Snow Blower Auger Chain Drive With Sealed Self-Adjusting Tensioner
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow blower systems face challenges in maintaining optimal roller chain tension, which leads to premature wear, noise, and contamination issues due to debris and environmental factors, affecting the longevity and efficiency of the equipment.
Innovation Solution
A driving system for snow blowers featuring a self-adjusting chain tensioner, such as the Roll-Ring, combined with a sealed guard system that prevents debris infiltration and includes a flexible sealing element to maintain optimal tension and reduce noise, while allowing easy access for lubrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a roller chain is used for power transmission in snow blowers, then the system benefits from impact resistance and mounting flexibility, but the chain is exposed to contaminants and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The roller chain system is divided into separate functional zones: a protected transmission section enclosed within the housing containing the driving and driven gears, and an exposed tensioner section that can be easily accessed for maintenance. This segmentation allows the critical transmission components to be shielded from contaminants while maintaining chain tension adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A tensioning device acts as an intermediary element between the roller chain and the housing, providing a controlled access point for tension adjustment while serving as a barrier against contaminant infiltration. The tensioner mechanism allows maintenance personnel to access and adjust the chain without exposing the entire chain system to the external environment.
2Reliability
If the roller chain tension is increased to prevent premature wear, then the chain remains properly engaged with gears, but the chain elongates prematurely and loses energy
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning device is designed with dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the roller chain tension to be optimized over time as the chain elongates during service. The tensioner mechanism can be periodically adjusted to maintain proper tension, extending the chain's service life by compensating for natural elongation without requiring excessive initial tension that would accelerate wear.
3Reliability
If the roller chain tension is too high, then gear engagement is maintained, but noise increases causing irritation to operators and residents
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning device provides a mechanism for monitoring and adjusting chain tension based on operational conditions. By allowing periodic adjustment, the system can optimize the balance between maintaining sufficient chain-gear contact to prevent wear and reducing tension to minimize noise generation, thereby addressing both reliability and noise concerns.
4Ease of operation
If guards with slots and openings are used for the roller chain, then access and evacuation of contaminants is enabled, but contaminants still infiltrate and contact the chain
Solution Approach 1:
The tensioning device serves as an intermediary barrier between the external environment and the roller chain. It provides a controlled access point that allows for tension adjustment and limited contaminant evacuation while preventing direct exposure of the chain to snow, ice, and other contaminants. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by enabling maintenance access without sacrificing protective enclosure.
Data Source
AI summary
A driving system for driving at least one auger of a snow removing device comprising at least one at least one self-adjusting chain tensioner. A first portion of the driving system is positioned within an auger housing and a second portion of the driving system is positioned outside the auger housing. The roller chain is adapted to move across a third opening provided in the auger housing. The first portion is covered by a front guard to prevent snow or debris contained in the auger housing to contact said first portion. The front guard is provided with an opening adapted to surround a portion of a shaft element of the auger with a play between periphery of the opening and the periphery of a corresponding portion the shaft element. The play is either small enough to prevent water and or debris to enter the first casing, or filled with a filling element and/or covered with a sealing element secured to the front guard or the corresponding portion of the shaft element of the at least one auger, to have the play small enough to prevent water and/or debris to enter the first casing. The second portion prevent snow or debris present around the snow removing device to contact the said second portion. A snow blower provided with the driving system, a kit comprising parts and/or components of the driving system, a method for assembling the driving system, and a method for manufacturing some components or parts of the driving system.