US3021620A - Snow plow - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 20, 1962 H. L. ROSENTHAL SNOW PLOW Filed June 10, 1958 INVENTOR.

hired 6,021,620 dNGW PLGW Henry L. Rosenthal, Box 36 flconornowoc, Wis. Filed June 10, 1958, Ser. No. 741,136 6 Claims. (Cl. 3743) The unique design of the present invention causes suchv snow tobe thrown forwardly and well to the side of the path being cleared. With conventional snow plows the angle is the reverse of the present invention with the discharge end of the blade trailing the other end.

A moreparticular object ofthe present invention is to provide a snow plow wherein a lightweight gasoline engine is employed to drive a snow-displacing rotary screw, thereby substantially reducing the physical effort required to remove and redeposit the snow, and making it practical vto use the unusual discharge angle of the present invention. f

v A further object of the present invention is to provide a power snow plow wherein the blade portion and snow deflector are mounted to extend laterally at an .oblique angle to the frame, the forwardmost portion of the blade being an open discharge end which is laterally offset a substantial distance from the drive mechanism and handle. With this arrangement the thrust of the screw is counteracted, the operator pushing against such thrust.

A further specific object is to provide a power snow plow wherein a flared chute is formed at the discharge end of the snow deflector to permit snow to be thrown upwardly and well to the side of the path being cleared.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device-as above described wherein the end of the screw is directed axially to provide a thrower which throws the laterally moving snow outwardly to coact with the flare of the chute.

A further specific object is to provide .a wheeled snow shovel may be manually tilted to conform to the height and composition of the surface being cleared, thereby lessening the possibility of scraping on gravel or uneven cement, and consequent injury to the plow.

A still further object is to provide a power snow plow which is mounted on a pair of wheels to enhance the maneuverability ofthe plow and .to ease the task of the operator.

A further specific object is tto provide -a wheeled snow plow wherein the wheels-are spaced apart a distance less than the width of the plow, and are disposed inwardly of the ends of the plow, thereby permitting snow removal close to the edges of buildings or other obstacles, andwherein the angle of the blade is such as to'clear a path for such wheels. Y

Another object is .to provide a power snow plow which is relatively light and easy to handle. Constructed of lightweight materials, the present plow requires a minimum of fuel and is therefore economical to operate. Other objects of the present invention are toprovidea power snow plow which is attractive in-appearance, rugged, simple in desigmrelatively inexpensive to manufactur'e, and well adapted for the purposes described.-

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved power snow plow, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereofl 3,d2l,fi2fi Patented Feb. 20, 1962 FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power snow plow;

- FIG. 2isaside view FIG. 3 is a top view of the plow illustrating the angled mounting of the blade; and

FIG. 4 is a front view, with a part of the rotary shaft and blade being broken away to show the shaft mounting structure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the power snow plow comprising the present invention includes a gasoline engine 10, an engine mounting 22, and a wheeled or mobile frame 23, said frame including a pair of rearwardly projecting handle bars 11 and arr-axle 13. A pair of spaced wheels 12 are rotatably attached to said axle, and a snow-engaging unit 14 is mounted on the forward end of said frame, said unit '14 tions per minute.

including a curved blade 15 and an attached snow deflector 16 having a flared chute 16' formed at one end, which end is a laterally open discharge end, the opposite end being closed as at 15. A sleeve 17 forming a shaft for the screw is rotatably carried within said curved blade, and is adapted to be driven by the engine in a manner to be hereinafter described. A helical screw 19 is mounted on said rotary sleeve 17 and is designed to clear snow from said snow-engaging unit 14 and to cause discharge of the same from the chute 16'.

The engine 10 employed in the present invention may be a 2.5 horsepower,- four cyclegasoline engine and is adapted to drive the screw at approximately 12000 revoluutilized withsaid engine is preferably of the V-belt type. A housing 20 has been provided to shield said drive belt 18 from snow and to prevent sticks or other items from becoming entangled with the belt and hindering the operation of the plow. The handle bars 11, frame, and blade are tiltable on the wheels 12.

