revolution of the rotor to be distributed more or less uniformly in the centrifu al discharge. Thus it will be seen that material cut or engaged by the central forward portion of the rotor is moved and discharged in a curved path extending rearwardly and outwardly throughout the greater portion of the depth of the blade whereas material cut by the outermost teeth of the blades or entering the blades adjacent the outer portion of the rotor is centrifugally moved faster than said first mentioned material and is centrifugally thrown out from adjacent the forward portion of the blade tips. Thus, quite a uniform centrifugal discharge of material is effected with mv rotor throughout the lengths of the blade tips and there is no compacting of material rearwardly again t the back plate 01' disc 42 which is present with many conventional rotors now used for plowing snow. The snow is discharged with such velocity that it moves along the upper side of chute 92 and is delivered to one side of the plow in the desired direction. The fact that the plates I8 and 24 extend somewhat inwardly of the casing I6 and rotor 42 at the central portion thereof gives opportunity for the snow to expand somewhat after passing the inner portions of said plates and this acts to keep the snow from packing at said points. The plow is swingable about the axis of axle 36 and the operator can depress the handles H2 against the tension of the skids lei] and raise the front end of the plow when it is desired to move it rearwardly or to different places.

' The drive ior the wheels is transmitted by shaft 301) through the pin 44 and the hub or sleeve 42a of the rotor and through the reduction gearing in the gear case so that if the pin fi l shears off the drive to the wheels as well as to the rotor, will be discontinued. Thus it will be seen that with the relationship of the shear pin 44 to the hub of the rotor, the driving connections between the hub and the clutch mechanism and gear reduction mechanism, that said shear pin protects the rotor, the motor, the driving connections, gear reduction mechanism and axle drives from stripping or destruction either when an obstacle is encountered by the wheels or when chunks of hard material or obstacles are encountered by the rotor. l'he deflectors or plates [8 and 24 at the sides of the plow and of the rotor act to direct the snow into the rotor and also to balance the side draft of the plow. Due to the, polygonal cross-sectional attachment shape of the discharge chute 82 and the lightness in weight of said chute, the same may be positioned in any one of a number oi angulated relations to the rotor casing whereby snow or other material may be cast or loaded at either side of the plow or to the rear in various directions. In connection with the casting of snow from the chute the speed of the motor of course determines the centrifugal force of the rotor and consequently, the force of the discharge in chute 92.

My improved structure includes a number of structural factors all of which contribute to the prevention of clogging of the rotor and its discharge and the compacting of snow or other material at the back of the rotor. The slight restriction in the entrance to the rotor casing provided by the inward bulging or positioning of the rear inner edges of the bafile boards [8 and the flare board is as well as the slightly eccentric relation of the rotor axis to the casing, provides for some expansion and loosening of the material after it enters the rotor casing and again as it is thrown centrifugally outward through the discharge passage. As a further factor, the motor shaft 30b which extends forwardly into the rotor casing and drives the rotor through shear pin connection with its hub lZa, has a limited floating relationship with the rotor housing. This is due to the fact that rotor housing It is mounted from its base upon the low hung frame of the device and motor 36 is independently mounted at its base upon the rear portion of the axle supported frame. Thus, between the upper and central portion of the motor and the central portion of the rotor housin 58 there is provided a certain amount of relative flexibility. This is further accentuated by the elongated unsupported driving portion of motor shaft 3% which is constructed of steel or other resilient material and when congestion is produced at any point along the periphery of the rotor this'is relieved to a considerable extent by slight bodily displacement of the axis of the rotor relatively to the independently supported rotor casing 16.

The simultaneous snow removal action and snow windrowing action of my device is important in its effect upon the capacity of the plow as well as in overcomng side draft. When the flare plate I9 is not used, a substantial amount of snow is guided to the rotor, disintegrated and removed while snow or other material is windrowed at both sides of the plow. When the flare board It is used, material is windrowed at one side of the plow while all engaged material at the other side of the plow is moved inwardly to the rotor casing. With the flare board attached in either of its reversed positions, the plow may cut close to the side of a vertical wall.

Another important Ieature of my improved structure is the provision for breaking up massed or drifted snow or other material. This, 1ikew.se is accomplished by several structural features or factors. To begin with, the axial mounting of the entire structure on pneumatic or compressible and highly resilient tires in combination with the cutting blade E2 disposed considerably forward of the axle and in combination with the guide handles Ilia, disposed some distance rear- Wardly or the axle and also upwardly therefrom, permits the plow when b.ade I2 is engaged by heavy drhts or massed material, to be rocked by iggling the handles, fulcrumrng to some extent at least, upon the engaged blade edge l2. The rearward pulling of the handles with the blade engaged, tends to break the snow upwai dry and also compresses the resilient tires and tensions the same. The subsequent release of the handles produces a slight bouncing action and downward pro ection of the b-ade further breaking the units. Repeated jiggling of the handles, with the aid of the pneumatic tires thererore, is an important factor in expediting the travel of the plow through heavy drifts and he.ps to disintegrate the same. ihe resilient skids I38 in combination with the bodily swinging of the plow upon the central transverse axle, also are important factors in producing a vibratory action of the blade edge for breaking driits and massed material.

Another important advantage is obtained by the combination of the supporting frame mounted on the wheel supporting axle and having the inclined, transverse cutting blade d.sposed some distance iorwardy of the axle, to wit, when the plow travels into heavily massed material such as a compacted drilt, the iorward movement of the vehicle causes the inclined cutting blade to work downwardly, tehsioning the pneumatic tires when the handles are grasped by an operator and held downwardly and putting heavy traction on the tires to increase the tractive effort when it is most needed.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A plow for moving snow or other material having in combination, a snow removing rotor at the front of sad p-0w, a plow blade adapted to move along the suriace to be cleared, a single pair of aligned wheels supporting said plow, resilient skids at the rear of said wheels adapted to engage said surface and acting to hold said b.ade in engagement with said surface, means at the rear of said plow adapted to be grasped.

by the operator for rocking said plow about the axis of sad wheels to raise said portion and a motor mounted on said plow for driving said wheels and said rotor.

