Machine for packing snow or the like along a trail

• US 5,680,715 A
• Filed: 11/28/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Garage N. Thiboutot Inc., Gestion Normand Thiboutot Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Garage N. Thiboutot Inc., Gestion Normand Thiboutot Incorporated
• Inventors: Thiboutot, Normand, Thiboutot, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beach, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US08/566,565
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 37/219, 37/220, 37/268, 37/266, 172/781, 172/786-788, 172/684.5, 180/9.1, 180/9.32, 180/14.2, 180/14.3, 180/14.4, 180/14.7, 299/30, 299/36.1, 404/101, 404/110, 404/96, 404/75, 404/91
• US Class Current: 37/219
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 4/02 for sporting purposes, e.g. preparation of ski trails; Construction of artificial surfacings for snow or ice sports construction of ice skating rinks E01C13/102; Trails specially adapted for on-the-snow vehicles, e.g. devices adapted for ski-trails production of snow or ice for winter sports or similar recreational purposes F25C3/00

Abstract

The machine incorporates a front and a rear motorized units operatively connected together, and in which power is transmitted from one unit to the other so that they are both serf-propelled. A snow levelling device is disposed between the two motorized units for breaking irregularities on the trail and delivering excess snow behind the rear unit. A compaction and levelling unit is placed at the rear of the rear unit. Both the snow levelling device and the compaction and levelling unit may be raised from the ground especially in case of difficulties. This arrangement does not usually become inoperative in heavy snow or on inclined surfaces.

Claims

1. A machine for packing snow, which comprises

a first motorized unit and a second motorized unit, each said unit having means enabling said machine to move over a surface covered with snow as well as a rough uneven terrain;

said first and second motorized units are each provided with self-propelling means, said machine also comprises means effective to cause simultaneous operation of both self-propelling means, said self-propelling means arranged to enable said first and second motorized units to travel exactly at the same speed;

means connecting said first motorized unit ahead of said second motorized unit;

steering means enabling said machine to change direction;

said connecting means comprising articulating means enabling to change the course of said machine by operating said steering means, and means to permit one unit to pivot about a vertical axis independently of the other unit;

first snow leveling means disposed between said first and said second motorized unit and carried by said connecting means to ride over a snow surface for breaking and leveling irregularities in said snow surface and delivering excess snow rearwardly of said second motorized unit;

second snow leveling means including packing means for leveling and packing snow including said excess snow delivered rearwardly of said second motorized unit, said second leveling means including packing means arranged behind said second motorized unit;

means connecting said second snow leveling means including packing means to said second motorized unit for pulling same while allowing it to slide over snow including said excess snow which is leveled by means of said leveling means; and

means permitting said snow second leveling means including packing means to be raised from or lowered into ground engaging positions thereof.

2. A machine for packing snow according to claim 1, which comprises motor means disposed in one said motorized unit and arranged to operate said first and second motorized units so as to cause them to be simultaneously self-propelled.

3. A machine for packing snow according to claim 2, which wherein said motor means disposed in one said motorized unit.

4. A machine for packing snow according to claim 3, wherein said first motorized unit comprises first driving means, said second motorized unit comprises second driving means, said machine comprises a main drive shaft having an inner end and an outer end, said inner end being operatively connected to said motor means, said outer end being connected to a transfer case, a first auxiliary shaft connected between said transfer case and said first driving means to operate said first driving means, and a second auxiliary shaft connected between said transfer case and said second driving means to operate said second driving means, so that both said first and second driving means are being simultaneously operated by said motor means.

5. A machine for packing snow according to claim 4, wherein said first motorized unit comprises a first frame, a pair of first drive wheels and a pair of first non driven wheels mounted on said first frame, first and second tracks each respectively engaged over a first drive wheel and a first non driven wheel on both sides of said first motorized unit, said first auxiliary drive shaft operatively connected to said first drive wheels to drive said first motorized unit.

6. A machine for packing snow according to claim 4, wherein said second motorized unit comprises a second frame, a pair of second drive wheels and a pair of second non driven wheels mounted on said second frame, third and fourth tracks, each respectively engaged over a second drive wheel and a second non driven wheel on both sides of said second motorized unit, said second frame also having a motor mounted thereon, said motor being arranged to operate said main drive shaft, said second auxiliary drive shaft operatively connected to said second drive wheels to drive said second motorized unit.

