Apparatus and method for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower

Abstract

An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower. The snow blower has an intake locus through which snow is received as received snow and an output locus through which the received snow is ejected as blown snow. The snow handling mechanism conveys the received snow from the intake locus to the output locus. The snow blower includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust port. The internal combustion engine is coupled with the snow handling mechanism for effecting the conveying. The apparatus includes: (a) a collecting unit coupled with the exhaust port; the collecting unit receives exhaust fluids from the exhaust port; and (b) a fluid conveying unit coupled with the collecting unit and coupled substantially adjacent to the intake locus; the fluid conveying unit delivers the exhaust fluids from the collecting unit to the intake locus.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to snow blower apparatuses, and especially to snow blower apparatuses that include at least one internal combustion engine.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]For purposes of this disclosure, the terms “snow thrower” and “snow blower” shall be used interchangeably and shall be regarded as synonymous. A snow blower is a machine for removing snow from an area where the snow is not wanted, such as, by way of example and not by way of limitation, a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, ice rink, runway, or yard.[0003]Snow blowers may employ one or more stages in handling snow to be removed. By way of example and not by way of limitation, a snow blower may employ two stages in a snow handling mechanism that conveys received snow from an intake locus to an output locus of the snow blower: a first stage, sometimes including an auger structure, for encountering snow at the input locus of the snow blower and drawing the encoun...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an apparatus and method to prevent a snow blower from freezing up its snow handling mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

One problem that may be encountered while operating a snow blower may occur when ambient temperature (e.g., atmospheric temperature) is below the freezing point of water (i.e., 32 degrees Fahrenheit; 0 degrees Celsius).

Such generated heat may melt snow to produce water within internal portions of the snow blower.

As a result of refreezing of water within the interior of the snow blower, when the snow blower is restarted to continue removing snow the snow handling mechanism may be unable to operate.

This presents an inconvenient delay in a user's snow removal activities.

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