Auger Device of Snowplow

The present invention relates to an auger device of a snowplow.

Conventionally, a snowplow is provided with an auger device to crush and collect the snow in front of the snowplow.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a snowplow that includes an auger shaft extending horizontally across an auger housing, a plurality of auger claws attached to the auger shaft to crush and collect the snow, and side disks attached to both ends of the auger shaft so as to cut into the snow near side walls of the auger housing while functioning as protectors of the auger claws.

In order to improve the ability of the side disks to cut into a snow surface and crush the snow efficiently, it is preferable to make the thickness of the side disks as thin as possible. However, reducing the thickness of the side disks may lead to a decrease in the rigidity of the side disks. As described above, the ability of the side disks to cut into the snow surface and the rigidity of the side disks are in a trade-off relationship with each other, so it is difficult to enhance both.

In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide an auger device that can improve the ability of side disks to cut into a snow surface while ensuring the rigidity of the side disks.

To achieve such an object, one aspect of the present invention provides an auger device () of a snowplow (), comprising: an auger housing (); an auger shaft () supported by the auger housing so as to be rotatable around an axial line (X) extending in a prescribed direction; an auger claw () fixed to the auger shaft; and a pair of side disks () arranged on both outsides of the auger claw in the prescribed direction and fixed to the auger shaft, wherein each of the side disks includes: an annular outer circumferential edge portion (); an annular outer flat plate portion () arranged closer to an inside in the prescribed direction than the outer circumferential edge portion and having a smaller outer diameter than the outer circumferential edge portion; an annular inner flat plate portion () arranged closer to the inside in the prescribed direction than the outer flat plate portion and having a smaller outer diameter than the outer flat plate portion; an annular outer connecting portion () connecting the outer circumferential edge portion and the outer flat plate portion; and an annular inner connecting portion () connecting the outer flat plate portion and the inner flat plate portion.

According to this aspect, the outer connecting portion and the outer flat plate portion form a first protrusion relative to the outer circumferential edge portion, and the inner connecting portion and the inner flat plate portion form a second protrusion relative to the outer flat plate portion. Accordingly, the second protrusion functions to reinforce the first protrusion, so that the overall rigidity of each of the side disks is improved. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the thickness of each of the side disks while ensuring the rigidity of each of the side disks. This improves the ability of each of the side disks to cut into a snow surface, so that each of the side disks can efficiently crush snow. Further, by reducing the thickness of each of the side disks, it is possible to reduce the weight of each of the side disks, thereby saving the material used to form each of the side disks.

In the above aspect, preferably, the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion are inclined inward in a radial direction toward the inside in the prescribed direction.

According to this aspect, it is possible to reduce the total area of the outer flat plate portion and the inner flat plate portion, which are flat and relatively less rigid, as compared with a case where the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion are provided parallel to the prescribed direction (that is, a case where the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion are provided perpendicularly to the outer flat plate portion and the inner flat plate portion). Accordingly, the overall rigidity of each of the side disks is further improved. Moreover, the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion can convey the snow more smoothly toward the inside in the prescribed direction as compared with a case where the outer connecting portion and the inner connecting portion are provided parallel to the prescribed direction.

In the above aspect, preferably, an interval in the prescribed direction between the outer circumferential edge portion and the outer flat plate portion is narrower than an interval in the prescribed direction between the outer flat plate portion and the inner flat plate portion.

Since the outer connecting portion is arranged closer to the outside in the radial direction than the inner connecting portion, the outer connecting portion contacts with the snow surface before the inner connecting portion contacts therewith. According to the above aspect, by making the thickness of the outer connecting portion, which contacts with the snow surface first, thinner than the thickness of the inner connecting portion, it is possible to further improve the ability of each of the side disks to cut into the snow surface.

