Pull-type snowblower attachment

Abstract

The present pull-type snow blower attachment comprises a housing, a auger and a snow blowing fan arrangement. The housing defines a longitudinally curved surface between two walls. A hitch protrudes away from the surface and is adapted for attachment behind a vehicle. The auger is rotatably secured to the walls of the housing. The auger defines two opposite sections and a middle section therebetween. Each opposite section is equipped with a spiral blade angled towards the middle section, and the middle section is equipped with at least two blades for lifting snow. The snow blowing fan arrangement includes a fan and a chute section above the fan. The fan is between the auger and the hitch. The fan is adapted for receiving snow lifted by the at least two blades of the auger and pushing the snow through the chute section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pull-type snow blower attachment comprising:
 a housing defining a longitudinal partially substantially curved surface affixed between two walls, the housing being equipped with a hitch protruding away from the partially substantially curved surface between the two walls, the hitch being adapted for attachment behind a vehicle;   an auger having extremities rotatably secured to the walls of the housing, the auger defining two opposite sections and a middle section between the two opposite sections, each opposite section of the auger being equipped with a spiral blade angled towards the middle section, the middle section of the auger being equipped with at least two blades for lifting snow; and   a snow blowing fan arrangement including a fan and a chute section above the fan, the fan being proximate to the middle section of the auger, partially above the housing, between the auger and the hitch, the fan being adapted for receiving snow lifted by the at least two blades of the auger and pushing the snow through the chute section.   
     
     
         2 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the partially substantially curved surface of the housing is of a complimentary shape to the spiral blades of the two opposite sections of the auger. 
     
     
         3 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the fan of the snow blowing fan arrangement is larger than the at least two blades of the auger. 
     
     
         4 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the fan of the snow blowing fan arrangement is actuated by a Power Take-Off (PTO) coupler of the vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal partially substantially curved surface of the housing is shaped so as to be complementary to the auger. 
     
     
         6 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal partially substantially curved surface of the housing is shaped to be complementary to the at least two blades of the middle section of the auger. 
     
     
         7 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal partially substantially curved surface of the housing is shaped to be complementary to the spiral blades of the opposite sections of the auger. 
     
     
         8 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section of the auger has four blades and the fan of the snow blowing fan arrangement has four blades. 
     
     
         9 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein in operation, the spiral blades of the opposite sections of the auger push the snow towards the middle section of the auger, and the at least two blades of the middle section of the auger lift the snow towards the fan of the snow blowing fan arrangement for propelling the snow through the chute section of the snow blowing fan arrangement. 
     
     
         10 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the chute section of the snow blowing fan arrangement is pivotable for directing snow propelled by the snow blowing fan arrangement through the chute section. 
     
     
         11 . The pull-type snow blower attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two blades are equidistant around the auger and substantially radially project from the auger. 
     
     
         12 . A vehicle equipped with the pull-type snow blower of  claim 1 .