Patent Grant
9096981
Snowblowers are known having upright chutes through which a snow stream can be thrown. It is common for the chute to be designed such that it can be rotated from one side to the other to direct where the snow stream is deposited laterally relative to the snowblower. In addition, most snowblowers having rotatable chutes also usually have a pivotal deflector on the top of the chute. The angle of inclination of the deflector on the chute can be adjusted to control the trajectory of the snow stream.
For example, a common configuration for such an adjustable deflector is shown in
Such a configuration can lead to a variety of operation problems, however, depending on the specific implementation. If deflector position control 10 is relatively short, a user may be required to come around from the usual operating position behind the handle of the snowblower to one side of the snowblower in order to be near to deflector D to be able to reach handle 12 of deflector position control 10. Alternatively, if deflector position control 10 is long enough that the user can manipulate it while still behind the handle of the snowblower, the long length of such a simple mechanism can suffer from a lack of precise control over the position of deflector D, and the associated weight can make it difficult to maintain deflector D in the desired angular position.
In yet a further alternative, other configurations for an adjustable deflector can include a control handle that can be provided on the handle of the snowblower. For example, a joystick type control handle can be provided to control the deflector. In known joystick designs of this type, however, the operation of the joystick generally involves complex mechanical systems, such as electric motors, multiple cables for different directions of pivoting, complex linkages, and/or gear systems. These features can raise the cost to manufacture and sell the snowblower. Such complex mechanical systems can also introduce multiple possible failure modes, especially in the extremely cold conditions in which snowblowers are often operated and stored.
As a result, it would be desirable for a snowblower adjustable deflector control device, system, and method to be durable, reliable, and simple to use while still providing effective operation of the snowblower chute.
In accordance with this disclosure, snowblower adjustable deflector control devices, systems, and methods are provided. In one aspect, an adjustable snowblower deflector control system is provided. The system can comprise a control cable connected at one end to a movable deflector of a discharge chute of a snowblower, a control lever pivotably connected to a machine handle of the snowblower, and a lever guide connected to the machine handle. The control lever can comprise a first end comprising a grip portion, a second end connected to the control cable, and at least one protrusion extending from the control lever, and the lever guide can be configured to selectively retain the at least one protrusion in any of one or more angular positions corresponding to one or more deflector positions.
In another aspect, an adjustable snowblower deflector control system is provided. The system according to this aspect can comprise a control cable connected at one end to a movable deflector of a discharge chute of a snowblower such that tension on the control cable pulls the movable deflector towards a relatively lower-angle position. A biasing element can be connected between the movable deflector and the discharge chute, the biasing element being configured to urge the movable deflector towards a relatively higher-angle position. A control lever comprising a first end comprising a grip portion, a second end connected to the control cable, and at least one protrusion extending from the control lever can be pivotably connected to a machine handle of the snowblower at a pivot point positioned between the first end and the second end. Finally, a lever guide can be connected to the machine handle, the lever guide comprising a plurality of openings configured for receiving the at least one protrusion to selectively retain the at least one protrusion in any of one or more angular positions corresponding to one or more deflector positions, wherein the control lever is movable away from the lever guide such that the at least one protrusion is movable out of engagement with the plurality of openings.
In yet another aspect a method for adjusting the position of an adjustable snowblower deflector is provided. The method can comprise, for a control lever pivotably connected to a machine handle of a snowblower and positioned adjacent to and selectively engageable with a lever guide connected to the machine handle, tilting the control lever away from the lever guide to disengage the control lever from the lever guide. The control lever can be pivoted relative to the lever guide to move a control cable connected to a movable deflector of a discharge chute of a snowblower, wherein pivoting the control lever causes the movable deflector to pivot relative to the discharge chute. The control lever can be tilted towards the lever guide to engage the control lever with the lever guide.
Although some of the aspects of the subject matter disclosed herein have been stated hereinabove, and which are achieved in whole or in part by the presently disclosed subject matter, other aspects will become evident as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings as best described hereinbelow.
The features and advantages of the present subject matter will be more readily understood from the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that are given merely by way of explanatory and non-limiting example, and in which:
The present subject matter provides adjustable deflector control devices, systems, and methods for use with a snowblower. In one aspect, the present subject matter provides an adjustable snowblower deflector control system. Referring to
To allow actuation of control cable 112 to cause this movement of deflector D, deflector cable connector 114 can be specifically positioned on deflector D to be forward of hinge H such that actuating control cable 112 (I.e., applying tension) exerts a downwardly-directed force on deflector D, thereby causing deflector D to pivot in a downward direction about hinge H, which can be desirable for directing snow output from discharge chute DS in a substantially outward direction. To move deflector D towards a relatively higher-angle position, a biasing element 116 can further be attached to deflector D. For example, as shown in
In particular, for example, hinge H can itself be spring-loaded such that deflector D is biased towards an extended position relative to discharge chute DS. Alternatively, in the configuration shown in
Regardless of the specific configuration, however, the interaction of biasing element 116 with deflector D can be designed such that the force exerted by biasing element 116 acts in an opposite direction to the force exerted by the actuation of control cable 112. Specifically, biasing element 116 can be designed to be in an unloaded state (i.e., exerting no force) when deflector D is positioned in a highest desired angle of inclination (e.g., a fully extended position), but biasing element 116 can exert a force on deflector D whenever deflector D is pivoted to a relatively lower angle position. Alternatively, biasing element 116 can be configured to always exert a force on deflector D, but the connection of deflector D to discharge chute DS can include a stop that prevents deflector D from pivoting beyond a highest desired angle of inclination (i.e., prevent over-rotating). Of course, it should be recognized that the relative movement of deflector D by control cable 112 and biasing element 116, respectively, can be inverted such that operation of control cable 112 moves deflector D towards an upward-facing angular position and biasing element 116 acts to bias deflector D towards an outward-facing angular position.
