Snow blowing apparatus

• US 10,162,349 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2017
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sr., John Clifford Loghry
• Original Assignee: Sr., John Clifford Loghry
• Inventors: Loghry, Sr., John Clifford
• Primary Examiner(s): McGowan, Jamie L
• Application Number:
  US15/805,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20180307224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/098 about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0022 characterised by the communication link data switching networks in general H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements

Abstract

An improved snow blower apparatus is a snow blower that is able to be remotely controlled by a user located at a remote location. At least one video camera located on the snow blower allows the user to view the environment around the snow blower for safety purposes and to control the direction of travel and speed of the apparatus.

Claims

1. An improved snow blowing apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a pair of rear wheels;

wherein said pair of rear wheels are rotatably connected to a rear portion of said housing;

an intake portion;

wherein said intake portion is connected to a front portion of said housing opposite said rear portion;

an impeller member;

wherein said impeller member is rotatably connected to said housing via a center pivot member and mechanically connected to said pair of rear wheels;

an impeller motor;

wherein said impeller motor is connected to said housing and mechanically and operatively connected to and rotates said pair of rear wheels to thereby propel said improved snow blowing apparatus;

a pivot motor;

wherein said pivot motor is connected to said housing and mechanically and operatively connected to said center pivot member to thereby pivot said center pivot member and thereby said pair of rear wheels for steering said improved snow blowing apparatus;

a microcontroller including;

a computer member including;

computer software adapted to control said impeller motor and

said pivot motor and allow a user to control said motors and control the movements of said improved snow blowing apparatus via said computer member;

wherein said microcontroller is connected to said housing and said computer member is electrically connected to said impeller motor and said pivot motor; and

a transceiver;

wherein said transceiver is adapted to send and receive electronic signals from a remote control device, and is

electrically connected to said computer member; and

a remote control device including;

a computer member including;

computer software adapted to communicate with said computer software of said microcontroller; and

a transceiver;

wherein said transceiver is adapted to send and receive electronic signals from said microcontroller;

wherein said remote control device is adapted to be used remotely to control the movement and operation of said improved snow blowing apparatus.

2. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said impeller motor and said pivot motor are formed as electric rechargeable motors.

3. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electric rechargeable motors are formed as high torque 24 volt motors.

4. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller and said remote control device are adapted to communicate to each other via WiFi.

5. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said microcontroller further includes an emergency shut off switch adapted to shut off said impeller motor and said pivot motor when predetermined criteria are met.

6. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a video camera connected to said housing and electrically connected to said microcontroller;

wherein said video camera is adapted to send video images to said remote control device.

7. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one power source connected to said housing and connected to said microcontroller, said impeller motor, and said pivot motor.

8. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 7, wherein said at least one power source is formed as at least one battery member electrically connected to said microcontroller, said impeller motor, and said pivot motor.

9. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said housing is formed from a material chosen from a list of materials consisting of steel, stainless steel, and aluminum.

10. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remote control device is formed as a smart phone.

11. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remote control device includes touch-screen technology and a video screen.

12. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a snow gathering mechanism mechanically connected to said intake portion and adapted to gather snow and move said snow into an ejection chute.

13. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 12, further comprising an ejection chute connected to a top portion of said housing and adapted receive snow from said snow gathering mechanism and eject said snow away from said improved snow blowing apparatus.

14. The improved snow blowing apparatus of claim 13, wherein said ejection chute is rotatably connected to said housing such that said snow can be ejected in predetermined directions.