Snow Blower Discharge Pipe Self-Cleaning Cover Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional snow blowers experience reduced conveyance efficiency due to snow piling up on the inner walls of the discharge pipe, obstructing the flow of snow and requiring manual intervention to clear.

Innovation Solution

A discharge pipe with a scraper on the outlet side and a movably coupled cover plate that slides to remove snow from its lower surface, aided by a handle, hooks, and optional driving motors for automatic operation, ensuring efficient snow removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the discharge pipe is configured with a cover inclined at a predetermined angle to discharge snow laterally, then the snow can be discharged to the outside, but the snow piles up on the inner wall of the cover reducing the inner diameter and causing obstruction to conveyance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesnow discharge capabilityVSAvoidsnow piling up on inner wall

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plate is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to slide along the discharge pipe. This dynamic configuration enables the cover plate to be positioned at different locations, including the outlet end, where it can effectively scrape snow from the inner wall while maintaining the inclined structure needed for lateral discharge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper mechanism allows the cover plate to clean itself by sliding along the discharge pipe and scraping snow from the inner wall. This self-cleaning function eliminates the need for manual intervention to clear snow accumulation, maintaining continuous efficient operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If the cover plate is fixed to maintain structural simplicity, then the device complexity is reduced, but manual intervention is required to clear snow accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecover plate structureVSAvoidsnow clearance operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover plate is designed to slide along the discharge pipe rather than being fixed, providing a simple dynamic mechanism that enables automatic snow clearance. The sliding action allows the cover plate to reach the outlet end and scrape snow effectively without complex mechanical structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scraper mechanism enables the cover plate to clear snow automatically by sliding along the discharge pipe and scraping accumulation from the inner wall. This self-cleaning function eliminates manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Duration of action of moving object

If the discharge pipe operates continuously without snow clearance, then the operation duration is extended, but snow accumulation reduces conveyance efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous operation durationVSAvoidsnow conveyance efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper mechanism allows the cover plate to automatically clear snow from the inner wall by sliding along the discharge pipe. This continuous self-cleaning capability maintains high conveyance efficiency throughout operation without requiring interruptions for manual snow removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding cover plate mechanism operates continuously to prevent snow accumulation, ensuring uninterrupted snow conveyance. The scraper constantly removes snow from the inner wall, maintaining optimal flow conditions throughout the entire operation duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9003680B2Discharge pipe for snow blower

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 KOREA INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

AI summary

Provided is a discharge pipe for a snow blower, which is mounted on the snow blower, and is capable of easily removing snow covered on an inner wall of a conveyance duct in the process of discharging snow introduced from the snow blower to the outside.