Snow thrower

Abstract

A snow thrower includes a body including a working assembly; a handle for a user to hold and connected to the body; and an energy device for providing the snow thrower with electrical energy. The snow thrower further includes a control module having a power-on state for being powered by the energy device; an operating device configured to be operated by the user to send a temperature control signal to a wireless communication module when separated from the snow thrower; and the wireless communication module configured to transmit the temperature control signal to the control module. The control module is switched to the power-on state according to the temperature control signal, and the control module in the power-on state controls the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of power tools and, in particular, to a snow thrower.BACKGROUND

[0002] As an important device for removing snow in the winter, a snow thrower is generally controlled manually to perform snow removal operations outdoors. However, due to a low temperature of the outdoors, a user needs to wear very thick clothes, a hat, gloves, goggles, and other articles to withstand the cold. Moreover, the snow thrower may have a series of problems in a cold environment, resulting in a failure of the user to normally use the snow thrower. Therefore, the user heats some structures of the snow thrower, and a process of heating to a preset temperature requires time.

[0003] WO2023045496A1 discloses a power tool, a handle system suitable for a power tool, and a snow sweeper. The power tool comprises: a handle component, a power supply, and a temperature control module. The handle component comprises a left grip portion and a right grip portion. A first end of the left grip portion is coupled to the body of the power tool. A second end of the left grip portion is coupled to a first end of the right grip portion, and a second end of the right grip portion is coupled to the body of the power tool. The temperature control module is coupled to the handle component and to the power supply; and the power supply is configured to supply power to the temperature control module, so that the temperature control module is configured to heat the handle component.

[0004] DE102018218877A1 discloses a system and a method for heating a vehicle handle. The system comprises a first handle with a first heating element and a first temperature sensor, and a second handle with a second heating element and a second temperature sensor. The system further comprises a polarity switching circuit, which is configured, when active in a first polarity, to supply power to the second temperature sensor, and, when in a second polarity, to supply power to the second heating element. The system further comprises an electronic processor, which is configured, when the polarity switching circuit is active in the first polarity, to receive a temperature signal from the second temperature sensor, compare the temperature signal with a predetermined threshold value, and, in response to the temperature signal not exceeding the predetermined temperature threshold, to set the polarity switching circuit to the second polarity.SUMMARY

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a snow thrower, where a user can preheat the snow thrower remotely, facilitating use and saving time.

[0006] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the invention is set out in the appended claims.

[0007] In the snow thrower provided in the present invention, the operating device sends the temperature control signal to the wireless communication module, the wireless communication module transmits the temperature control signal to the control module, and the control module is switchable to the power-on state according to the temperature control signal and controls the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower so that a to-be-heated part of the snow thrower is pre-heated remotely, and the user does not need to wait outdoors, thereby reducing a time for which the user works outdoors and facilitating use.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a structural view of a snow thrower according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a structural diagram of a connection between an operating device and a wireless communication module according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is another structural diagram of a connection between an operating device and a wireless communication module according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of operation logic of a snow thrower according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a structural view of a display screen according to the present invention; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a display screen according to the present invention; FIG. 7 is a structural view of a temperature adjustment device disposed on a rotating shaft according to the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of a control module, a temperature switch, and a temperature adjustment device of a snow thrower according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] Before any examples of this invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to its application to the structural details and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the above drawings.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a snow thrower includes a body 1, a handle 3, an energy device 4, a control module 5, and an operating device 6.

[0011] The body 1 includes a body housing 11 and a working assembly 2. The working assembly 2 includes an auger 22 and a snow sweeping motor (not shown in the figures) that drives the auger 22. The snow sweeping motor is accommodated in the body housing 11 of the snow thrower. The auger 22 is a functional component of the snow thrower and used for sweeping snow on the ground. The working assembly 2 further includes a rotating shaft 21, and two ends of the rotating shaft 21 are rotatably connected to the body housing 11 separately through connectors. The auger 22 is mounted on the rotating shaft 21, and the snow sweeping motor drives the rotating shaft 21 to rotate and thus drives the auger 22 to rotate to sweep the snow on the ground. A connector may be a bearing, an inner ring of the bearing is connected to the rotating shaft 21, and an outer ring of the bearing is connected to the body housing 11. The handle 3 is for a user to hold and connected to the body 1. In a traveling direction of the snow thrower, the handle 3 is disposed behind the body 1, and the handle 3 is held to control the traveling direction of the snow thrower.