In the above aspect, preferably, the auger device further comprises a pair of connecting members () connecting the auger shaft and the pair of side disks, wherein each of the connecting members includes a plurality of connecting shafts () extending in a radial direction of the auger shaft in a side view, surface areas of the outer flat plate portion and the inner flat plate portion are larger than surface areas of the outer circumferential edge portion, the outer connecting portion, and the inner connecting portion, and an end portion of each of the connecting shafts on an outside in the radial direction is joined to the outer flat plate portion or the inner flat plate portion.

According to this aspect, it is possible to increase the joint area of each of the connecting shafts and each of the side disks as compared with a case where the end portion of each of the connecting shafts on the outside in the radial direction is joined to the outer circumferential edge portion, the outer connecting portion, or the inner connecting portion. Accordingly, each of the connecting members can stably support each of the side disks. Further, as the end portion of each of the connecting shafts on the outside in the radial direction is arranged closer to the inside in the radial direction than the outer circumferential edge portion of each of the side disks, each of the connecting shafts is less likely to inhibit the outer circumferential edge portion of each of the side disks from cutting into the snow surface.

In the above aspect, preferably, the end portion of each of the connecting shafts on the outside in the radial direction is joined to the outer flat plate portion.

According to this aspect, each of the connecting members can stably support each of the side disks as compared with a case where the end portion of each of the connecting shafts on the outside in the radial direction is joined to the inner flat plate portion. Accordingly, each of the side disks is unlikely to deform in a case where a force from the outside in the radial direction is applied to each of the side disks.

In the above aspect, preferably, a width (W) in a radial direction of the outer flat plate portion is wider than a width (W) in a radial direction of the inner flat plate portion.

According to this aspect, since the joint area of each of the connecting shafts and each of the side disks can be increased, each of the connecting members can more stably support each of the side disks.

In the above aspect, preferably, the auger housing includes a pair of side plates () that rotatably support the auger shaft, each of the side plates includes: a first flat plate portion () defining an outermost surface in the prescribed direction; a second flat plate portion () arranged closer to the inside in the prescribed direction than the first flat plate portion; a third flat plate portion () arranged closer to the inside in the prescribed direction than the second flat plate portion; a first connecting portion () connecting the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion; and a second connecting portion () connecting the second flat plate portion and the third flat plate portion, and each of the side disks is arranged on the inside in the prescribed direction of each of the side plates, and the outer circumferential edge portion, the outer flat plate portion, the inner flat plate portion, the outer connecting portion, and the inner connecting portion of each of the side disks are opposed at an interval to the first flat plate portion, the second flat plate portion, the third flat plate portion, the first connecting portion, and the second connecting portion of each of the side plates, respectively.

According to this aspect, the first connecting portion and the second flat plate portion form a first protrusion relative to the first flat plate portion, and the second connecting portion and the third flat plate portion form a second protrusion relative to the second flat plate portion. Accordingly, the second protrusion functions to reinforce the first protrusion, so that the overall rigidity of each of the side plates is improved. Further, as the components of each of the side disks are opposed to the components of each of the side plates respectively, it is possible to enhance the integrity of the design of each of the side disks and each of the side plates, thereby improving the appearance of the auger device.

In the above aspect, preferably, the outer circumferential edge portion of each of the side disks is arranged on a same plane as the second flat plate portion of each of the side plates, and the outer flat plate portion of each of the side disks is arranged on a same plane as the third flat plate portion of each of the side plates.

According to this aspect, it is possible to further enhance the integrity of the design of each of the side disks and each of the side plates, thereby further improving the appearance of the auger device.

Thus, according to the above aspects, it is possible to improve the ability of side disks to cut into a snow surface while ensuring the rigidity of the side disks.

In the following, a snowplowaccording to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, terms indicating directions such as “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, and “lower” will be used based on the direction seen from a worker operating the snowplow. An arrow Fr appropriately attached to each figure indicates the front of the snowplow, an arrow I appropriately attached to each figure indicates the inside or inward in the lateral direction of the snowplow, and an arrow O appropriately attached to each figure indicates the outside or outward in the lateral direction of the snowplow.