As will be seen in FIG. 3, the wheels are spaced a distance less than the width of the snow-engaging unit 14 of. the plow, which permits the clearance of snow close to the edges of buildings or the like,-the outer wheel being inwardly. of-the blade corner 14' so that the latter clears a' path forsaid wheel, said corner being a forward corner for the closed end of the blade.

The blade 15, which is mounted on andprojects forwardly from the frame, is formed of strong sheet steel and is designed to withstand considerable wear and rugged use. The curved cross-sectional contour of said blade, as illustrated in FIG. 2, enables it to engage snow close to the ground and to direct the same upwardly against thedeflector 16. As will be seen in the drawings, said deflectorj16 is of an unusual design and incorporates novel features heretofore lacking in snowplows of this In the accompanying drawings illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invensame-parts'inalloftheviews: f

general type.

flared chute 1 6', as shown in FIG. 1, which is designed to direct the snow thrown by the thrower 19' upwardly and well-to the side of the path being cleared, due to the fact that the screw has imparted a lateral force. The outer endof said chute has a forwardly overhanging and downwardly extending lip 21 which covers and directs the snow as the sameris discharged from the plow. As indicated above, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the entire snow receiving unit 14 is mounted revers ely to the usual angle with respect to the axle 13, with the discharging or flared end-16' of the unit forming a lead end rather than a trailing end. With this arrangement the snow is thrown ahead, as well as to the side of the snow plow, rather than to the rear and it'clears a path ahead of the drive mechanism, with the latter inside of the line (a)-,(a) of FIG. 3. In addition, this unusual angle ing against said thrust.

The drive transmission means 18- The rotatable mounting of the sleeve 17 is illustrated in FIG. 4. A stud shaft 27, rigid with the pulley 28, driven by a belt 18 from the engine shaft 24, is projected rotatably into the open end of the sleeve 17 and is anchoredtherein in spaced disks 30 which are rigidly mounted within said sleeve, the shaft being'supported in bearings 29 within a short bearing housing 29' which'is rigid with the closed end 15 of the blade. A conventional belt tightener 25 may be used.

The function of the screw 19 is to clear snow from the snow-receiving unit 14' and forcibly propel said snow laterally from the chute 16' which is in a lead position. By use of the power screw the discharge end may be made to lead without increasing the'operators work. It is necessary, of course, that the screw 19 be pitched in a direction so as to combine with an axial thrower portion 19' of the screw to drive the snow in the direction of said chute 16. It has been found that the rapid rotation of the'power-driven sleeve 17"enables said helical screw 19 to discharge the snow effectively, and to throw the same well clear of the path being plowed. i

In operation, when the wheeled plow is manually pushed along the path to be cleared, snow is scooped up by the blade 15 and directed rearwardly and upwardly on the snow deflector 16 by the force of additional snow entering the forwardly-moving shovel; Simultaneous'ly, the rotating helical screw 19 engages the snow on said blade and propels the same laterally toward the flared chute 16, in a direct reverse of the direction that the snow would normally travel considering the angle of the blade. As will be readily appreciated, the high speed'action of said screw, which is rotating at approriimately 1200 revolutions per minute, drives said snow with considerable force and tends to throw the same violently from the chute. The latter feature insures that said snow is deposited well to the side of the path being cleared, and prevents the'same from sliding back onto the walk after the plow has passed, which is a source of difiiculty and considerable annoyance with conventional snow plows. Moreover; the angled mounting of the snow-receiving unit, which is illustrated in FIG. 3, insures that said discharged snow is directed laterally and forwardly, rather than laterally and to the rear and onto the operator. p

As previously mentioned, the, manner in which the wheels 12 are mounted, behind theltrailing end of fthe blade, is an important featureof the invention. This permits the clearing of snow immediately adjacent buildings or other obstacles, and is designed to provide maximum balance and maneuverability. Positioned directly under the engine, the wheels permit effortless handling of the plow, and permit easy tilting of the blade to avoid scraping on uneven surfaces.

Due to the unconventional angle of the blade, with the open end leading, the corner 14 of the blade, at the trailing end is positioned laterally outwardly of the wheels and power unit to travel along the line (a)(a) of FIG. 3. This enables the bladeto clear a pathfor the wheels and power unit. In additiom'the angle is such as to counteract the normal thrust of the screw, and the operator pushes against this thrust. By use of the power screw the unusual angle of the bladeis madepossiblewithout increasing the work of the operator.