[0012] The energy device 4 provides the snow thrower with electrical energy. In some examples, the energy device 4 includes at least one battery pack, and the battery pack includes lithium cells disposed inside a housing of the battery pack and for storing electrical energy. The body housing 11 is formed with a battery compartment, and at least part of the battery pack is mounted in the battery compartment.

[0013] The control module 5 has a power-on state for being powered by the energy device 4 and is configured to control at least the operation of a walking motor and the snow sweeping motor of the snow thrower. The control module 5 includes a single-chip microcomputer or a microcontroller unit (MCU). In some examples, the single-chip microcomputer is an Advanced reduced instruction set computer (RISC) Machine (ARM) chip, and the MCU is a general-purpose digital signal processor (DSP) chip. In this example, the control module 5 is disposed on the handle 3. In some examples, the control module 5 is disposed on the body 1.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the operating device 6 is configured to be operated by the user to send a temperature control signal to a wireless communication module 7 when separated from the snow thrower, and the wireless communication module 7 is configured to transmit the temperature control signal to the control module 5. The control module 5 is switched to the power-on state according to the temperature control signal, and the control module 5 in the power-on state controls the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower. The operating device 6 sends the temperature control signal to the wireless communication module 7, the wireless communication module 7 transmits the temperature control signal to the control module 5, and the control module 5 is switchable to the power-on state according to the temperature control signal and controls the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower so that a to-be-heated part of the snow thrower is pre-heated remotely, and the user does not need to wait outdoors, thereby reducing a time for which the user works outdoors and facilitating use. The temperature control signal may be directly forwarded by the wireless communication module 7 to the control module 5 or may be sent to the control module 5 after being processed by the wireless communication module 7, which is not limited here as long as the temperature control signal enables the user to remotely control the temperature of part of the snow thrower to increase or decrease. In some examples, the operating device 6 may be disposed on the snow thrower or separated from the snow thrower. The user may control the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower at a short distance and / or at a long distance through the operating device 6.

[0015] In some examples, the snow thrower further includes a visual display device 8 and a button assembly 9, where the visual display device 8 and the button assembly 9 are disposed on the body 1 or the handle 3. The visual display device 8 is configured to display some information about a working state of the snow thrower, making it easier for the user to learn the working state of the snow thrower in time. The button assembly 9 includes functional operating members such as a power switch, a self-moving trigger, and a start-up trigger.

[0016] When the control module 5 is in the power-on state, the temperature of one or more of the visual display device 8, the button assembly 9, the handle 3, and the working assembly 2 is controlled through the operating device 6, so as to prevent the above parts from freezing that affects the normal operation of the snow thrower. Moreover, the pre-heating of the above parts can be remotely controlled through the operating device 6, and the user does not need to wait outdoors, thereby shortening the time for which the user works outdoors.

[0017] In some other examples, the heating is not limited to the visual display device 8, the button assembly 9, the handle 3, and the working assembly 2 of the snow thrower, and other parts of the snow thrower that are likely to freeze or fog may also be heated, which is not specifically limited here.

[0018] The snow thrower further includes a temperature adjustment device 10, the temperature adjustment device 10 is separately disposed on one or more of at least part of the visual display device 8, at least part of the button assembly 9, at least part of the handle 3, and at least part of the working assembly 2, and the control module 5 is configured to control the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10. After the operating device 6 sends the temperature control signal to the wireless communication module 7, the wireless communication module 7 transmits the temperature control signal to the control module 5, and the control module 5 controls the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 to be the temperature set by the user through the operating device 6. In this manner, the user adjusts the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower by adjusting the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10. The temperature adjustment device 10 may be a heating wire, or the temperature may be adjusted in one or more manners of electromagnetic heating, electric resistance heating, infrared light heating, and airstream flowing, which is not specifically limited here. In this example, the temperature adjustment device 10 is the heating wire, and the heating wire is wound round part of the handle 3.

