Guide disc attachment for snow blower housing

Abstract

A Guide Disc Attachment for Snow Blower Housing affixed in tandem to the exterior sides of a snow blower housing. Each disc is fabricated of rigid material, conformed to cut through ice and snow to an underlying hard surface and rotates on an axis parallel to the hard surface. Each disc attachment is adjustable, vertically, to regulate the distance between the underlying hard surface and the generally horizontal cutting edge of the snow blower housing. The invention allows the cutting edge to gather otherwise impacted snow and also provides lateral stability when the snow blower is moving forward.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]With regard to snow blowers which have a snow throwing mechanism, or auger, within a housing, which housing contacts the snow to be removed, and has a generally horizontal front or cutting edge, the concept of utilizing skid or ski plates underneath or adjacent to the sides of the housing, or wheels on the sides of the housing, to allow the housing to pass over the surface being cleared, and to adjust the height of the front or cutting edge of the housing above the surface underlying the snow to be removed, is known. Examples of prior art pertinent to this discussion include U.S. Pat. No. 4,255,879, to Greider, for a Snow Blower Deadman Control, which shows a wheel attachment (the concept of utilizing a wheel attachment to cut through the snow, or ice, to bring the snow blower assembly closer to the underlying hard surface, however, is not disclosed nor taught by the '879 patent); U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,247, to Ruhl, for an Auger and Blade Therefor Usea...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention has been designed to overcome the shortcomings in the prior art noted above. The invention primarily consists of a pair of rigid, narrow discs, mounted in tandem, one on each side, on a snow blower bin and housing. Each disc is mounted on, and rotates about, an axle perpendicular to the side of the housing, and in parallel with the cutting edge of the snow blower. The rigid, narrow features of the disc permit it to cut or break through impacted snow and ice, and to reach and contact the hard surface lying beneath the snow or ice which is being removed. The rotating feature of the disc mounted on an axle allows the disc to rotate, as the snow blower is moved forward, and minimizes friction resistence normally attendant in a non-rotating skid. It is possible to utilize only the rigid narrow feature of the disc, without rotation, as a support on each side of the snow blower bin or housing to provide that the cutting feature as well as sideways stability, but optimum economy of the invention is obtained when the discs rotate to minimize friction resistence to the forward movement of the snow blower.

Problems solved by technology

As stated, these designs, commonly used by modern day manufacturers of snow blowers, tend to ride up on top of the snow and may even themselves impact the snow, exacerbating the “ride up” tendency by their very operation.

The problem with impacted snow and ice is compounded as the winter season continues, and the snow and / or ice pack becomes thicker.

An additional problem, not addressed by current snow blowers, or any of the prior art, is that, when operating the snow blower, with a horizontal auger, the snow blower may have a tendency to pull sideways into deeper areas of snow.

This is particularly prevalent with a skid shoe support design for the bin or housing, and is also present in standard wheel attachments which ride on top of the snow, because they have little lateral stabilizing ability.

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