AUGER DEVICE OF SNOWPLOW

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

BACKGROUND ART

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.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT(S)

Patent Document(s)

• Patent Document 1: JP2006-257836A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Task to be Accomplished by the Invention

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.

Means to Accomplish the Task

To achieve such an object, one aspect of the present invention provides an auger device (7) of a snowplow (1), comprising: an auger housing (31); an auger shaft (33) supported by the auger housing so as to be rotatable around an axial line (X) extending in a prescribed direction; an auger claw (34) fixed to the auger shaft; and a pair of side disks (35) 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 (91); an annular outer flat plate portion (92) 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 (93) 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 (95) connecting the outer circumferential edge portion and the outer flat plate portion; and an annular inner connecting portion (96) 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 (36) connecting the auger shaft and the pair of side disks, wherein each of the connecting members includes a plurality of connecting shafts (106) 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 (W1) in a radial direction of the outer flat plate portion is wider than a width (W2) 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 (42) that rotatably support the auger shaft, each of the side plates includes: a first flat plate portion (46) defining an outermost surface in the prescribed direction; a second flat plate portion (47) arranged closer to the inside in the prescribed direction than the first flat plate portion; a third flat plate portion (48) arranged closer to the inside in the prescribed direction than the second flat plate portion; a first connecting portion (50) connecting the first flat plate portion and the second flat plate portion; and a second connecting portion (51) 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.

Effect of the Invention

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a snowplow according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an auger device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the auger device according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a side disk and its periphery according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the side disk according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the side disk and its periphery according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the side disk and its periphery according to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a side disk and its periphery according to another embodiment of the present invention.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, a snowplow 1 according 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 1. An arrow Fr appropriately attached to each figure indicates the front of the snowplow 1, an arrow I appropriately attached to each figure indicates the inside or inward in the lateral direction of the snowplow 1, and an arrow O appropriately attached to each figure indicates the outside or outward in the lateral direction of the snowplow 1.

First, the overall configuration of the snowplow 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

The snowplow 1 is a walking type snowplow with which the worker performs snow removal work while walking behind it. The snowplow 1 includes a plow body 3 that constitutes the skeleton thereof, a pair of travel devices 4 provided on both left and right sides of the plow body 3 (in FIG. 1, only the travel device 4 provided on the left side of the plow body 3 is shown), a handle device 5 provided behind the plow body 3, a blower device 6 provided in front of the plow body 3, and an auger device 7 provided in front of the blower device 6.

An internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to as “the engine 10”) is supported by an upper portion of the plow body 3. The engine 10 includes a crankshaft 11 (in FIG. 1, 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 crankshaft 11 may be rotatable around an axial line extending in the up-and-down direction. A transmission shaft 12 that 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 3. The transmission shaft 12 is connected to the crankshaft 11 via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown).

Each travel device 4 includes a travel motor 14, a driving wheel 15 connected to the travel motor 14, a driven wheel 16 provided behind the driving wheel 15, and a crawler belt 17 wound around the driving wheel 15 and the driven wheel 16. In another embodiment, the driven wheel 16 may be provided in front of the driving wheel 15.

The handle device 5 includes left and right arms 20 (in FIG. 1, only the left arm 20 is shown) extending rearward and upward from the lower portion of the plow body 3, and an input device 21 attached to upper end portions of the left and right arms 20. The upper end portion of each arm 20 is provided with a grip 20a to be gripped by the worker. The input device 21 is a device that accepts an input operation by the worker. The input device 21 includes, for example, a travel lever 22 that accepts a travel operation of the snowplow 1, and a snow removal switch 23 that accepts an activating operation of the blower device 6 and the auger device 7.

The blower device 6 includes a blower housing 26 fixed to a front portion of the plow body 3, a blower 27 accommodated in the blower housing 26, and a chute 28 extending upward from an upper end of the blower housing 26. The blower 27 is fixed to a rear portion of the transmission shaft 12.

The auger device 7 includes an auger housing 31 fixed to a front portion of the blower housing 26, a transmission 32 accommodated in the auger housing 31, an auger shaft 33 rotatably supported by the auger housing 31, and an auger claw 34 fixed to the auger shaft 33. The auger shaft 33 is connected to the transmission shaft 12 via the transmission 32. Details of the auger device 7 will be described later.

