Snow blower and heat exchanger assembly

Abstract

A snow blower includes a frame, a rotatable auger, one or more walking elements, a chute, and a heatsink. The frame may define a snow flow path. The rotatable auger may be mounted to the frame. The one or more walking elements may be mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower. The chute may extend from the frame above the rotatable auger. The heatsink may include a cold-side face disposed along the snow flow path in fluid communication therewith and a hot-side face disposed apart from the snow flow path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow blower comprising:
 a frame defining a snow flow path;   a rotatable auger mounted to the frame;   one or more walking elements mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower;   a chute extending from the frame above the rotatable auger; and   a heatsink comprising a cold-side face disposed along the snow flow path in fluid communication therewith and a hot-side face disposed apart from the snow flow path.   
     
     
         2 . The snow blower of  claim 1 , wherein the heatsink is disposed above at least a portion of the rotatable auger. 
     
     
         3 . The snow blower of  claim 1 , wherein the cold-side face is disposed downstream from the rotatable auger. 
     
     
         4 . The snow blower of  claim 1 , wherein the cold-side face is disposed upstream from the chute. 
     
     
         5 . The snow blower of  claim 4 , wherein the heatsink is disposed below the chute. 
     
     
         6 . The snow blower of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a top wall supporting the chute and an auger housing within which the rotatable auger is mounted,
 wherein the heatsink is mounted on the auger housing.   
     
     
         7 . The snow blower of  claim 6 , wherein the auger housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls below the top wall, wherein the heatsink is mounted on one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. 
     
     
         8 . The snow blower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a heat-generating component in conductive thermal communication with the heatsink at the hot-side face.   
     
     
         9 . The snow blower of  claim 8 , wherein the heat-generating component is mounted within an electronics compartment outside of and in fluid isolation from the snow flow path. 
     
     
         10 . The snow blower of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an internal board casing enclosing the heat-generating component within a compartment defined by the auger housing.   
     
     
         11 . A snow blower comprising:
 a frame defining a snow flow path;   a rotatable auger mounted to the frame;   one or more walking elements mounted to the frame apart from the rotatable auger to support the snow blower;   a chute extending from the frame above the rotatable auger;   a control board attached to the frame apart from the snow flow path; and   a heatsink comprising a cold-side face and a hot-side face, the cold-side face being disposed along the snow flow path in fluid communication therewith rearward from the rotatable auger, the hot-side face being disposed apart from the snow flow path in thermal communication with the control board to draw heat therefrom.   
     
     
         12 . The snow blower of  claim 11 , wherein the heatsink is disposed above at least a portion of the rotatable auger. 
     
     
         13 . The snow blower of  claim 11 , wherein the cold-side face is disposed downstream from the rotatable auger. 
     
     
         14 . The snow blower of  claim 11 , wherein the cold-side face is disposed upstream from the chute. 
     
     
         15 . The snow blower of  claim 14 , wherein the heatsink is disposed below the chute. 
     
     
         16 . The snow blower of  claim 11 , wherein the frame comprises a top wall supporting the chute and an auger housing within which the rotatable auger is mounted,
 wherein the heatsink is mounted on the auger housing.   
     
     
         17 . The snow blower of  claim 16 , wherein the auger housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls below the top wall, wherein the heatsink is mounted on one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls. 
     
     
         18 . The snow blower of  claim 11 , wherein the control board is mounted within an electronics compartment outside of and in fluid isolation from the snow flow path. 
     
     
         19 . The snow blower of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an internal board casing enclosing the control board within a compartment defined by the auger housing.   
     
     
         20 . The snow blower of  claim 16 , wherein the auger housing comprises a plurality of sidewalls below the top wall, wherein the heatsink is mounted on an exterior panel of one sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls.