BACKGROUND
Snowthrowers generally have upright chutes through which a snow stream is thrown. The chute can be rotated on the snowthrower from one side to the other to direct the snow stream as desired. Typically, this is done by a manually operated crank which turns the chute through a worm or spur gear engaging a toothed ring on the bottom of the chute. Many turns of the crank are required to turn the chute completely from one side to the other. This can be tiring and inconvenient to do, particularly where one must redirect the snow stream frequently as when going back and forth on a driveway.
Most snowthrowers having rotatable chutes also have a pivotal deflector on the top of the chute. The angle of inclination of the deflector on the chute controls the trajectory of the snow stream. The deflector is usually formed with an integral handle. The user can move the handle to manually move the deflector to an adjusted position. The friction between the deflector and the chute is typically enough to retain the deflector in an adjusted position.
SUMMARY
In one embodiment, the invention provides a chute rotation system including a chute, a handle assembly, and a drive assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle rotatable about a first axis and a second axis, and a bracket configured to inhibit movement of the handle about the first axis. The drive assembly is coupled to the handle assembly and includes a chute drive and a friction brake. The friction brake is configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
In another embodiment the invention provides a method of rotating a chute. The method includes disengaging a friction brake, rotating a handle about a first axis, rotating the chute as a result of the rotation of the handle about the first axis, and engaging the friction brake to inhibit rotation of the chute.
In another embodiment the invention provides a snowthrower including a chute, and a chute rotation system. The chute rotation system includes a friction brake configured to maintain a position of the chute when the friction brake is engaged, and a handle configured to disengage the friction brake and rotate the chute when the friction brake is disengaged.
In another embodiment the invention provides a drive assembly including a chute drive, a transverse gear drivably coupled to the chute drive, and a friction brake configured to prevent movement of the chute, as a result of friction, when the friction brake is engaged with the chute drive.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a snowthrower according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is another perspective view of a snowthrower according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 3A and 3B are perspective views of a handle assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 4A-4C are top, front, and side views, respectively, of a slotted bracket according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are front and side views, respectively, of a handle according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 6A-6D are front, right-side, left-side, and top views, respectively, of a positioning bracket according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are side and front views, respectively, of a shaft linkage and cable bracket according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 8A is an exploded view of a drive assembly according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 8B-8F are perspective views of the drive assembly shown in FIG. 8A.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a gear bracket according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a brake bracket according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 11A-11C are front, side, and top views, respectively, of a transverse gear according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIGS. 12A- 12C are front, side, and top views, respectively, of a chute drive according to one embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 13 is a top view of a brake according to one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a snowthrower 100 according to one embodiment of the invention. The snowthrower 100 can include wheels 101, an engine 102, and suitable snow removal components 103 for gathering snow from the ground and for throwing the gathered snow in a snow stream away from the snowthrower 100. The snowthrower 100 can be either a single stage snowthrower having a single snow gathering and throwing impeller or a two stage snowthrower having an auger for gathering snow as well as an impeller for throwing the snow gathered by the auger. The snowthrower 100 can also include a chute 105, a pair of handlebars 110, and a chute rotation system 112. The chute rotation system 112 can include a handle assembly 115, a hex-shaped shaft 130, and a drive assembly 135.
The chute 105 can be generally upright or vertical for throwing a snow stream. In some embodiments, the chute 105 can be U-shaped, the bottom of which can be rotatably mounted to a ring (not shown) and can rotate about a generally vertical axis.
The pair of handlebars 110 can enable an operator to control the snowthrower 100. The handle assembly 115 (as shown in FIG. 2) of the chute rotation system 112 can be mounted behind a dashboard 120 (as shown in FIG. 1) extending between the handlebars 110. The handle assembly 115 can include a handle 125 which can be used by an operator to rotate the chute 105 about the vertical axis to adjust the direction of the snow stream relative to snowthrower 100. The hex-shaped shaft 130 can couple the handle assembly 115 to the drive assembly 135 and can transfer rotational force from the handle 125 to the chute 105. As shown in FIG. 1, the drive assembly 135 can be covered by a shroud 140.
A pivotal deflector 145 can be positioned on the top of the chute 105. In some embodiments, the deflector 145 can also be U-shaped and can be slightly larger than the top of chute 105 so that the top of chute 105 nests within the bottom of deflector 145. The deflector 145 can pivot on the top of chute 105 about a horizontal axis. Pivoting the deflector 145 about a horizontal axis can adjust the trajectory of the snow stream being thrown by chute 105.
