Snow Blower Gearbox Cooling and Clutch Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial snow blower devices with front-mounted hydraulic systems are expensive to operate, difficult to set up, and suffer from energy losses and wear due to the presence of a clutch system, which also inefficiently allocates energy for cooling diesel engines during cold weather operations.
Innovation Solution
A driving arrangement featuring a right-angle gearbox that eliminates the need for a clutch system by directly transferring torque from the power source to the impeller, and a cooling system with an auxiliary power source and fan that optimizes energy use by only activating cooling when necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a clutch system is used to operate the drive train, then the snow blower can control power transmission to the impeller, but energy losses increase and mechanical components become more numerous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the clutch system entirely from the drive train, extracting the source of friction-based energy losses. Power is transmitted directly from the power source through a gear box to the impeller without any sliding or friction-based control mechanisms, thereby eliminating the harmful energy losses associated with clutch operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the friction-based clutch mechanism with a direct mechanical drive system using a gear box. This substitution eliminates the need for sliding movements and friction-based power control, transitioning to a more efficient direct drive arrangement that maintains operational control without the energy penalties of a clutch system.
2Ease of operation
If a clutch system is used in the drive train, then power transmission can be controlled, but the number of mechanical components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clutch system is completely removed from the mechanical assembly, reducing the number of moving parts and mechanical components. The drive train is simplified to consist of the power source, gear box, and impeller, eliminating the complexity associated with clutch mechanisms while maintaining the ability to control power transmission through the gear ratio.
3Temperature
If the main cooling system is used during cold weather operations, then the engine can be cooled, but energy is taken from the power source that could be used for driving the impeller
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system operates periodically rather than continuously, activating only when the engine temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold. During cold weather operations, the cooling system remains inactive, allowing maximum energy to be directed to the impeller. When cooling is needed, the system engages intermittently to maintain engine temperature within acceptable ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of the cooling system from continuous operation to threshold-based intermittent operation. By monitoring engine temperature and activating cooling only when necessary, the system optimizes the balance between engine thermal management and energy availability for snow blowing operations.
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 solution reduces energy losses, minimizes mechanical components and weight, and optimizes energy allocation to the impeller, enhancing the efficiency and reducing maintenance needs of snow blower devices.
Implementation Method 1
a right angle gear box in driving engagement with both the power source and the impeller of the snow blower device for transferring torque from the power source to the impeller
Implementation Method 2
a fan operatively coupled to the auxiliary power source for cooling the main power source
Data Source
AI summary
A driving arrangement for a snow blower device that includes a power source and an impeller, comprises a main body and a drive train within and about the main body. The drive train comprises a right angle gear box in driving engagement with both the power source and the impeller of the snow blower device for transferring torque from the power source to the impeller, thereby driving the impeller of the snow blower device. A cooling system for cooling a main power source configured to drive a snow blower of the snow blower device, comprises an auxiliary power source operatively coupled to the main power source and a fan operatively coupled to the auxiliary power source for cooling the main power source.