[0019] In some examples, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the visual display device 8 includes a display screen 81 configured to display information. The temperature of at least part of the visual display device 8 is adjustable, that is, the preceding temperature adjustment device 10 may be added on the outer side or the inner side of the visual display device 8 to heat the visual display device 8, so as to prevent the visual display device 8 from lagging in a cold environment and effectively prevent the display screen 81 from fogging that affects the viewing of information by the user. In this example, the visual display device 8 is disposed on the handle. In some examples, the visual display device 8 is disposed on the body 1.

[0020] The display screen 81 includes a display housing 811, a window is disposed on a side of the display housing 811, and a light-transmissive board 812 is disposed at the window. The light-transmissive board 812 prevents water and dust from entering the display housing 811 and is basically transparent so that the user can observe, through the light-transmissive board 812, data and images displayed on the display screen 81. The control module 5 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 814. A data board 813 and the PCB 814 are disposed in the display housing 811. The temperature adjustment device 10 is further disposed in the display housing 811. The temperature adjustment device 10 can increase the temperature in the display housing 811 and heat the data board 813, the PCB 814, and the light-transmissive board 812, so as to prevent the light-transmissive board 812 from fogging that affects the viewing of the display information by the user and prevent the display screen 81 from lagging. In some examples, the PCB 814 may be disposed at other positions.

[0021] In some examples, as shown in FIG. 7, the temperature of at least part of the working assembly 2 is adjustable, so as to prevent the working assembly 2 from freezing in the cold environment, which affects the normal use of the snow thrower.

[0022] The rotating shaft 21 is connected to the body housing 11 and the auger 22. The temperature of at least part of the rotating shaft 21 is adjustable, so as to prevent the rotating shaft 21 from freezing that affects the normal operation of the auger 22. The two ends of the rotating shaft 21 are connected to the body housing 11 separately through the connectors. To ensure that the rotating shaft 21 can rotate normally at a low temperature, the temperature of the connector is configured to be adjustable. In some examples, the temperature adjustment device 10 is disposed on the connector to adjust the temperature of the connector. In some examples, the connector is the bearing, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is disposed on the bearing.

[0023] The temperature of at least part of the auger 22 is adjustable. After use of the snow thrower, snow attached to the auger 22 is prevented from freezing in the cold environment, which affects the next use. In some examples, the temperature adjustment device 10 is disposed on a part of the auger 22 where snow is easily accumulated, so as to heat the snow on the auger 22 and prevent freezing.

[0024] The preceding operating device 6 sends the control signal to the control module 5 through the wireless communication module 7. In some examples, still referring to FIG. 2, the wireless communication module 7 includes a Wi-Fi unit, and the operating device 6 sends the temperature control signal to the control module 5 through the Wi-Fi unit, thereby implementing a wireless communication connection between the operating device 6 and the control module 5.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the wireless communication module 7 includes a Bluetooth unit, and the operating device 6 sends the temperature control signal to the control module 5 through the Bluetooth unit, so as to implement a wireless communication connection between the operating device 6 and the control module 5.

[0026] In some other examples, the wireless communication module 7 includes the Wi-Fi unit and the Bluetooth unit, and the operating device 6 may send the temperature control signal to the control module 5 through any one of the Wi-Fi unit and the Bluetooth unit, so as to increase selectivity of a wireless connection between the operating device 6 and the control module 5.

[0027] The operating device 6 sends the temperature control signal to the control module 5 through the wireless communication module 7. In some other examples, the operating device 6 may send, through the wireless communication module 7 and to the control module 5, control signals for controlling components such as the snow sweeping motor and the walking motor or a control signal for adjusting a working mode of the snow thrower.

