초록 ▼

An improved snowthrower (2) comprises a housing (4) having a rotatable impeller (6) therein. Impeller (6) is rotationally molded from plastic and is easily replaceable in housing (4). Moreover, impeller (6) includes a plurality of snow impelling blades (60) which are sufficiently rigid to transmit a

An improved snowthrower (2) comprises a housing (4) having a rotatable impeller (6) therein. Impeller (6) is rotationally molded from plastic and is easily replaceable in housing (4). Moreover, impeller (6) includes a plurality of snow impelling blades (60) which are sufficiently rigid to transmit a drive torque from one side wall (63) to the other side wall (62) of impeller (6). Thus, impeller (6) does not require the use of a through shaft. In addition, snowthrower (2) includes a switch (93) for actuating the drive motor (8). Switch bar (96) is movable to cause switch (93) to close. However, lockout member (110) can be positioned in engagement with switch bar (96) to prevent inadvertent or accidental actuation of switch (93). Lockout member (100) is moved to a non-locking position only when a key member (116) is inserted into a control grip (112).

대표청구항 ▼

An improved snowthrower of the type having a snow throwing impeller mounted in an impeller housing, wherein the impeller housing has end walls and an outlet through which the snow is thrown by the impeller, wherein the impeller is mounted between the end walls of the impeller housing for rotation ab

An improved snowthrower of the type having a snow throwing impeller mounted in an impeller housing, wherein the impeller housing has end walls and an outlet through which the snow is thrown by the impeller, wherein the impeller is mounted between the end walls of the impeller housing for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, wherein the impeller includes a plurality of impeller blades which are spaced apart from one another to establish an open volume therebetween, and wherein the improvement relates to the impeller and comprises: an impeller having spaced apart side walls between which the blades extend, wherein the blades are sufficiently rigid to transmit a drive torque from one side wall to the other side wall, and wherein the open volume is radially inwardly of the blades and is completely open in that no mounting shaft extends through the impeller in a direction substantially parallel to the blades, whereby the blades themselves, rather than a mounting shaft, transmit a drive torque applied to one of the side walls through the impeller, wherein one of the end walls of the housing includes a stub shaft and the other end wall of the housing includes a means for driving the impeller, wherein the impeller driving means includes a drive member, and wherein the impeller includes a bore on one side wall for being loosely received on the stub shaft and a drive aperture on the other side wall which is configured to receive the drive member in a driving engagement, and wherein the stub shaft is removably contained in the end wall and the impeller has a length less than the distance between the drive member and the end wall which holds the stub shaft such that the impeller can be slid laterally off the drive member when the stub shaft is removed to allow removal of the impeller without disassembly of the impeller or the end walls of the housing.