FIG. 2 illustrates the snowthrower 100 with the dashboard 120 and the shroud 140, among other components, removed, to more clearly show the relationship of the handle assembly 115, the shaft 130, and the drive assembly 135.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the handle assembly 115. The handle assembly 115 can include a positioning bracket 150, a cable bracket 155, a shaft linkage 160, a slotted bracket 165, and the handle 125.
The handle assembly 115 can be mounted to the dashboard 120 (as shown in FIG. 1) or to a cross bar (not shown) extending between the handlebars 110 (as shown in FIG. 2). The slotted bracket 165 can mount to the dashboard 120 by suitable fasteners such as nuts and bolts, rivets, welding, etc.
FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate the slotted bracket 165. The slotted bracket 165 can have a main portion 200 that can be generally semi-circular in shape and can have two mounting arms 205 and 210 extending perpendicular from a first end 215 and a second end 220, respectively, of the main portion 200 of the slotted bracket 165. The arms 205 and 210 can be in the shape of an “L” with extensions 225 and 230 for attachment to the dashboard 120 (or a dashboard support). The slotted bracket 165 can also include a plurality of positioning slots 235. The positioning slots 235 can be evenly spaced around an outer edge of the main portion 200 of the slotted bracket 165, as shown in FIG. 4B. The slotted bracket 165 can also include an aperture 240 centrally positioned in the main portion 200. The aperture 240 can be sized slightly larger than the shaft linkage 160 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) to receive the shaft linkage 160 and allow the shaft linkage 160 to rotate.
FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the handle 125. The handle 125 can include a handle mounting bracket 260, a handle shaft 265, and a grip 270. The grip 270 can be manufactured by injection molding or another suitable process. The grip 270 can be overmolded directly to the handle shaft 265 or can be formed separately and attached to the handle shaft 265 using a suitable adhesive. The grip 270 can be shaped to be comfortably held in an operator's hand and can have a plurality of detents to receive the operator's fingers. The grip 270 can be sized to fit an average person's hand when the person is wearing a glove. The handle shaft 265 can be solid or hollow. The handle shaft 265 can be straight, bent, or curved to position the grip 270 in an easily accessible position for an operator to use. The handle mounting bracket 260 can be flat and can include apertures 275 for mounting (e.g., using bolts or rivets) or can be solid for mounting via welding.
FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate the positioning bracket 150. The positioning bracket 150 can be generally U-shaped and can have a first arm 300 and a second arm 305. The first and second arms 300 and 305 can each have an aperture 310 and 311, respectively. As shown in FIG. 6B, the first arm 300 can also have a biasing aperture 315, a cable link aperture 320, and a positioning key 325. In embodiments using bolts or rivets to mount the handle 125 to the positioning bracket 150, the positioning bracket 150 can include a pair of handle mounting apertures 330, as shown in FIG. 6A.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the slotted bracket 165 can be mounted in a substantially vertical position between the handlebars 110 of the snowthrower 100. In some embodiments, the handle 125 can be mounted to the positioning bracket 150 via bolts 375. In other embodiments, the handle 125 can be integrally constructed with the positioning bracket 150.
FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate the shaft linkage 160 and the cable bracket 155. The shaft linkage 160 can have a generally round shape and can include a hex-shaped aperture 350 centrally positioned in the shaft linkage 160 and extending through a substantial portion of the shaft linkage 160. The aperture 350 can be shaped to receive the shaft 130 and prevent the shaft 130 from rotating relative to the shaft linkage 160. In other embodiments, the shaft 130 and the aperture 350 can be different shapes (e.g., rectangular). In some embodiments, the hex-shaped aperture 350 can extend through the entire length of the shaft linkage 160. The shaft linkage 160 can also include a hole 355. The hole 355 can be positioned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the shaft linkage 160 as shown in FIG. 7A. The cable bracket 155 can be mounted to the shaft linkage 160 (e.g., by welding), as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, and can include a U-shaped aperture 360 for receiving a sheath 370 of a cable assembly 372 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B).
