Snow Thrower Impeller Wiper With Radial Gap Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow throwers face inefficiencies due to snow, ice, and water accumulation in the gap between the impeller and impeller housing, and fixed wipers fail to account for housing imperfections and wear.
Innovation Solution
An impeller assembly with a wiper that slides into a mounting slot on the impeller blade, allowing it to maintain contact with the housing interior wall during rotation, eliminating the gap and adapting to wear and imperfections without tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gap is designed between the impeller and impeller housing to prevent contact, then the impeller structures are protected from damage, but snow, ice, and water accumulate in the gap decreasing impeller efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
A wiper is introduced as an intermediary component between the impeller blade and the impeller housing interior wall. The wiper contacts the interior wall to prevent snow, ice, and water accumulation in the gap, while the impeller blade itself maintains a protective gap from the housing. This mediator solves the contradiction by allowing the gap to remain for structural protection while eliminating its harmful accumulation effect.
2Productivity
If fixed wipers are attached to impeller blades to reduce material accumulation, then efficiency is improved, but the wipers cannot adapt to housing imperfections, wear, and dimensional variations
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper is made movable relative to the impeller blade through a mounting slot that allows radial movement. During impeller rotation, centrifugal force and contact with the housing interior wall cause the wiper to move radially outward, maintaining continuous contact with the housing wall. This dynamic adjustment allows the wiper to adapt to housing imperfections, wear, and dimensional variations, while fixed wipers would lose contact and fail to prevent accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper automatically adjusts its position through centrifugal force during rotation, moving outward to contact the housing interior wall without external control. The system self-regulates the wiper position based on operational conditions, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms while maintaining optimal contact with the housing wall to prevent material accumulation.
3Reliability
If traditional fastener-based wiper mounting is used, then secure attachment is achieved, but wiper installation and replacement require tools and increase maintenance complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper mounting system is segmented into the wiper component and the mounting slot in the impeller blade, allowing the wiper to be independently removed and replaced. The wiper features a deformable mounting tab that can be manually inserted into the slot and secured through elastic deformation, enabling tool-free installation while maintaining secure attachment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper mounting tab is designed with elastic flexibility, allowing it to be deformed during manual installation into the mounting slot and then return to its original shape to secure the wiper. This flexible mounting mechanism provides reliable attachment without requiring fasteners or tools, significantly easing maintenance 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
Enhances snow thrower efficiency by reducing recirculation and increasing throw distance, while accommodating wear and housing imperfections through radial movement of the wiper.
Implementation Method 1
The wiper contacts the interior wall of the associated impeller housing during rotational operation of the impeller in order to limit a gap between the impeller blade and the interior wall
Implementation Method 2
The wiper includes a wiper portion that slides into the mounting slot to mount the wiper to the impeller
Data Source
AI summary
A snow thrower impeller assembly (24) includes a mounting slot (84) for a wiper (70). The wiper includes a wiper portion (86) that slides into the mounting slot to mount the wiper to the impeller (54). The wiper contacts an interior wall (56) of an associated impeller housing during rotational operation of the impeller in order to limit a gap (74) between an impeller blade (66) and the interior wall. The wiper can move radially inward and outward to remain in contact with the interior wall without input from the operator. Another embodiment of the impeller assembly includes impeller blades with a first portion (116) and a second portion (118). The second portion extends at a non-zero angle from the first blade portion of the impeller blade. Improving the efficiency of a snow thrower is described in one or more methods.