Two-stage snow thrower

Abstract

A two-stage snow thrower for removing and throwing accumulated snow. The two-stage snow thrower includes a housing, a power supply, a longitudinal drive shaft extending from the power supply, and a lateral drive shaft extending transversely relative to the longitudinal drive shaft. A first stage assembly includes at least one auger is positioned immediately adjacent to each opposing sides of the gear assembly which receives both the longitudinal and lateral drive shaft. The first stage assembly pushes loosened snow axially toward the gear assembly. A second stage assembly includes an impeller that centrifugally throws the snow from the housing through a chute extending from the housing. A paddle is attached to each of the augers of the first stage assembly, and the paddles push the snow rearwardly toward the impeller.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A two-stage snow thrower comprising:
 a power supply;   a housing extending from said power supply;   a chute extending from said housing from which snow is thrown from said housing;   a longitudinal drive shaft positioned at least partially within said housing, said longitudinal drive shaft being rotatable by said power supply and extending from said power supply to a gear assembly;   a lateral drive shaft operatively connected to opposing side walls of said housing, said lateral drive shaft also operatively connected to said gear assembly, wherein said longitudinal drive shaft is rotatably connected to said lateral drive shaft within said gear assembly;   a first stage assembly including at least two augers operatively connected to said lateral drive shaft, wherein at least one of said at least two augers is positioned adjacent to both opposing sides of said gear assembly;   a second stage assembly for expelling said snow from said housing includes an impeller operatively connected to said longitudinal drive shaft; and   at least one paddle operatively connected to each of said augers positioned adjacent to opposing sides of said gear assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal drive shaft includes a first worm gear formed into an outer surface thereof and said lateral drive shaft includes a second worm gear formed into an outer surface thereof, said first and second worm gears meshingly engaged within said gear assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein each of said paddles extends from said auger at an angle. 
     
     
         4 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 3 , wherein said angle is between about 10°-90°. 
     
     
         5 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein each of said paddles extends from said auger in an upstream orientation. 
     
     
         6 . A two-stage snow thrower comprising:
 a power supply;   a housing extending from said power supply;   a chute extending from said housing for allowing snow to be expelled from said housing through said chute, wherein said housing includes an exit aperture from which said chute extends;   a longitudinal drive shaft positioned within said housing, said longitudinal drive shaft being selectively rotatable by said power supply and extending between said power supply and a gear assembly;   a lateral drive shaft rotatably connected to opposing side walls of said housing, said lateral drive shaft operatively connected to said gear assembly, wherein said longitudinal drive shaft is rotationally connected to said lateral drive shaft;   a first stage assembly including two augers operatively connected to said lateral drive shaft, wherein each of said augers is positioned adjacent to opposing sides of said gear assembly, each of said augers is formed of a base and at least one flight extending radially outward from said base, wherein said at least one flight being helically shaped relative to said lateral drive shaft;   a second stage assembly including an impeller positioned within said housing and operatively connected to said longitudinal drive shaft; and   at least one paddle operatively connected to a peripheral edge of each flight of said augers.   
     
     
         7 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 6 , wherein each of said paddles extends from said corresponding flight at an angle. 
     
     
         8 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 7 , wherein said angle is between about 10°-90°. 
     
     
         9 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 6 , wherein each of said paddles extends from only a portion of said peripheral edge of said corresponding flight. 
     
     
         10 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 6 , wherein each of said paddles extends from a downstream-most corner of said corresponding flight. 
     
     
         11 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 6 , wherein said housing includes a recess in which said impeller is positioned, said recess having an opening directed toward said gear assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 11  further comprising a baffle extending from at least a portion of said opening. 
     
     
         13 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 12 , wherein said baffle is positioned adjacent to said exit aperture. 
     
     
         14 . A two-stage snow thrower comprising:
 a power supply;   a housing extending from said power supply, said housing includes a recess and said recess having an opening thereto;   a chute extending from said housing for allowing snow to be expelled from said housing through said chute;   a longitudinal drive shaft having one distal end operatively connected to said power supply and a second distal end operatively connected to a gear assembly, said longitudinal drive shaft being selectively rotatable by said power supply, wherein said longitudinal drive shaft includes a first worm gear adjacent to said second distal end;   a lateral drive shaft having a second worm gear and rotatably connected to opposing side walls of said housing, said lateral drive shaft operatively connected to said gear assembly transversely with respect to said longitudinal drive shaft, wherein said first worm gear of said longitudinal drive shaft is operatively connected to said second worm gear of said lateral drive shaft for transferring rotation of said longitudinal drive shaft to said lateral drive shaft;   a first stage assembly including at least two augers operatively connected to said lateral drive shaft between said gear assembly and each of said opposing side walls of said housing, each of said augers is formed of a base and a plurality of flights extending radially outward from said base and oriented helically relative to said lateral drive shaft;   a second stage assembly including an impeller positioned within said recess and operatively connected to said longitudinal drive shaft; and   a paddle operatively connected to a peripheral edge of each flight of each auger positioned immediately adjacent to said gear assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each paddle extends from said corresponding flight at an angle therefrom. 
     
     
         16 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 15 , wherein said angle is between about 10°-90°. 
     
     
         17 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each paddle extends from only a portion of said peripheral edge of said corresponding flight. 
     
     
         18 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each of said paddles extends from said flight in an upstream orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each of said paddles extends from a downstream-most corner of said corresponding flight. 
     
     
         20 . The two-stage snow thrower of  claim 14  further comprising a baffle extending from said opening to said recess adjacent to said chute.