In some embodiments, as also shown in FIG. 3A, a bolt 380 can pass through the aperture 310 (as shown in FIG. 6B) of the first arm 300 of the positioning bracket 150, the hole 355 (as shown in FIG. 7A) of the shaft linkage 160, and the aperture 311 (as shown in FIG. 6D) of the second arm 305 of the positioning bracket 150. The bolt 380 can be secured in position by a nut, a cotter pin, or another fastener. The shaft 130 (as shown in FIG. 3A) can be received in the hex-shaped aperture 350 of the shaft linkage 160. The length of the hex-shaped aperture 350 is sized so that the shaft 130 can slide within the shaft linkage 160 during operation of the chute rotation system 112. As shown in FIG. 3B, the shaft linkage 160 can be rotatably positioned in the aperture 240 of the slotted bracket 165.
The shaft linkage 160, the positioning bracket 150, the handle 125, and the cable bracket 155 can be pivotally held in position by the shaft 130 and the hole 240 of the slotted bracket 165. As shown in FIG. 3A, one end of a biasing element 390 (e.g., a spring) can be coupled to the biasing aperture 315 (as shown in FIG. 6B) of the positioning bracket 150 and a second end of the biasing element 390 can be coupled (although not shown) to the dashboard 120 to bias the positioning bracket 150 pivotally around the bolt 380 so that the slot key 325 (as shown in FIG. 6B) is received in one of the plurality of slots 235.
With the positioning key 325 disengaged from the slots 235, the handle 125, the shaft linkage 160 and cable bracket 155, and the positioning bracket 150 can rotate about a first axis defined by the shaft linkage 160. The handle 125 and the positioning bracket 150 can also rotate about a second axis defined by the bolt 380.
FIG. 8A illustrates the drive assembly 135 according to one embodiment of the invention. The drive assembly 135 can include a gear bracket 400, a gear bracket support 402 including a cable brace 455, and a biasing aperture 460, a brake bracket 405, a transverse gear 410, a chute drive 415, a frictional brake 418, the shroud 140, a shoulder bolt 422, and a chute coupling 423. FIGS. 8B-8F illustrate various perspective views of embodiments of the drive assembly 135. For clarity, various elements of the drive assembly 135 have been removed from the views shown in FIGS. 8B-8F.
FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the gear bracket 400. The gear bracket 400 can include a chute drive support 420 having a gear aperture 425, first and second brake pivot arms 430 and 435 having brake pivot apertures 440, a mounting aperture 450, and a transverse gear aperture 550. FIG. 10 illustrates the brake bracket 405. The brake bracket 405 can include a pivot arm 470, a biasing arm 475, a cross brace 480, a brake key 485, a plurality of pivot apertures 490, a biasing detent 495, and a cable catch 500. FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate the transverse gear 410. The transverse gear 410 can include a hex-shaped aperture 505 extending through the transverse gear 410. The aperture 505 can be shaped to receive the shaft 130 and prevent the shaft 130 from rotating relative to the transverse gear 410. In other embodiments, the shaft 130 and the aperture 505 can be different shapes (e.g., rectangular or round used with a pin). The transverse gear 410 can also include a plurality of grooves 510 formed in a semi-circle, as shown in FIG. 11A. The transverse gear 410 can also include a bearing 515. The bearing 515 can be sized to be rotatably received in the transverse gear aperture 550 of the gear bracket 400. FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate the chute drive 415. The chute drive 415 can include a disk shaped body 520, an extension 525, a connecting plate 530, and a set of gear teeth 540 provided in a beveled configuration. In some embodiments, an outer edge 545 of the body 520 can be notched, knurled, or grooved. Also, in some embodiments (such as shown in FIG. 8A), the extension 525 and connecting plate 530 can be a chute coupling 423 separate from the chute drive 415. The shoulder bolt 422 can couple the chute drive 415 to the gear bracket 400 (as shown in FIGS. 8A-8E). FIG. 13 illustrates the frictional brake 418. The brake 418 can include a brake pad 547 and a brake slot 548.
As shown in FIG. 8A, a support 560 (as also shown in FIG. 2) can extend from a frame of the snowthrower 100 to a position a distance above the frame and rearward of the chute 105. The gear bracket support 402 can mount to the support 560 by one or more bolts 565. In some embodiments, the gear bracket support 402 can be welded to the support 560, integrally formed with the support 560, or secured by other suitable fasteners.