First, the overall configuration of the snowplowwill be described with reference to.

The snowplowis a walking type snowplow with which the worker performs snow removal work while walking behind it. The snowplowincludes a plow bodythat constitutes the skeleton thereof, a pair of travel devicesprovided on both left and right sides of the plow body(in, only the travel deviceprovided on the left side of the plow bodyis shown), a handle deviceprovided behind the plow body, a blower deviceprovided in front of the plow body, and an auger deviceprovided in front of the blower device.

An internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to as “the engine”) is supported by an upper portion of the plow body. The engineincludes a crankshaft(in, only a front end portion thereof is shown) that is rotatable around an axial line extending in the front-and-rear direction. In another embodiment, the crankshaftmay be rotatable around an axial line extending in the up-and-down direction. A transmission shaftthat is rotatable around an axial line extending in the front-and-rear direction is provided in front of a lower portion of the plow body. The transmission shaftis connected to the crankshaftvia a speed reduction mechanism (not shown).

Each travel deviceincludes a travel motor, a driving wheelconnected to the travel motor, a driven wheelprovided behind the driving wheel, and a crawler beltwound around the driving wheeland the driven wheel. In another embodiment, the driven wheelmay be provided in front of the driving wheel.

The handle deviceincludes left and right arms(in, only the left armis shown) extending rearward and upward from the lower portion of the plow body, and an input deviceattached to upper end portions of the left and right arms. The upper end portion of each armis provided with a gripto be gripped by the worker. The input deviceis a device that accepts an input operation by the worker. The input deviceincludes, for example, a travel leverthat accepts a travel operation of the snowplow, and a snow removal switchthat accepts an activating operation of the blower deviceand the auger device.

The blower deviceincludes a blower housingfixed to a front portion of the plow body, a bloweraccommodated in the blower housing, and a chuteextending upward from an upper end of the blower housing. The bloweris fixed to a rear portion of the transmission shaft.

The auger deviceincludes an auger housingfixed to a front portion of the blower housing, a transmissionaccommodated in the auger housing, an auger shaftrotatably supported by the auger housing, and an auger clawfixed to the auger shaft. The auger shaftis connected to the transmission shaftvia the transmission. Details of the auger devicewill be described later.

Next, the overall operation of the snowplowwill be described.

When the worker performs the travel operation of the snowplowon the travel leverof the input device, the travel motorof each travel devicerotates. The rotation of the travel motoris transmitted to the crawler beltvia the driving wheel, and the crawler beltrotates. Accordingly, the snowplowtravels.

Further, when the worker performs the activating operation of the blower deviceand the auger deviceon the snow removal switchof the input device, the crankshaftof the enginerotates. The rotation of the crankshaftis transmitted to the transmission shaftvia the speed reduction mechanism (not shown), and the transmission shaftand the blowerrotate integrally. The rotation of the transmission shaftis transmitted to the auger shaftvia the transmission, and the auger shaftand the auger clawrotate integrally. As the auger clawrotates, the snow in front of the snowplowis crushed by the auger clawand collected at the lateral center of the auger housing. This collected snow is introduced into the blower housingand is thrown in a desired direction by the blowervia the chute.

Next, the configuration of the auger devicewill be described in detail.

With reference to, the auger deviceincludes, in addition to the auger housing, the transmission, the auger shaft, and the auger clawmentioned above, a pair of side disksarranged on both left and right outsides of the auger clawand fixed to the auger shaft, and a pair of connecting membersconnecting the auger shaftand the pair of side disks. Hereinafter, a simple expression “radial direction” or “circumferential direction” will refer to the radial direction or the circumferential direction of the auger shaft.

The auger housingof the auger devicehas a box shape that is open forward and downward. The auger housingincludes a main plateextending in the lateral direction, and a pair of side platesfixed to both left and right end portions of the main plate.

