Self-propelled, single-stage snow thrower

Abstract

A snow thrower having a frame, an engine attached to the frame and having a horizontal output shaft, the output shaft having a first axis of rotation, a first rotary member rotatably fixed to the engine output shaft, and a rotating auger connected to the frame, the auger having a second axis of rotation. A second rotary member is rotatably fixed to the auger, the first and second rotary members forming a first pair of rotary members and being in selective operative engagement with each other, whereby the auger is selectively driven by the engine. An axle is connected to the frame and has a third axis of rotation, the first, second and third axes of rotation being substantially parallel. A third rotary member in is operative engagement with the axle, and a pair of ground-engaging wheels is attached to the axle. A fourth rotary member is rotatably fixed to either the auger or the engine output shaft, the third and fourth rotary members forming a second pair of rotary members and being in operative engagement with each other, whereby the axle is driven by the fourth rotary member. A belt is also included, at least one of the first and second pairs of rotary members being in operative engagement through the belt.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snow thrower comprising: 
 a frame;    an engine attached to the frame and having a horizontal output shaft, said output shaft having a first axis of rotation;    a first pulley rotatably fixed to said engine output shaft;    a rotating auger connected to said frame, said auger having a second axis of rotation;    a second pulley rotatably fixed to said auger;    a first belt extending between said first and second pulleys, said auger in selective operative engagement with said engine output shaft through said first belt;    an axle connected to said frame and having a third axis of rotation;    a third pulley in operative engagement with said axle;    a pair of ground-engaging wheels attached to said axle;    a fourth pulley rotatably fixed to one of said auger and said engine output shaft; and    a second belt extending between said third and fourth pulleys; and    wherein said first, second and third axes of rotation are substantially parallel, and said axle is coupled to one of said auger and said engine output shaft through said second belt.    
     
     
         2 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein said third pulley is rotatably fixed to said axle.  
     
     
         3 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising a belt tensioner attached to said frame, said belt tensioner having an engaged position in which said first belt is in a substantially tensioned state and said auger is in operative engagement with said engine output shaft, and a disengaged position in which said first belt is in a substantially slackened state and said auger is out of operative engagement with said engine output shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The snow thrower of  claim 3 , wherein said belt tensioner is biased into its said disengaged position.  
     
     
         5 . The snow thrower of  claim 3 , wherein said fourth pulley is rotatably fixed to said auger, and said axle is in selective operative engagement with said auger through said second belt.  
     
     
         6 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , further comprising means for successively reducing the speed between said engine output shaft and said axle through rotation of said auger.  
     
     
         7 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein said belt tensioner is a first belt tensioner, and further comprising a second belt tensioner attached to said frame, said second belt tensioner having an engaged position in which said second belt is in a substantially tensioned state and said axle is in operative engagement with said auger, and a disengaged position in which said second belt is in a substantially slackened state and said axle is out of operative engagement with said auger.  
     
     
         8 . The snow thrower of  claim 7 , wherein said second belt tensioner is biased into its said disengaged position.  
     
     
         9 . The snow thrower of  claim 3 , wherein said fourth pulley is rotatably fixed to said auger, and said axle is in fixed operative engagement with said auger through said second belt.  
     
     
         10 . The snow thrower of  claim 9 , wherein said belt tensioner is a first belt tensioner, and further comprising a second belt tensioner attached to said frame, said second belt tensioner having a non-selective engaged position in which said second belt is in a substantially tensioned state and said axle is in fixed operative engagement with said auger.  
     
     
         11 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein said fourth pulley is rotatably fixed to said engine output shaft, and axle is in selective operative engagement with said engine output shaft through said second belt.  
     
     
         12 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a first belt tensioner attached to said frame, said first belt tensioner having an engaged position in which said first belt is in a substantially tensioned state and said auger is in operative engagement with said engine output shaft, and a disengaged position in which said first belt is in a substantially slackened state and said auger is out of operative engagement with said engine output shaft; and    a second belt tensioner attached to said frame, said second belt tensioner having an engaged position in which said second belt is in a substantially tensioned state and said axle is in operative engagement with said engine output shaft, and a disengaged position in which said second belt is in a substantially slackened state and said axle is out of operative engagement with said engine output shaft.    
     
     
         13 . The snow thrower of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second belt tensioners are each biased into their respective said disengaged positions.  
     
