Snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9598829-B2
Application number	US-201414453076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2014
Priority date	Aug 6, 2014
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism includes a linear actuator mounted to an auger housing. The linear actuator may be connected to a switch in an operator station. A shaft extends transversely across the auger housing and rotates in response to the extension or retraction of the linear actuator. A first bell crank is attached to a left end and a second bell crank is attached to a right end of the shaft. A rod is connected to each of the first and the second bell cranks, and each rod extends generally vertically down to a skid shoe. The rods and skid shoes are raised or lowered as the linear actuator is extended or retracted.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism, comprising:
an auger housing having left and right sidewalls;
a linear actuator mounted to the auger housing, the linear actuator connected to a switch in an operator station to extend or retract the linear actuator;
a shaft extending transversely across the auger housing and pivoting in response to the extension or retraction of the linear actuator and having a first bell crank adjacent a left end and a second bell crank adjacent a right end of the shaft; and
a non-rotating rod connected to each of the first and the second bell cranks, each rod extending generally vertically down to a skid shoe, the rods and skid shoes being translated to an operator-specified position as the linear actuator is extended or retracted.

2. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a bell crank connecting the linear actuator to the shaft.

3. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein each skid shoe is attached to a skid shoe plate slideably mounted to the sidewall of the auger housing.

4. A snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism, comprising:
an electrically powered linear actuator mounted to an auger housing; and
a linkage between the linear actuator and a pair of skid shoes adjacent a pair of sidewalls of the auger housing; the linkage including a pivoting shaft extending transversely across the auger housing connected to a pair of vertically oriented non-rotating rods that translate to an operator-specified position as the shaft pivots.

5. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 4 further comprising an electrical switch in an operator station connected to the linear actuator.

6. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 4 wherein the linkage further comprises a plurality of bell cranks.

7. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 4 wherein each skid shoe is slideably mounted to a sidewall of the auger housing.

8. A snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism, comprising:
a skid shoe secured to the lower end of a non-rotating rod on each side of an auger housing;
the rods linked together by a shaft having a horizontal axis so that the rods translate vertically to raise or lower the skid shoes simultaneously; and
an electrical actuator to pivot the shaft on its horizontal axis to move the rods to an operator-specified position.

9. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 8 wherein the electrical actuator is a linear actuator having an electric motor to extend or retract a rod.

10. The snowblower skid shoe height adjustment mechanism of claim 8 wherein each skid shoe is attached to a skid shoe plate having vertically oriented slots slideably mounted to a side of the auger housing.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Betts Russell J

Classifications

• E01H5/098 Primary

  about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing · CPC title