The improved power snow plow comprising the .present invention is light in weight, and. economical 'to'operate; Designed to quickly and effectively dispose of snow'and slush, the invention saves considerable time and effort and eliminates much of the tediousness formerly associated with the task of snow removal. i

Various changes and modifications may be made in the structure above described without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes and modifications are contemplated as may come withinthe scope of the'following claims. U I i What I claim is: I

1. In a snow plow having a wheeled frame with a front, a snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having an open discharge end and an opposite closed end, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow from within the blade toward and out of said open end, 'a motor carried by said wheeled frame, and means between said motor and screw means for driving the latter in a direction to move snow out of said open end, said blade being so angled a substantial amount on the frame that said open discharge end is in a leading position and said closed end is in a. trailing position. p

2.'In a snow plow having a mobile wheeled frame with a frontya snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having a closed end witha forwardcorner and'an open dischargeend, said wheeled frame being located a substantial dista'nceotf center with respect to the width of the blade and behind that portion ofthe blade which is adjacent said closed end, and said blade being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of movement of the plow so that the open discharge end is in a leading position and projects laterally a substantial distance beyond the frame, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow toward and out of said open discharge end, and means carried by said frame for driving said screw means in a direction to move snow toward said discharge end.

3. In a snow plow having a mobile wheeled frame with a front, a snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having a closed end with a forward corner and an open discharge end, said wheeled frame being located a substantial distance off center with respect to the width of the blade and behind that portion of the blade which is adjacent said closed end, and said blade being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of movement of the plow so that the open discharge end is in a leading position and projects laterally a substantial distance beyond the frame, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow toward and out of said open discharge end, and means carried by said frame for driving said screw means in a direction to 'move snowtoward said discharge end, said wheeledframe being laterally inwardly of the for ward corner at said closed end so that the blade clears a path for said wheeled frame.

4. In a snow plow having a mobile frame with a front, a snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having a closed end and an open discharge end, said frame being located a substantial distance olf center with respect to the width of the blade and behind that portion of the blade which is adjacent said closed end and said blade being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of movement of the plow so that the open dischargeend is in a leading position and projects laterally a substantial distance beyond the frame, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow toward and out of said open discharge end, means carried by said frame for driving said screw means in a direction to move snow toward said discharge end, and snow deflecting means connected to an upper portion of said blade and projecting forwardly over said screw means and being flared toward said discharge end. i

5. Ina snow plow having a mobile frame with a front, a snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having a closed end and an open discharge end, said frame being located a substantial distance 'olf center with respect to the width of the blade and behind that portion of the blade which is adjacent said closed end and said blade being disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the direction of movement of Jthe, plowso .that the open discharge end is in a leading position and projects laterallyQa substantial distance beyond the frame, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow toward and out of said open discharge end, means carried by said frame for driving said screw means in a direction to move snow toward said discharge end, and snow deflecting means connected to an upper portion of said blade and projecting forwardly over said screw means and being flared toward said discharge end, and having a forward overhanging and downwardly extending lip at the end of said flare.

6. In a snow plow having a mobile frame, with a front, a snow engaging plow blade connected to the front of said frame and having a closed end and a laterally open discharge end, screw means extending longitudinally within said blade for moving snow longitudinally of the blade toward and out of said open discharge end, said open discharge end being in al-inement with the axis of said screw means, snow deflecting means connected to an upper portion of said blade for a substantial part of the length of the blade and projecting forwardly over said 20 screw means a progressively increasing amount upwardly toward said discharge end, means for driving said screw means in a direction to move snow toward said discharge end, said snow deflecting means being flared toward the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 17,297 Curtis May 21, 1929 1,524,518 Johnson I an. 27, 1925 2,241,252 Garland May 6, 1941 2,632,263 Cooper Mar. 24, 1953 2,769,255 Mead Nov. 6, 1956 2,811,792 Cork Nov. 5, 1957 2,879,611 Voigt Mar. 31, 1959 FOREIGN PATENT S 623,498 Germany Dec. 23, 1935 517,479 Canada Oct. 18, 1955

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