     
         14 . A snow thrower comprising: 
 a frame;    an engine attached to the frame and having a horizontal output shaft, said output shaft having a first axis of rotation;    a first rotary member rotatably fixed to said engine output shaft;    a rotating auger connected to said frame, said auger having a second axis of rotation;    a second rotary member rotatably fixed to said auger, said first and second rotary members comprising a first pair of rotary members and being in selective operative engagement with each other, whereby said auger is selectively driven by said engine;    an axle connected to said frame and having a third axis of rotation, said first, second and third axes of rotation being substantially parallel;    a third rotary member in operative engagement with said axle;    a pair of ground-engaging wheels attached to said axle;    a fourth rotary member rotatably fixed to one of said auger and said engine output shaft, said third and fourth rotary members comprising a second pair of rotary members and being in operative engagement with each other, whereby said axle is driven by said fourth rotary member; and    a belt, at least one of said first and second pairs of rotary members being in operative engagement through said belt.    
     
     
         15 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein said first pair of rotary members is in operative engagement through a first said belt, and said second pair of rotary members is in operative engagement through a second said belt.  
     
     
         16 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , further comprising a transaxle, said transaxle comprising: 
 a casing through which said axle extends;    an input shaft to which said third rotary member is rotatably fixed, said input shaft extending into said casing; and    speed reduction gearing disposed within said casing and through which said axle is driven by said transaxle input shaft.    
     
     
         17 . The snow thrower of  claim 16 , wherein said third and fourth rotary members each comprise a friction wheel, said friction wheels being in selective frictional engagement with each other, whereby power is selectively transferred from said engine output shaft to said transaxle input shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The snow thrower of  claim 16 , wherein said transaxle input shaft has an axis of rotation which is fixed relative to said transaxle casing and substantially parallel with said third axis of rotation.  
     
     
         19 . The snow thrower of  claim 18 , wherein said transaxle casing is rotatable about said third axis of rotation, said transaxle casing having an engaged position in which said third and fourth rotary members are in frictional engagement with each other, and a disengaged position in which said third and fourth rotary members are out of frictional engagement with each other.  
     
     
         20 . The snow thrower of  claim 19 , wherein said transaxle casing is biased into its said disengaged position.  
     
     
         21 . The snow thrower of  claim 16 , wherein said speed reduction gearing comprises a driving gear rotatably fixed to said transaxle input shaft and a driven gear rotatably fixed to said axle, said driving and driven gears being in engagement.  
     
     
         22 . The snow thrower of  claim 21 , wherein said driving and driven gears are in engagement through at least one intermediate gear disposed therebetween.  
     
     
         23 . The snow thrower of  claim 21 , wherein said speed reduction gearing further comprises a first intermediate gear rotatably disposed about said axle, and a second intermediate gear rotatably disposed about said transaxle input shaft, said first intermediate gear in meshed engagement with said driving gear and said second intermediate gear, said second intermediate gear in meshed engagement with said first intermediate gear and said driven gear.  
     
     
         24 . The snow thrower of  claim 23 , wherein at least two of said driving, first intermediate, second intermediate and driven gears are compound gears having first and second toothed portions of differing diameters.  
     
     
         25 . The snow thrower of  claim 24 , wherein said driving, first intermediate, second intermediate, and driven gears are all compound gears, each having first and second toothed portions of differing diameters.  
     
     
         26 . The snow thrower of  claim 25 , wherein said driving, first intermediate, second intermediate, and driven gears are substantially identical.  
     
     
         27 . The snow thrower of  claim 16 , wherein said casing is substantially symmetrical in shape about a plane extending through said transaxle input shaft and said axle.  
     
     
         28 . The snow thrower of  claim 16 , wherein said casing comprising first and second casing portions which are substantially identical in shape.  
     
     
         29 . The snow thrower of  claim 28 , wherein said casing portions are formed of substantially identical castings.  
     
     
         30 . A snow thrower comprising: 
 a frame;    a snow inlet connected to said frame;    a snow discharge chute connected to said frame;    an engine attached to the frame and having a horizontal output shaft, said output shaft having a first axis of rotation;    a rotating, snow-collecting auger connected to said frame and located between said snow inlet and said snow discharge chute, snow received into said snow inlet being forced by said auger through said snow discharge chute, said auger having a second axis of rotation;    an axle connected to said frame and having a third axis of rotation, said first, second and third axes of rotation being substantially parallel;    a third rotary member in operative engagement with said axle;    a pair of ground-engaging wheels attached to said axle, said snow thrower being self-propelled forwardly solely by said wheels; and    means for selectively operatively engaging said auger and said axle to said engine output shaft.