7. A machine for packing snow according to claim 6, which comprises transmission means associated with said motor, said transmission means to transfer power from said motor to said main drive shaft and thereby also to said first and second drive wheels through said first and second auxiliary shafts.

8. A machine for packing snow according to claim 6, wherein said transmission means comprise an automatic transmission.

9. A machine for packing snow according to claim 7, wherein said connecting means comprise at least two parallel beams mounted on said second frame and extending along the longitudinal axis of said second motorized unit, said beams being joined together at their outer end by means of a transverse connecting bar, said beams having means located intermediate between said outer end and said second motorized unit to adjustably hold said first snow levelling means, said beams also comprising hitching means for coupling said beams to said first motorized unit so that said first motorized unit can be articulated about a vertical axis with respect to said beams, and be allowed to pivot about said longitudinal axis, independently of said beams and said second motorized unit.

10. A machine for packing snow according to claim 9, wherein said hitching means comprise a hitch support attached to said first frame at the rear of said first motorized unit, said hitch support including a first pair of lower rearwardly projecting holding members, an attachment ball between said lower holding members and means for fixedly retaining said attachment ball therebetween, said hitch support also including a second pair of upper rearwardly projecting holding members, a hitch pin between said upper holding members and means for retaining said hitch pin therebetween, said hitching means also comprising a hook member attached to said beams and engageable over said attachment ball to rotate in all directions relative thereto, an upper attachment fixed to said beams comprising a pair of pivoting arms and a joint attachment, said pivoting arms pivotally mounted at one end on said beams, said joint attachments pivotable at the other end of said pivoting arms, said upper attachment pivotally engaged by said hitch pin, so that when said first motorized unit merely pivots about a vertical axis said pivoting arms remain parallel to said beams, but when said first motorized unit undergoes a torsion about a longitudinal axis, said pivoting arms pivot at said one end thereby preventing the beams and consequently the second motorized unit from undergoing a similar torsion.

11. A machine according to claim 6, which comprises tandem means for mounting a drive wheel with a corresponding non driven wheel so that they can take up surface irregularities by pivoting about a pivot provided in said tandem means.

12. A machine for packing snow according to claim 9, wherein said first snow levelling means comprises a first snow levelling frame, a plurality of vertical snow cutting and ploughing blades, and means for mounting said blades on said first snow levelling frame.

13. A machine for packing snow according to claim 12, wherein said blades are shaped as elongated plates each formed with a sharp edge at the lower end thereof, said first snow levelling means comprising brackets for mounting said blades on said first snow levelling frame.

14. A machine according to claim 13, wherein said blades are arranged in pairs and are slanted so as to transfer excess snow rearwardly of said second motorized unit.

15. A machine according to claim 13, which comprises at least one pair of blades which are inwardly slanted and spaced from one another to allow said excess snow to be transferred rearwardly therebetween and at least one pair of blades which are outwardly slanted and arranged to transfer said excess snow around the outer ends thereof.

16. A machine according to claim 15, which comprises spring loaded means associated with said brackets to permit vertical upward and downward movement of said blades when in contact with an irregular surface.

17. A machine according to claim 12, which comprises means for adjustably mounting and raising and lowering said first snow levelling frame below said beams.

18. A machine for packing snow according to claim 17, wherein said mounting and raising and lowering means comprise a leverage rod, and means for rotatably mounting said rod on one said beam, lever arms at both end of said leverage rod, length adjustable mechanical links, each fixed at one end to said first snow levelling frame and at the other end to the respective free ends of said lever arms, and a hydraulic jack fixed at one end to a beam bracket downwardly extending from one said beam, and at the other end at an intermediate point of one said lever arm, so that extension of said first snow hydraulic jack will cause a lifting of said levelling frame through both said mechanical links.

19. A machine for packing snow according to claim 9, which comprises means for articulately lifting said second snow leveling means including packing means at the rear of said second motorized unit and control means provided in said front motorized unit to enable steering and operation of said machine.

20. A machine for packing snow according to claim 5, wherein said steering means comprise a pair of hydraulic jack mounted between said connection and the first frame of said front motorized unit and operable to orient said first motorized unit is a predetermined direction.