As shown in FIGS. 8A-8F, a pivot bolt 570 can be inserted through the pivot apertures 490 (as shown in FIG. 10) of the brake bracket 405 and the brake pivot apertures 440 (as shown in FIG. 9) of the gear bracket 400. The chute drive 415 can be positioned on the gear bracket 400 so that the shoulder bolt 422 is rotatably positioned in the gear aperture 425 (as shown in FIG. 9). The connecting plate 530 can be connected to a wall of the chute 105 by welding or other suitable means. The support 560, the gear bracket 400, the gear bracket support 402, the chute 105, and the chute drive 415 are positioned so that the gear aperture 425 of the gear bracket 400 and, thus, the shoulder bolt 422 are aligned with a rotational axis of the chute 105.
The shaft 130 can be inserted through the hex aperture 505 (as shown in FIG. 11A) of the transverse gear 410, and the transverse gear 410 can be positioned so that the grooves 510 of the transverse gear 410 mesh with the teeth 540 (as shown in FIGS. 12A-12C) of the chute drive 415. As shown in FIGS. 8A-8C, a pair of cotter pins 580 or other suitable locking mechanisms can hold the shaft 130 in the hex aperture 505 of the transverse gear 410.
The combination of the transverse gear 410 and the chute drive 415 can rotate the axis of rotation from an axis of rotation defined by the shaft 130 to an axis of rotation defined by the chute 105. In embodiments where a height of the handle assembly 115 is substantially equivalent to a height of the drive assembly 135, the axis of rotation can be rotated about 90 degrees. In embodiments where the height of the handle assembly 115 is above or below the height of the drive assembly 135, the axis of rotation can be rotated more or less than 90 degrees.
The cable assembly 372 (as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 8A-8F) can extend between the handle assembly 115 and the drive assembly 135. The cable assembly 372 can include a cable 605 having a first end 610 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a second end 615 (as shown in FIGS. 8A-8F). The cable 605 can be surrounded by the sheath 370 which can include a first end 620 (as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a second end 625 (as shown in FIGS. 8A-8F).
As shown in FIG. 3B, on the handle assembly 115, the first end 610 of the cable 605 can be coupled to the cable link aperture 320 (as shown in FIG. 6B) of the positioning bracket 150. The first end 620 of the sheath 370 can be secured to the cable bracket 155 in a suitable manner. As shown in FIG. 8B, on the drive assembly 135, the second end 615 of the cable 605 can be coupled to the cable catch 500 of the brake bracket 405. The second end 625 of the sheath 370 can be secured to the cable brace 455 of the gear bracket support 402 in a suitable manner. This construction can allow the cable 605 to move freely within the sheath 370 and can transfer a force applied to the first end 610 of the cable 605 to the second end 615 of the cable 605.
As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 8A-8F, the chute rotation system 112 can operate as follows. When the chute 105 is in a desired position, the operator can release the handle 125. When the handle 125 is released the chute rotation system 112 can be controlled by the biasing element 390 of the positioning bracket 150 and a brake biasing element 650 (e.g., a spring, as shown in FIGS. 8A-8F) coupled to the brake bracket 405. The biasing element 390 and the brake spring 650 can work together to maintain the chute 105 in the desired position. The biasing element 390 can pivotally bias the positioning bracket 150 around the bolt 380 so that the positioning key 325 can seat in one of the slots 235 of the slotted bracket 165. In this position, the cable link aperture 320 can be positioned a relatively short distance (e.g., one inch) from the cable bracket 155, which can position the first end 610 of the cable 605 a similarly short distance from the first end 620 of the sheath 370. At the same time, the brake spring 650 can pivotally bias the brake bracket 405 around the pivot aperture 490 so that the cable catch 500 can be positioned a relatively far distance (e.g., two inches) from the cable brace 455 of the gear bracket support 402. In this position, the second end 615 of the cable 605 can also be positioned a relatively far distance (e.g., two inches) from the second end 625 of the sheath 370.
In this position, the brake key 485 (as shown in FIG. 10) can bias the frictional brake 418 toward the chute drive 415. The brake pad 547 (as shown in FIG. 13) of the frictional brake 418 can be biased to contact the outer edge 545 (as shown in FIG. 12B) of the chute drive 415 and can apply a braking (i.e., frictional) force to the chute drive 415. The braking force can be of sufficient strength to prevent the chute drive 415, and thus the chute 105, from rotating during normal operation of the snowthrower 100 to maintain the position of the chute 105.