2. A plow for moving snow or other material having in combination, a snow moving rotor disposed medially transversely of said plow, a casing extending about said rotor, means extending about said rotor at the front thereof and sloping toward the same for directing snow thereinto, a discharge chute extending upwardly from said casing, only one wheel-equipped axle at the rear of said casing for supporting said: plow, means mounted on said plow for driving said axle, wheels and rotor, means at the rear of said plow adapted to be held. by the operator for guiding said plow and resilient skid means. at the rear of said wheels adapted, to engage the ground to urge said casing downwardly.

3. A rotary plow for snow and other material having in combination, a support mounted on traction elements, a rotor casing mounted forwardly on said support, a, motor mounted. rear-. wardly on said support, gear reduction mechanism also mounted on said support, driving connections between said gear reduction mechanism and said traction elements, a, driving shaft extending forwardly from said. motor into said, rotor casing, a rotor mounted on said driving shaft within said casing driving connections between said rotor and said gear reduction mechanism and a shear pin connection between said rotor and said shaft adapted to protect said rotor, said motor, said gear reduction mechanism and said drive connections when an obstacle is encountered either by said rotor or bysaid. traction elements.

4. In a rotary plow structure, a frame, a motor mounted on said frame and having a drive shaft extending therefrom, a rotor mounted on the drive shaft, and a casing enclosing, the rotor and mounted on said frame in spaced relation to and independently of said motor, said recited parts being sufficiently resilient to permit of limited bodily shifting between the rotor and casing when the load pressure between the rotor blades and casing becomes excessive, whereby excessive load pressure between the rotor blades and casing at any point about the circumference of the casing will be relieved by an automatic increase in the spacing between the rotor blades. and easing at that point.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 wherein said motor and said rotor casing are both mounted from the lower ends thereof and wherein the extending portion of said drive shaft upon which said rotor is mounted, is unsupported and is constructed of hard, resilient material.

6. A rotary snow plow having in combination,

a supporting frame mounted for travel over the ground, a material-removing rotor supported from the forward portion of said frame with its axis disposed substantially longitudinally thereof, said rotor having a plurality of substantially radially arranged blades in the form of plates having stepped forward longitudinal edges laterally curved from the bodies thereof in the direction of revolution of said rotor, said stepped edges being defined for each blade by a plurality of substantially parallel lines, all extending at sharp acute angles to the axis of said rotor and by lines extending parallel to the rotor axis to form in said rotor, a plurality of forwardly extending teeth.

7. A plow for moving snow and other material, having in combination a frame, a pair of axially aligned wheels for supporting said frame, the. axis of said wheels extending transversely and medially of said frame, a snow-removing rotor mounted at the front of said frame, a plow blade mounted just forwardly of said rotor and adapted to move along the surface to be cleared, resilient, compressible means disposed rearwardly of said wheels depending from said frame to engage said surface, assisting in the support of said frame and acting to. hold said plow blade in approximate engagement with said surface, rearwardly extending handle means at the rear of said frame whereby said frame and plow may be rocked about the axis of said wheels and a motor mounted on said plow for driving said rotor.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7 and driving connections between said motor and said wheels.

9-. The structure set forth in claim '7 and said handle means. comprising a. pair of spaced upwardly and rearwardly inclined handles adapted to be depressed against the. resistance of said resilient means to rock said plow and lift said blade.

10. A plow for picking up and moving snow and other material having in, combination a frame, av single pair of axially aligned wheels for supporting said frame, the axis of said wheels extending transversely to the travel of the plow, a snowcutting and moving rotor disposed substantially centrally of said frame with its axis extending longitudinally of the line of travel of the plow, a cylindrical rotor housing surrounding said rotor and having an upwardly extending substantially tangential discharge, said plow having a substantially rectangular front face communicating with the open front of said housing, said face at the forward end of said plow including an upstanding wall surrounding the forward open end of said rotor housing and concaved rearwardly to assist in directing material into said rotor, said face being also composed of a substantially fiat blade or plate at the bottom of the plow inclined from its forward edge rearwardly and an upstanding substantially fiat plate disposed above said blade and sloping inwardly from its outer edge in advance of said rotor housing and a second substantially flat upstanding plate at the opposite side of said rotor sloping rearwardly from its forward edge to windrow material at one side of the plow but having a forward edge constituting an apex at the front of said housing for cooperating with said first-mentioned plate to direct material into said rotor, said first-mentioned inwardly sloping plate being removable and when removed exposing a rearwardly sloping plate of complemental nature to the last mentioned plate.

MATHER GARLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'In. NTS- Number Name Date 395,548 Corbett Jan. 1, 1889 1,345,438 Fricker July 6, 1920 1,483,586 Larson Feb. 12, 1924 1,552,714 Linzy Sept. 8, 1925 1,577,561 Chiles Mar. 23, 1926 1,763,373 Schnell June 10, 1930 1,844,706 Wandscheer Feb. 9, 1932 1,889,667 Klauer Nov. 29, 1932 1,932,928 Frisch Oct. 31,1933 2,151,491 Washburn Mar. 21, 1939 2,194,297 Drumm Mar. 19, 1940 2,315,007 Morse et a1 Mar. 30, 1943 2,329,372 Hitch Sept. 14,1943

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