Next, the overall operation of the snowplow 1 will be described.

When the worker performs the travel operation of the snowplow 1 on the travel lever 22 of the input device 21, the travel motor 14 of each travel device 4 rotates. The rotation of the travel motor 14 is transmitted to the crawler belt 17 via the driving wheel 15, and the crawler belt 17 rotates. Accordingly, the snowplow 1 travels.

Further, when the worker performs the activating operation of the blower device 6 and the auger device 7 on the snow removal switch 23 of the input device 21, the crankshaft 11 of the engine 10 rotates. The rotation of the crankshaft 11 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 12 via the speed reduction mechanism (not shown), and the transmission shaft 12 and the blower 27 rotate integrally. The rotation of the transmission shaft 12 is transmitted to the auger shaft 33 via the transmission 32, and the auger shaft 33 and the auger claw 34 rotate integrally. As the auger claw 34 rotates, the snow in front of the snowplow 1 is crushed by the auger claw 34 and collected at the lateral center of the auger housing 31. This collected snow is introduced into the blower housing 26 and is thrown in a desired direction by the blower 27 via the chute 28.

Next, the configuration of the auger device 7 will be described in detail.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the auger device 7 includes, in addition to the auger housing 31, the transmission 32, the auger shaft 33, and the auger claw 34 mentioned above, a pair of side disks 35 arranged on both left and right outsides of the auger claw 34 and fixed to the auger shaft 33, and a pair of connecting members 36 connecting the auger shaft 33 and the pair of side disks 35. Hereinafter, a simple expression “radial direction” or “circumferential direction” will refer to the radial direction or the circumferential direction of the auger shaft 33.

The auger housing 31 of the auger device 7 has a box shape that is open forward and downward. The auger housing 31 includes a main plate 41 extending in the lateral direction, and a pair of side plates 42 fixed to both left and right end portions of the main plate 41.

The main plate 41 defines upper and rear surfaces of the auger housing 31. A circular communication hole 44 is provided in a laterally central portion of the main plate 41, and a space inside the auger housing 31 and a space inside the blower housing 26 (see FIG. 1) communicate with each other via the communication hole 44.

With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the pair of side plates 42 define both left and right side surfaces of the auger housing 31. The pair of side plates 42 are bilaterally symmetrical to each other.

Each side plate 42 includes a first flat plate portion 46 defining the outermost surface 42A (the outermost surface in the lateral direction) thereof, a second flat plate portion 47 arranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the first flat plate portion 46, a third flat plate portion 48 arranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the second flat plate portion 47, a fourth flat plate portion 49 arranged closer to the outside in the radial direction and the inside in the lateral direction than the first flat plate portion 46, a first connecting portion 50 connecting the first flat plate portion 46 and the second flat plate portion 47, a second connecting portion 51 connecting the second flat plate portion 47 and the third flat plate portion 48, and a third connecting portion 52 connecting the first flat plate portion 46 and the fourth flat plate portion 49.

The first to fourth flat plate portions 46 to 49 are provided along a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. A bulging portion 54 that bulges outward in the lateral direction is provided in the center of the third flat plate portion 48. A through hole 55 is provided in the center of the bulging portion 54. A supporting bracket 57 is fixed to an inner surface of the third flat plate portion 48 via a pair of bolts 56.

The first to third connecting portions 50 to 52 are inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. More specifically, the first and second connecting portions 50 and 51 are inclined inward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction, and the third connecting portion 52 is inclined outward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction.

With reference to FIG. 2, the transmission 32 of the auger device 7 is accommodated in the laterally central portion of the auger housing 31. The transmission 32 includes a gear case 60, a first driving gear 61 accommodated in the gear case 60, and a pair of second driving gears 62 accommodated in the gear case 60 and arranged on both left and right outsides of the first driving gear 61.

The gear case 60 is suspended at a central upper portion of the main plate 41 of the auger housing 31 via an attachment bracket 64 extending in the up-and-down direction.

The first driving gear 61 meshes with a transmission gear 12A provided on the transmission shaft 12, and is configured to rotate in a first rotational direction R1 (in the present embodiment, the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side) according to the rotation of the transmission shaft 12.

