Auxiliary Snow Moving Assembly for Auger-Driven Snow Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow removal machines often leave behind a trail of snow due to inefficiencies in their scraping devices, necessitating additional manual shoveling to achieve satisfactory cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A snow removal machine equipped with an auxiliary snow moving assembly featuring a rotating brush or resilient flexible member coupled to an auxiliary axle, driven by the auger axle via a clutch mechanism and pulley system, to direct snow rearwards into a discharge chute, enhancing snow collection efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a scraping device is mounted to the auger housing to collect snow left behind by the auger, then snow collection is improved, but the scraping device itself leaves snow behind reducing cleaning effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The snow removal function is divided into two separate components: the auger assembly for primary snow removal and the auxiliary snow moving assembly for collecting remaining snow. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, with the auxiliary assembly using a different mechanism (rotating brush or resilient flexible member) that doesn't leave snow behind like traditional scrapers do.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary snow moving assembly acts as an intermediary between the auger and the discharged snow. It captures snow that the auger misses and transfers it to the discharge chute, effectively mediating the snow removal process and eliminating the problem of snow being left behind by the main auger assembly.
2Productivity
If an auxiliary snow moving assembly is added to direct snow into the discharge chute, then snow removal efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary snow moving assembly serves multiple functions: it collects snow left by the auger, directs it toward the discharge chute, and can be driven by the existing auger axle through the auxiliary drive assembly. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components and simplifies the overall system despite adding snow moving capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary drive assembly merges the driving function with the auxiliary snow moving assembly, using the rotation of the auger axle to drive the auxiliary assembly through a clutch mechanism and pulley system. This combining of driving functions reduces the need for separate motors or power sources, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining improved snow removal efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The auxiliary snow moving assembly effectively directs snow left behind by the auger into the discharge chute, reducing the need for manual shoveling and improving overall snow removal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an auxiliary drive assembly configured to rotationally couple the auxiliary axle to the auger axle such that rotation of the auxiliary axle is driven by rotation of the auger axle
Data Source
AI summary
Snow removal machines are provided that have an auger assembly for directing snow rearwards to be received by a discharge chute, and an auxiliary snow moving assembly for directing snow rearwards to be received by the discharge chute. The auger assembly has auger blade(s) coupled to an auger axle for rotation therewith about a first axis defined by the auger axle. The auxiliary snow moving assembly has snow moving member(s) coupled to an auxiliary axle for rotation therewith about a second axis defined by the auxiliary axle. The auxiliary axle is lower and rearwards of the auger axle towards the discharge chute; and an auxiliary drive assembly is configured to rotationally couple the auxiliary axle to the auger axle such that rotation of the auxiliary axle is driven by rotation of the auger axle.