Hybrid snow blower

Abstract

A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising: a frame for attachment to the vehicle, this frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on the plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on the plow wall. A powered auger actuator is carried by the frame. A first auger assembly can be installed in the pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A second auger assembly can be installed in the pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by the auger actuator. A discharge chute is mounted to the frame and connected to the snow outlet. A powered blower member in the snow outlet is for blowing snow from the plow housing portion through the discharge chute. Either one of the first and second auger assemblies of the hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to the frame.

1 . A hybrid snow blower kit for use on a vehicle, comprising:
 a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow outlet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall;   a powered auger actuator carried by said frame;   a first auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator;   a second auger assembly that can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator;   a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and   a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute;   wherein either one of said first and second auger assemblies of said hybrid snow blower kit can be operatively mounted to said frame.   
     
     
         2 . A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said plow wall comprises first and second hollow portions adjacent to said pairs of first and second connecting sockets, with said hollow portions for housing said auger actuator. 
     
     
         3 . A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said auger actuator comprises a first endless chain rotatable on a first driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said endless chain further being engageable with a first driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies. 
     
     
         4 . A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said auger actuator comprises a second endless chain rotatable on a second driving gear located in a said hollow portion of said plow wall, said second endless chain further being engageable with a second driven gear operatively connected to one of said first and second auger assemblies. 
     
     
         5 . A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said first auger assembly comprises a helical band member mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to said pair of first connecting sockets. 
     
     
         6 . A hybrid snow blower kit as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said second auger assembly comprises a pair of helical augers each comprising a helical blade mounted to a central shaft having first and second extremities that can be mounted to a corresponding one of said pair of second connecting sockets. 
     
     
         7 . A hybrid snow blower implement for use on a vehicle and for use with either one of a first and a second auger assembly, said hybrid snow blower implement comprising:
 a frame for attachment to the vehicle, said frame comprising an opened plow housing portion defining a plow wall having a snow oultet, a pair of first connecting sockets on said plow wall and a pair of second connecting sockets on said plow wall;   a powered auger actuator carried by said frame;   a discharge chute mounted to said frame and connected to said snow outlet; and   a powered blower member in said snow outlet for blowing snow from said plow housing portion through said discharge chute;   wherein the first auger assembly can be installed in said pair of first connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, and alternately the second auger assembly can be installed in said pair of second connecting sockets and rotated by said auger actuator, whereby said hybrid snow blower implement can be equipped with either one of the first and second auger assemblies.   
     
     
         8 . A convertible snow blower apparatus for mounting to the front end of an automotive vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
 a) a rigid main frame, defining a front snow engaging mouth and a rear snow outlet;   b) first mounting means, for operatively mounting a double helix auger to said main frame mouth;   c) second mounting means, for operatively mounting a single band auger to said main frame mouth;   wherein said first mounting means must be deactivated for said second mounting means to operate, and wherein said second mounting means must be deactivated for said first mounting means to operate.   
     
     
         9 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 8 ,
 wherein said main frame includes a rear partition wall and two opposite lateral side walls transversely interconnected at an intermediate portion thereof by said partition wall;   and wherein said first mounting means includes two pairs of power drive gear assemblies, releasably mounted to corresponding superimposed portions of said lateral side walls for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with corresponding ones of the two screws of the double helix auger.   
     
     
         10 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 9 ,
 wherein said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies operate in unison.   
     
     
         11 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 10 ,
 wherein each of said lateral side walls forms a hollow casing and defines a fluid-tight reservoir at a lower portion thereof, said power drive gear assemblies including an endless chain means having a portion thereof extending through said fluid-tight reservoir, wherein said fluid-tight reservoir is designed to accommodate a volume of lubricating fluid for continuous lubrication of said endless chain means during operation of the double helix auger.   
     
     
         12 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 11 ,
 further including a chain tensioning gear means, located within the hollow casing of said main frame side walls and cooperating with said endless chain means.   
     
     
         13 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 9 ,
 wherein said main frame side walls each include a forwardly intermediate height opening cavity; and wherein said second mounting means includes a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger upon prior release of the first mentioned said two pairs of power drive gear assemblies from the double helix auger.   
     
     
         14 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 11 ,
 with said main frame side walls each include a forwardly opening intermediate height cavity; said second mounting means including a pair of band auger adaptors, each such adaptor engageable into a corresponding one of said cavities and releasably mounted to corresponding said side walls, and an additional pair of power drive gear assemblies, each mounted into a corresponding one of said adaptors for registering and for releasably and operatively rotatingly engaging with the single band auger;   wherein for operative engagement of said endless chain means with said additional pair of power drive gear assemblies of said second mounting means, prior release of said endless chain means from the first-mentioned two pairs of power drive gear assemblies of said first mounting means is required.   
     
     
         15 . A convertible snow blower apparatus as in  claim 14 ,
 wherein each of said adaptors is polygonal in shape and said forwardly opening cavities are complementarily shaped to said adaptors.