Snowthrower and chute rotation control mechanism for use with same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9399846-B2
Application number	US-201414547812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2014
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

A snowthrower that, in one embodiment, includes a chute rotation control mechanism that permits manual rotation of a directional chute about a chute axis via one-handed input. The mechanism may have a chute rotation lever having a proximal end attached to the directional chute, the lever extending radially from the chute axis to terminate at a distal end, wherein a handle is provided at or near the distal end, the handle having a handle axis parallel to the chute axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A snowthrower comprising:
a frame;
at least one ground support member;
a rotor housing attached to the frame, the housing defining a discharge outlet;
a rotor at least partially enclosed within the housing and adapted to collect snow entering the housing;
a chute assembly attached to the housing and in fluid communication with the discharge outlet, the chute assembly comprising a directional chute operable to rotate, relative to the housing, about a chute axis; and
a chute rotation lever having a proximal end attached to the directional chute, the lever extending radially from the chute axis to terminate at a distal end, wherein a handle is provided at or near the distal end, the handle having a handle axis parallel to the chute axis, and wherein the lever defines a pivot joint located between the proximal and distal ends, the pivot joint defining a lever pivot axis coincident with the chute axis.

2. The snowthrower of claim 1 , wherein the handle is mounted to the lever such that the handle rotates, relative to the lever, about the handle axis.

3. The snowthrower of claim 1 , wherein lowermost portions of the ground support member and the housing together define an operating plane.

4. The snowthrower of claim 3 , wherein the chute axis is normal to the operating plane.

5. The snowthrower of claim 1 , further comprising a retention device adapted to maintain the lever and the directional chute in one position until a threshold torque about the lever pivot axis is applied.

6. The snowthrower of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is supported by the frame.

7. The snowthrower of claim 1 , wherein the directional chute curves away from the chute axis near an upper end of the directional chute.

8. The snowthrower of claim 1 , wherein the directional chute includes an adjustable deflector at an upper end of the directional chute.

9. A snowthrower comprising:
a rotor housing defining a collection opening and a discharge outlet;
a chute assembly attached to the housing and in fluid communication with the discharge outlet, the chute assembly comprising a directional chute operable to rotate, relative to the housing, about a chute axis;
a first drive member located on or near a first side of the housing and a second drive member located on or near a second side of the housing;
a rotor partially enclosed within, and adapted to rotate within, the housing; and
a chute rotation lever having a proximal end attached to the directional chute, the lever extending radially away from the chute axis to terminate at a distal end, wherein a handle is provided at or near the distal end, the handle having a handle axis parallel to the chute axis, and wherein the lever pivots about a lever pivot axis located between the proximal and distal ends of the lever, the lever pivot axis being coincident with the chute axis.

10. The snowthrower of claim 9 , wherein the handle rotates, relative to the lever, about the handle axis.

11. The snowthrower of claim 9 , wherein the rotor housing comprises a single-stage snowthrower housing.

12. The snowthrower of claim 9 , further comprising a retention device adapted to maintain the lever and the discharge chute in one position until a threshold torque about the lever pivot axis is applied.

13. The snowthrower of claim 9 , further comprising an upwardly extending support member, the support member supporting a platform defining the lever pivot axis.

14. The snowthrower of claim 9 , wherein the first and second drive members and lowermost portions of the rotor housing together define an operating plane, and wherein the chute axis is normal to the operating plane.

15. The snowthrower of claim 9 , wherein the directional chute includes an adjustable chute deflector.

16. A snowthrower comprising:
a frame;
at least one ground support member;
a rotor housing attached to the frame, the housing defining a discharge outlet;
a rotor at least partially enclosed within the housing and adapted to collect snow entering the housing;
a chute assembly attached to the housing and in fluid communication with the discharge outlet, the chute assembly comprising a directional chute operable to rotate, relative to the housing, about a chute axis; and
a chute rotation lever having a proximal end attached to the directional chute, the lever extending radially from the chute axis to terminate at a distal end, wherein a handle is provided at or near the distal end, the handle having a handle axis parallel to the chute axis, and wherein the handle is mounted to the lever such that the handle rotates, relative to the lever, about the handle axis.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Friberg Nathan J

Classifications

• E01H5/045 Primary

  Means per se for conveying or discharging the dislodged material, e.g. rotary impellers, discharge chutes (dislodging apparatus provided therewith E01H5/07, E01H5/08, E01H5/104, E01H5/12) · CPC title