Drive arrangement for snowblower

• US 4,123,857 A
• Filed: 02/02/1977
• Issued: 11/07/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawn-Boy, Inc. (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Gilson Brothers Company
• Inventors: Bacon, Roger J., Enters, Edward W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eickholt, E. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/764,823
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 37/43 R, 37/43 A, 37/43 B, 37/43 C, 37/43 D, 37/43 E, 37/43 F, 37/43 G, 37/43 H, 37/43 I, 37/43 K, 37/43 L, 74/606 R, 74/607, 74/412 R, 74/416, 74/417, 74/421 R
• US Class Current: 37/252
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/04 Apparatus propelled by animal or engine power; Apparatus propelled by hand with driven dislodging or conveying levelling elements, conveying pneumatically for the dislodged materialE01H5/10, E01H5/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19665 Bevel gear type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2186 Gear casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2188 Axle and torque tubes

Abstract

A vertical crankshaft engine is the power source of a snowblower. Two horizontal drive belts extend from a double pulley arrangement on the engine crankshaft. One drive belt extends to the vertical input shaft of the traction gear case to power the snowblower wheels. The other belt extends to the vertical input shaft of a right angle gearbox at one axial end of the collector assembly to transmit rotary motion to the collector assembly. A horizontally pivotal idler pulley selectively tensions the belt providing the motive power for the collector assembly and a clutch assembly is associated with the traction axle assembly to selectively power the snowblower wheels.

The right angle gearbox housing is made in two complementary pieces which are held together by a type of snap ring and when assembled is bolted to one end of the housing of the collector assembly.

Claims

1. A right angle gear case comprising, in combination,

an input shaft,

an output shaft arranged at right angles to said input shaft,

gear means connecting said input and output shafts,

said input and output shafts and said gear means being located within a gear case housing,

said gear case housing being characterized in that it is made of two complementary housing portions,

and a plurality of snap rings surrounding said housing portions to hold said housing portions assembled.

2. A power snowthrower comprising, in combination,

a handle,

a collector assembly including a housing, a rotatable collector within said housing, and a generally vertically extending side wall,

a frame connecting said handle and said collector assembly,

an engine supported on said frame and characterized by including a vertically oriented crankshaft,

traction means including an axle attached to said frame and drive wheels supported on said axle,

a traction drive member having driving connection with said crankshaft and arranged in a generally horizontal plane,

means for connecting said traction drive member to said axle of said traction means to transmit rotational movement thereto,

a collector drive member having a driving connection with said crankshaft and arranged in a generally horizontal plane, and

means for connecting said collector drive member to said rotatable collector to transmit rotational movement thereto and including a gear case located at one axial end of said collector housing and connected to an axial end of said collector and said gear case connected to and supported on said collector assembly side wall,

said gear case being a right angle gear case and comprising

an input shaft,

an output shaft arranged at right angles to said input shaft,

gear means connecting said input and output shafts,

said input and output shafts and said gear means being located within a gear housing,

said gear case housing being characterized in that it is made of two complementary housing portions,

and a plurality of snap rings surrounding said housing portions to hold said housing portions assembled.

3. The snowthrower of claim 2

wherein said gear case housing includes flange means abutting said collector housing side wall,

and including fastening means clamping said flange means to said housing side wall.