Each second driving gear 62 is connected to the first driving gear 61 via a pair of idle gears (not shown), and is configured to rotate in a second rotational direction R2 (in the present embodiment, the counterclockwise direction when viewed from the left side) opposite to the first rotational direction R1 according to the rotation of the first driving gear 61.

The auger shaft 33 of the auger device 7 extends along the lateral direction. The auger shaft 33 is supported by the auger housing 31 so as to be rotatable around an axial line X extending in the lateral direction. The auger shaft 33 includes a main shaft portion 66, a pair of inner shaft portions 67 provided around both left and right side portions of the main shaft portion 66, and a pair of outer shaft portions 68 arranged on both left and right outsides of the pair of inner shaft portions 67.

The main shaft portion 66 has a solid rod shape. The main shaft portion 66 penetrates through the gear case 60 of the transmission 32 in the lateral direction. The main shaft portion 66 is fixed to the first driving gear 61 of the transmission 32 and is configured to rotate integrally with the first driving gear 61 in the first rotational direction R1.

Each inner shaft portion 67 has a pipe shape. Each inner shaft portion 67 is not fixed to the main shaft portion 66, and is provided so as to be rotatable relative to the main shaft portion 66. Each inner shaft portion 67 is fixed to the second driving gear 62 corresponding with respect to the lateral direction, and is configured to rotate integrally with the second driving gear 62 in the second rotational direction R2.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each outer shaft portion 68 has a pipe shape. A lateral end portion of the main shaft portion 66 is fitted into a laterally inside portion of each outer shaft portion 68. Accordingly, each outer shaft portion 68 is fixed to the main shaft portion 66 and configured to rotate integrally with the main shaft portion 66 in the first rotational direction R1. A cylindrical attachment piece 70 is fitted into a laterally outside portion of each outer shaft portion 68. The attachment piece 70 is attached via a bearing 71 to the supporting bracket 57 fixed to each side plate 42 of the auger housing 31. Accordingly, the auger shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the pair of side plates 42. A female screw 72 is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the attachment piece 70, and a bolt 73 screws into the female screw 72 from the outside in the lateral direction. A head 73a of the bolt 73 is accommodated in the bulging portion 54 of each side plate 42, and locks the bearing 71 from the outside in the lateral direction.

With reference to FIG. 2, the auger claw 34 of the auger device 7 is an auger claw of the so-called cross auger type, and is made of spring steel. The auger claw 34 includes a pair of inner claw portions 80 arranged on both left and right outsides of the transmission 32, and a pair of outer claw portions 81 arranged on both left and right outsides of the pair of inner claw portions 80. Each inner claw portion 80 and each outer claw portion 81 are not connected to each other, and are spaced at an interval in the lateral direction.

Each inner claw portion 80 is composed of a pair of inner blades 82 arranged at different angular positions in the circumferential direction. Each inner blade 82 has a substantially C-shape in a side view. An outer edge portion of each inner blade 82 has an arc shape centered on the auger shaft 33. Each inner blade 82 is fixed via a pair of bolts 84 to an inner bracket 83 fixed to an outer circumferential surface of each inner shaft portion 67 of the auger shaft 33. Accordingly, each inner blade 82 is removably fixed to each inner shaft portion 67 via the inner bracket 83, and is configured to rotate integrally with each inner shaft portion 67 in the second rotational direction R2. Each inner blade 82 is inclined outward in the lateral direction with respect to the second rotational direction R2.

Each outer claw portion 81 is composed of a pair of outer blades 86 arranged at different angular positions in the circumferential direction. Each outer blade 86 has a substantially C-shape in a side view. An outer edge portion of each outer blade 86 has an arc shape centered on the auger shaft 33. Each outer blade 86 is fixed via a pair of bolts 88 to an outer bracket 87 fixed to an outer circumferential surface of each outer shaft portion 68 of the auger shaft 33. Accordingly, each outer blade 86 is removably fixed to each outer shaft portion 68 via the outer bracket 87, and is configured to rotate integrally with each outer shaft portion 68 in the first rotational direction R1. Each outer blade 86 is inclined outward in the lateral direction with respect to the first rotational direction R1. That is, each outer blade 86 is inclined in the opposite direction to each inner blade 82.