In any configuration, selective operation of a single actuator (i.e., control cable 112) can allow the user to effect bi-directional movement of deflector D. In particular, when it is desired to lower the angle of inclination of deflector D (or increase the angle in an inverted configuration), control cable 112 can be actuated to exert a relatively downward-directed force on deflector D. If the force of this actuation is greater than the biasing force exerted by biasing element 116, deflector D can move in a relatively downward direction. Alternatively, when it is desired to increase the angle of inclination of deflector D (or decrease the angle in an inverted configuration), the tension applied by way of control cable 112 can be relaxed, thereby allowing the biasing force applied by biasing element 116 to pull deflector back towards a higher-angle position.
To control this selective actuation of control cable 112, a deflector control system, generally designated 100, can be provided in a position that is easily accessible to the operator of the snowblower. Referring to
Regarding the mechanical operation of deflector control system 100, in the configuration shown in
Regardless of the specific configuration, the angular position of deflector D can be controlled by balancing of the force exerted by control cable 112 against the biasing force exerted by biasing element 116. Where biasing element 116 is a spring, for example, it will exert a biasing force that urges deflector towards a relatively higher-angle position as long as deflector D is pivoted downward from a fully-extended “base” position (e.g., biasing element 116 in an unloaded state). Deflector control system 100 can be configured to maintain control lever 120 in place once grip portion 122 is moved to a position corresponding to a desired operating angle for deflector D without requiring the operator to hold grip portion 122 in the desired position.
In this regard, as shown in
In this configuration, when control lever 120 is positioned with protrusion 126 aligned with one of openings 134, lever guide 132 can restrain control lever 120 from pivoting relative to machine handle MH, thereby maintaining control lever 120 in one of a discrete number of predetermined angular positions corresponding to discrete angular operating positions of deflector D, which can maintain control cable 112 at a corresponding tension associated with a discrete angular position of deflector D. The number of openings 134 can be as few or as many as desired to define the angular positions to which deflector D can be moved for operation of the snowblower. For example, as few as two of openings 134 can be provided to simply define one “high angle” position and one “low angle” position, or many more of openings 134 can be provided to define a wider range of discrete positioning options for the user to select.
In any configuration, although lever guide 132 can securely engage protrusion 126 to prevent control lever 120 from pivoting out of a desired angular position, control lever 120 can be configured such that it can be easily moved from one position to another when desired. In this regard, control lever 120 can be designed to not only pivot relative machine handle to cause selective actuation of control cable 112, but control lever 120 can further be configured to tilt or flex in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane through which it pivots (i.e., away from lever guide 132) to pull projection 126 out of engagement with a selected one of openings 134, at which point control lever 120 can be pivoted relative to machine handle MH into alignment with another of openings 134 corresponding to a next desired operating position of deflector D.
This out-of-plane movement of control lever 120 can be achieved by forming control lever 120 from a durable yet relatively flexible material (e.g., spring steel) such that a small deflection of at least a portion of control lever 120 (e.g., the top portion containing grip portion 122) can pull projection 126 out of engagement with a selected one of openings 134. Where control lever 120 comprises a flexible material as noted above, this small deflection can be a substantially elastic bending such that once control lever 120 is positioned at a desired angle, the flexible material can cause control lever 120 to spring back towards lever guide 132. Alternatively, control lever 120 can be hinged or otherwise configured to tilt in an out-of-plane direction out of and into engagement with lever guide 132. In such a configuration, an additional biasing element can be provided to urge control lever 120 towards engagement with lever guide 132 (i.e., urging protrusion 126 into engagement with one of openings 134).
In any configuration, control lever 120 can be tilted/flexed about a point between pivot point P and grip portion 122 such that, although first end can be pulled away from lever guide 132 to disengage protrusion 126 from openings 134, control lever 120 can still be firmly connected to machine handle MH at pivot point P, thereby giving an operator a feeling of sturdy construction. In other words, although the first portion of control lever 120 can be moved laterally relative to the plane about which it is pivotable, there need not be any “play” in the pivoting connection of control lever 120 to machine handle MH.
Furthermore, protrusion 126 can itself be specifically designed to control the way in which control lever 120 can be moved relative to lever guide 132. Specifically, for example, as shown in
Alternatively, one or more edges of protrusion 126 can define a cam surface 126b that is curved or otherwise sloped such that when a force is exerted on control lever 120 that pushes cam surface 126b against an inner edge of a respective one of openings 134, cam surface 126b urges control lever 120 away from lever guide 132. In this way, control lever 120 need not be affirmatively tilted away from lever guide 132 by the operator. Rather, simply pivoting control lever 120 in the desired direction can cause protrusion 126 to slip out of engagement with a respective one of openings 134, thereby allowing control lever 120 to be pivoted relative to machine handle MH and lever guide 132, and protrusion 126 can snap into engagement with the next of openings 134 once control lever 120 has pivoted the incremental distance between openings.
In the specific configuration shown in
This written description uses examples to disclose the subject matter, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the subject matter herein. The patentable scope of the subject matter is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20140215863 A1 | Aug 2014 | US |
