Blower device for snow thrower

• US 5,127,174 A
• Filed: 03/22/1989
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Takeshita, Masatoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): OLSEN, ARLEN
• Application Number:
  US07/326,969
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 37/244, 37/248, 37/249, 37/251, 37/259, 37/250, 37/252, 37/253, 37/254, 37/255, 37/256, 37/257, 37/258, 37/260, 37/261, 37/262
• US Class Current: 37/250
• 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: E01H 5/045 Means per se for conveying or discharging the dislodged material, e.g. rotary impellers, discharge chutes dislodging apparatus provided therewith E01H5/07, E01H5/08, E01H5/104, E01H5/12

Abstract

An improved snow thrower and specifically an improved blower therefor that improves efficiency and reduces the likelihood of snow accumulation. The blower casing is connected to the auger housing by an exit opening that is disposed and sized so that snow blown by the blower will not reenter the auger housing. The peripheral edge of the blower casing is curved so as to reduce the likelihood of snow accumulation.

Claims

1. In a snow thrower comprised of an auger housing having side walls, a rear wall and an open front end, and auger rotatable within said auger housing about a horizontal axis extending generally across said open front end and between said side walls for collecting snow and delivering the collected snow to a discharge area, said rear wall being juxtaposed to said auger and curved upwardly from a lower edge adapted to contact the ground to a point above said auger axis about a center substantially coincidental with said blower axis, a blower casing disposed behind said auger housing and containing a blower rotatable about an axis generally transverse to the axis of said auger, said blower having impeller portions extending radially beyond said blower axis and an exit opening formed in part by said auger housing rear wall and extending uninterruptedly between said auger housing and said blower casing for transfer of snow collected by said auger to be discharged from said blower casing, said exit opening lying substantially inwardly of the outer periphery of said impeller in all angular positions thereof to prevent snow thrown by said blower impeller portion from returning to said auger housing.

2. In a snow throwers as set forth in claim 1 wherein the blower casiong is formed with an inner surface that is concave in planes containing the blower axis for minimizing snow accumulation therein and radially outwardly of the exit opening.

3. In a snow thrower as set forth in claim 2 wherein the blower impeller portions have a curvature at their peripheral edge complementary to that of the blower casing.

4. In a snow thrower as set forth in claim 3 wherein the blower impeller portions have a spoon shaped configuration.

5. A blower casing for a snow thrower comprising an outer casing containing the blower rotatable about an axis and having an inlet opening at one side thereof and a discharge opening at the peripheral edge thereof radially outwardly from said blower axis, said blower casing having a concave inner surface in planes containing the axis of said blower and around the circumference of said blower and radially outwardly of said inlet opening in all directions around the circumference for reducing the accumulation of snow therein.

6. In a blower casing as set forth in claim 5 wherein the blower has blades with a curvature at their peripheral edges complementary to that of the blower casing.

7. In a blower casing as set forth in claim 6 wherein the blower blades have a spoon configuration.