[0028] The operating device 6 may be a remote control or a smart device such as a mobile phone, a smart watch, a tablet computer, or a computer. The operating device 6 may be mounted on the body 1 of the snow thrower. The operating device 6 has a matching key. Pressing the matching key may enable pairing and connection with the control module 5 of the snow thrower so that the corresponding operation control is performed on the snow thrower.

[0029] Referring to FIG. 4, the preceding control module 5 may control the temperature adjustment device 10 to heat a component provided with the temperature adjustment device 10, such as the handle 3, the visual display device 8, and the working assembly 2. The control module 5 performs information exchange with the wireless communication module 7, and the operating device 6 sends signals to the wireless communication module 7. The energy device 4 powers the control module 5, and the energy device 4 can also power the wireless communication module 7. When the energy device 4 is mounted on the snow thrower but the entire machine is not powered on, the control module 5 is not powered by the energy device 4, and the snow thrower is in a standby state. That is to say, when the snow thrower is in the standby state, the energy device 4 is connected to the snow thrower but does not power parts of the snow thrower excluding the wireless communication module 7. Only the wireless communication module 7 is always in a power-on state to receive an instruction sent by the user, thereby reducing energy consumption. In the standby state, the energy device 4 powers only the wireless communication module 7 to maintain the normal operation of the wireless communication module 7. In this case, the wireless communication module 7 has low energy consumption and can receive, at any time, a signal sent by the operating device 6. After receiving the signal sent by the operating device 6, the wireless communication module 7 wakes up the energy device 4 through the control module 5 so that the parts of the snow thrower excluding the wireless communication module 7 are powered on, thereby achieving convenience, low energy consumption, and environmental friendliness. The control module 5 includes a step-down module. The step-down module is disposed on the PCB 814. The energy device 4 powers at least part of the wireless communication module 7 through the step-down module. The step-down module may reduce a voltage provided by the energy device 4 to a voltage required by the wireless communication module 7. In some examples, the step-down module reduces a voltage of 60 V, 56 V, 48 V, or 40 V, etc. to 5 V, 3.3 V, 2.5 V, or 1.8 V, etc.

[0030] In some examples, the wireless communication module 7 may be powered by a separate second energy device such as a button cell or a dry cell so that the wireless communication module 7 is always in the power-on state.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 8, the control module 5 includes a switchboard 12 and a battery management system 13. The user operates the operating device 6 and sends the signal to the wireless communication module 7 remotely. After receiving the signal sent by the operating device 6, the wireless communication module 7 sends a signal to the switchboard 12. The switchboard 12 grounds an enable pin of the battery management system 13 through an EIA-485 communication protocol or another communication protocol. The battery management system 13 is activated and the snow thrower is powered. The control module 5 controls the temperature of part of the snow thrower to change. In this manner, the temperature of part of the snow thrower is adjusted.

[0032] In this example, a control process for heating the handle 3 is described below. The user operates the operating device 6 and sends the signal to the wireless communication module 7. The wireless communication module 7 sends the signal to the switchboard 12. The switchboard 12 activates the battery management system 13, and the battery management system 13 makes the PCB 814 powered on. The PCB 814 converts a large voltage provided by the energy device 4 into a small voltage through the step-down module and increases the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10. The snow thrower includes a first temperature sensor 14. The first temperature sensor 14 is disposed on the switchboard 12. The first temperature sensor 14 detects an ambient temperature, and the control signal is sent to the PCB according to the detected ambient temperature. When the temperature is relatively low, the PCB 814 controls the temperature adjustment device 10 heated with relatively large heating power. When the temperature is relatively high, the PCB 814 makes the temperature adjustment device 10 heated with relatively small heating power. In this example, the heating power includes P1, P2, P3, and P4, where P1 > P2 > P3 > P4. When the temperature is lower than -10 °C, the heating power is P1. When the temperature is higher than or equal to -10 °C and lower than 0 °C, the heating power is P2. When the temperature is higher than or equal to 0 °C and lower than 15 °C, the heating power is P3. When the temperature is higher than or equal to 15 °C, the heating power is P4. The control module 5 includes the temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, thereby improving heating efficiency and saving energy.