When an operator wants to reposition the chute 105, for example when reversing direction of the snowthrower 100, the operator can grasp the grip 270 of the handle 125 and push the handle 125 in a direction away from the slotted bracket 165 (i.e., forward). In pushing the handle 125 forward, the operator can overcome the bias of the biasing element 390 and the brake spring 650. The forward motion on the handle 125 can pivot the positioning bracket 150 around the bolt 380 (i.e., rotating the handle 125 around the second axis) and can move the cable link aperture 320 and the first end 610 of the cable 605 a distance so that the cable link aperture 320 and the first end 610 of the cable 605 can be positioned a relatively far distance (e.g., two inches) from the cable bracket 155 and the first end 620 of the sheath 370.
The movement of the first end 610 of the cable 605 away from the first end 620 of the sheath 370 can cause the second end 615 of the cable 605 to move a substantially equal distance toward the second end 625 of the sheath 370. This movement of the second end 615 of the cable 605 can pull the cable catch 500 of the brake bracket 405 a substantially equal distance toward the cable brace 455 of the gear bracket support 402. This movement can pivot the brake bracket 405 around the pivot apertures 490 which can, in turn, remove the bias of the brake key 485 from the brake 418. Once the bias is removed from the brake 418, the brake pad 547 no longer provides a braking force to the chute drive 415 and can allow the chute drive 415, and thus the chute 105, to rotate.
As shown in FIG. 3A, the shaft linkage 160 can be coupled to the positioning bracket 150 by the bolt 380 and the shaft linkage 160 can extend through the aperture 240 (as shown in FIG. 4B) of the slotted bracket 165. The bolt 380 can define the second axis of rotation for the positioning bracket 150. When the positioning key 325 of the positioning bracket 150 is seated in one of the slots 235 of the slotted bracket 165, the positioning bracket 150 can be prevented from rotating around the first axis defined by the shaft 130. The operator, by pushing the handle 125 forward, in addition to releasing the braking friction on the chute drive 415, can move the positioning key 325 out of the slot 235 of the slotted bracket 165. With the braking friction removed and the positioning key 325 removed from the slot 235, the positioning bracket 150 and the handle 125 can be free to rotate about the first axis defined by the shaft 130.
The operator can rotate the handle 125 around the first axis defined by the shaft 130. The rotation of the handle 125, because the handle 125 is coupled to the positioning bracket 150, can cause the positioning bracket 150 to rotate around the first axis defined by the shaft 130. Because the shaft linkage 160 is coupled to the positioning bracket 150, the shaft linkage 160, and thus the cable bracket 155 can also rotate. The handle 125, the positioning bracket 150, and the cable bracket 155 can rotate in tandem such that the position of the cable link aperture 320 of the positioning bracket 150, relative to the position of the aperture 360 of the cable bracket 155 remains constant and maintain the positions of the first end 610 and second end 615 of the cable 605 during rotation of the handle 125 around the first axis. The shaft linkage 160 can transfer the rotation to the shaft 130 and can cause the shaft 130 to rotate a substantially equivalent rotational distance. Likewise, the shaft 130 can transfer the rotation to the transverse gear 410 (as shown in FIG. 8A) and can also rotate the transverse gear 410 a substantially equivalent rotational distance.
The transverse gear 410 can rotate around the first axis defined by the shaft 130 and can drive the chute drive 415. The interaction of the chute drive 415 with the transverse gear 410 can rotate the axis of rotation as described above, and can result in the chute drive 415 rotating on a substantially vertical axis centered in the shoulder bolt 422. As the chute drive 415 is rotationally driven by the transverse gear 410, the extension 525 and connecting plate 530 (as shown in FIG. 12B) of the chute drive 415 can also be rotated. This rotation can be transferred to the chute 105 and can result in the chute 105 rotating a distance substantially equivalent to the rotational distance the chute drive 415 travels.
The ratio of the grooves 510 of the transverse gear 410 to the teeth 540 of the chute drive 415 can be adjusted to achieve a desired rotation of the chute 105 relative to the rotation of the handle 125. The rotation of the chute 105 can be equal to, lesser than, or greater than the rotation of the handle 125 (e.g., 75 degree rotation of the handle 125 can cause the chute 105 to rotate 110 degrees).
The above description is given by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the description is of a snowthrower however the invention applies to any device incorporating a rotatable chute (e.g., a hay bailer).
Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20080209771