The main platedefines upper and rear surfaces of the auger housing. A circular communication holeis provided in a laterally central portion of the main plate, and a space inside the auger housingand a space inside the blower housing(see) communicate with each other via the communication hole.

With reference to, the pair of side platesdefine both left and right side surfaces of the auger housing. The pair of side platesare bilaterally symmetrical to each other.

Each side plateincludes a first flat plate portiondefining the outermost surfaceA (the outermost surface in the lateral direction) thereof, a second flat plate portionarranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the first flat plate portion, a third flat plate portionarranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the second flat plate portion, a fourth flat plate portionarranged closer to the outside in the radial direction and the inside in the lateral direction than the first flat plate portion, a first connecting portionconnecting the first flat plate portionand the second flat plate portion, a second connecting portionconnecting the second flat plate portionand the third flat plate portion, and a third connecting portionconnecting the first flat plate portionand the fourth flat plate portion.

The first to fourth flat plate portionstoare provided along a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. A bulging portionthat bulges outward in the lateral direction is provided in the center of the third flat plate portion. A through holeis provided in the center of the bulging portion. A supporting bracketis fixed to an inner surface of the third flat plate portionvia a pair of bolts.

The first to third connecting portionstoare inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. More specifically, the first and second connecting portionsandare inclined inward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction, and the third connecting portionis inclined outward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction.

With reference to, the transmissionof the auger deviceis accommodated in the laterally central portion of the auger housing. The transmissionincludes a gear case, a first driving gearaccommodated in the gear case, and a pair of second driving gearsaccommodated in the gear caseand arranged on both left and right outsides of the first driving gear.

The gear caseis suspended at a central upper portion of the main plateof the auger housingvia an attachment bracketextending in the up-and-down direction.

The first driving gearmeshes with a transmission gearA provided on the transmission shaft, and is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction R(in the present embodiment, the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side) according to the rotation of the transmission shaft.

Each second driving gearis connected to the first driving gearvia a pair of idle gears (not shown), and is configured to rotate in a second rotational direction R(in the present embodiment, the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side) opposite to the first rotational direction Raccording to the rotation of the first driving gear.

The auger shaftof the auger deviceextends along the lateral direction. The auger shaftis supported by the auger housingso as to be rotatable around an axial line X extending in the lateral direction. The auger shaftincludes a main shaft portion, a pair of inner shaft portionsprovided around both left and right side portions of the main shaft portion, and a pair of outer shaft portionsarranged on both left and right outsides of the pair of inner shaft portions.

The main shaft portionhas a solid rod shape. The main shaft portionpenetrates through the gear caseof the transmissionin the lateral direction. The main shaft portionis fixed to the first driving gearof the transmissionand is configured to rotate integrally with the first driving gearin the first rotational direction R.

Each inner shaft portionhas a pipe shape. Each inner shaft portionis not fixed to the main shaft portion, and is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the main shaft portion. Each inner shaft portionis fixed to the second driving gearcorresponding with respect to the lateral direction, and is configured to rotate integrally with the second driving gearin the second rotational direction R.

With reference to, each outer shaft portionhas a pipe shape. A lateral end portion of the main shaft portionis fitted into a laterally inside portion of each outer shaft portion. Accordingly, each outer shaft portionis fixed to the main shaft portionand configured to rotate integrally with the main shaft portionin the first rotational direction R. A cylindrical attachment pieceis fitted into a laterally outside portion of each outer shaft portion. The attachment pieceis attached via a bearingto the supporting bracketfixed to each side plateof the auger housing. Accordingly, the auger shaftis rotatably supported by the pair of side plates. A female screwis provided on an inner circumferential surface of the attachment piece, and a boltscrews into the female screwfrom the outside in the lateral direction. A headof the boltis accommodated in the bulging portionof each side plate, and locks the bearingfrom the outside in the lateral direction.