[0033] The snow thrower includes a temperature switch 15. The temperature switch 15 is disposed in a circuit of the temperature adjustment device 10. The temperature switch 15 detects the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 and controls, according to the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10, the circuit to be connected or disconnected. When the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than a preset temperature, the temperature switch 15 turns off. When the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 50 °C, the temperature switch 15 turns off, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is no longer heated. In some examples, the preset temperature is higher than or equal to 30 °C and lower than or equal to 70 °C. When the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 40 °C, the temperature switch 15 turns off, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is no longer heated. In some examples, when the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 30 °C, the temperature switch 15 turns off, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is no longer heated. In some examples, when the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 60 °C, the temperature switch 15 turns off, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is no longer heated. In some examples, when the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 70 °C, the temperature switch 15 turns off, and the temperature adjustment device 10 is no longer heated. In some examples, the temperature switch 15 detects the temperature of the handle 3.

[0034] In some examples, a second temperature sensor is disposed near the temperature adjustment device 10. The second temperature sensor is connected to the switchboard 12 or the PCB 814 and detects the temperature of the temperature adjustment device 10. When the second temperature sensor detects that the temperature near the temperature adjustment device 10 is higher than 50 °C, the PCB 814 stops the power supply to the temperature adjustment device 10. A maximum heating temperature is set for the temperature adjustment device 10 through the temperature switch 15 or the second temperature sensor, thereby improving safety and preventing the user from being scalded.

Claims

1. A snow thrower, comprising: a body (1) comprising a working assembly (2); a handle (3) for a user to hold and connected to the body; and an energy device (4) for providing the snow thrower with electrical energy; wherein the snow thrower further comprises: a control module (5) having a power-on state for being powered by the energy device; wherein the snow thrower further comprises a wireless communication module (7); an operating device (6) separable from the snow thrower by the user, said operating device, when separated from the snow thrower, being configured to send a temperature control signal to the wireless communication module (7); wherein the wireless communication module is configured to transmit the temperature control signal to the control module; wherein the control module is switched to the power-on state according to the temperature control signal, and the control module in the power-on state is configured to control a temperature of at least part of the snow thrower.

2. The snow thrower of claim 1, further comprising a visual display device (8) and a button assembly (9), wherein the visual display device and the button assembly are disposed on the body or the handle, and a temperature of at least one of the visual display device, the button assembly, the handle, and the working assembly is configured to be controlled through the operating device.

3. The snow thrower of claim 1, further comprising a temperature adjustment device (10), wherein the control module is configured to control a temperature of the temperature adjustment device to control the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower.

4. The snow thrower of claim 3, wherein the temperature adjustment device is disposed on at least part of the snow thrower.

5. The snow thrower of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module comprises a Bluetooth unit and / or a Wi-Fi unit, and the operating device sends the temperature control signal to the wireless communication module through the Bluetooth unit and / or the Wi-Fi unit.

6. The snow thrower of claim 1, wherein the energy device is further configured to power at least part of the wireless communication module.

7. The snow thrower of claim 6, wherein the control module comprises a step-down module, and the energy device powers at least part of the wireless communication module through the step-down module.

8. The snow thrower of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication module is disposed on the snow thrower.

9. The snow thrower of claim 8, further comprising a second energy device configured to power the wireless communication module separately.

10. The snow thrower of claim 1, further comprising a first temperature sensor (14) configured to detect an ambient temperature.

11. The snow thrower of claim 10, wherein the control module controls the temperature of at least part of the snow thrower with different power according to the ambient temperature detected by the first temperature sensor.

12. The snow thrower of claim 3, further comprising a temperature switch (15) configured to detect the temperature of the temperature adjustment device.

13. The snow thrower of claim 12, wherein the temperature switch turns off when detecting that the temperature of the temperature adjustment device is higher than a preset temperature.

14. The snow thrower of claim 13, wherein the preset temperature is higher than or equal to 30 °C and lower than or equal to 70 °C.

15. The snow thrower of claim 3, wherein the temperature adjustment device is wound round part of the handle.

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