Snow Blower Sensor for Instantaneous Flow Rate Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring snow flow rate in snow blowers are inadequate as they are time-averaged and do not account for the variability of snow and ice properties, and do not provide instantaneous flow rate measurements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating sensors to detect the rotational speed of the auger and the load, torque, or thrust on the shaft or auger housing to calculate the instantaneous flow rate of snow, using a direct physics-based measurement approach based on the momentum equation in fluid dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If water is used to measure snow flow rate by blowing water into a collecting tank, then a quantitative flow rate measurement can be obtained, but the measurement does not account for the variability of snow and ice properties and does not provide instantaneous flow rate information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical water-based measurement system with an optical measurement system. Sensors (such as optical sensors, cameras, or LIDAR) detect the instantaneous flow rate of snow directly, eliminating the need for water as a substitute medium. This optical substitution enables accurate measurement that accounts for actual snow properties and provides real-time instantaneous data rather than time-averaged measurements.
2Device complexity
If time-averaged measurement method is used to determine snow flow rate, then a simplified measurement process is achieved, but instantaneous flow rate information is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous measurement using optical sensors that capture instantaneous flow rate data throughout the snow blowing operation. Rather than taking periodic samples or averaging over time, the system continuously monitors and records the actual snow flow rate at every moment, preserving all instantaneous information while maintaining measurement simplicity through direct optical detection.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are added to detect rotational speed and load to determine instantaneous flow rate, then accurate instantaneous measurements are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors that serve multiple functions: optical sensors detect snow flow rate while also potentially monitoring snow properties, rotational speed, and operational conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each parameter, thereby achieving accurate instantaneous measurements without proportionally increasing system complexity. The sensor system is designed to extract multiple useful measurements from a single integrated platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A snow blower including an auger housing, an auger rotatably positioned within the auger housing and configured to blow snow, a shaft attached to the auger and the auger housing, a chute attached to the auger housing and configured to direct the snow blown by the auger away from the snow blower, and at least one sensor configured to detect at least one of a rotational speed of the auger or the shaft and a load, torque, and/or thrust on the shaft or the auger housing. The data collected by the at least one sensor is used to determine an instantaneous flow rate of snow.