The pair of side disks 35 of the auger device 7 are arranged on the outside in the lateral direction of the pair of outer claw portions 81 of the auger claw 34 with a gap therebetween. In other words, the pair of side disks 35 are not welded to the auger claw 34. The pair of side disks 35 are arranged on the inside in the lateral direction of the pair of side plates 42 of the auger housing 31 with a gap therebetween.

With reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, each side disk 35 is formed of a single sheet metal, and has a disk shape centered on the auger shaft 33. Each side disk 35 is formed of a metal material different from that of the auger claw 34.

Each side disk 35 includes an annular outer circumferential edge portion 91, an annular outer flat plate portion 92 arranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the outer circumferential edge portion 91, an annular inner flat plate portion 93 arranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the outer flat plate portion 92, an annular central flat plate portion 94 arranged closer to the inside in the lateral direction and the inside in the radial direction than the inner flat plate portion 93, an annular outer connecting portion 95 connecting the outer circumferential edge portion 91 and the outer flat plate portion 92, an annular inner connecting portion 96 connecting the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93, and a pair of central connecting portions 97 connecting the inner flat plate portion 93 and the central flat plate portion 94. The outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer flat plate portion 92, the inner flat plate portion 93, the outer connecting portion 95, and the inner connecting portion 96 are opposed at an interval to the first flat plate portion 46, the second flat plate portion 47, the third flat plate portion 48, the first connecting portion 50, and the second connecting portion 51 of each side plate 42, respectively.

The outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer flat plate portion 92, the inner flat plate portion 93, and the central flat plate portion 94 are provided along a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. The outer diameter of the outer flat plate portion 92 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer diameter of the inner flat plate portion 93 is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer flat plate portion 92, and the outer diameter of the central flat plate portion 94 is smaller than the outer diameter of the inner flat plate portion 93. The outer circumferential edge portion 91 is arranged on the same plane as the second flat plate portion 47 of each side plate 42, and the outer flat plate portion 92 is arranged on the same plane as the third flat plate portion 48 of each side plate 42. A circular fitting hole 99 is provided in the center of the central flat plate portion 94. Each outer shaft portion 68 of the auger shaft 33 is fitted into the fitting hole 99. Accordingly, each side disk 35 is fixed to each outer shaft portion 68 and configured to rotate integrally with each outer shaft portion 68 in the first rotational direction R1.

The outer connecting portion 95, the inner connecting portion 96, and the pair of central connecting portions 97 are inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the lateral direction. More specifically, the outer connecting portion 95, the inner connecting portion 96, and the pair of central connecting portions 97 are inclined inward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction. The pair of central connecting portions 97 extend from an outer circumferential edge of the central flat plate portion 94 to the sides opposite to each other, and are connected to an inner circumference edge of the inner flat plate portion 93. A pair of communication openings 100 are formed at intervals in the circumferential direction between the pair of central connecting portions 97.

The width W1 in the radial direction of the outer flat plate portion 92 is wider than the width W2 in the radial direction of the inner flat plate portion 93 (more specifically, a portion of the inner flat plate portion 93 that overlaps with each communication opening 100 in the circumferential direction). In another embodiment, the width W1 in the radial direction of the outer flat plate portion 92 may be approximately equal to the width W2 in the radial direction of the inner flat plate portion 93, or may be narrower than the width W2 in the radial direction of the inner flat plate portion 93.

The surface areas of the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93 are larger than the surface areas of the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer connecting portion 95, and the inner connecting portion 96. The distance D1 in the lateral direction between the outer circumferential edge portion 91 and the outer flat plate portion 92 (more specifically, the distance between the center in the thickness direction of the outer circumferential edge portion 91 and the center in the thickness direction of the outer flat plate portion 92: the same will apply to the following) is narrower than the distance D2 in the lateral direction between the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93. The distance D2 in the lateral direction between the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93 is narrower than the distance D3 in the lateral direction between the inner flat plate portion 93 and the central flat plate portion 94.

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of auxiliary claws 102 that protrude inward in the lateral direction are provided on an inner surface of the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35. The pair of auxiliary claws 102 are arranged on opposite sides of each outer shaft portion 68 of the auger shaft 33. An outer edge portion of each auxiliary claw 102 protrudes further toward an outer circumferential side than the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35.

Each auxiliary claw 102 is composed of a plate member that curves so as to be convex inward in the lateral direction. That is, each auxiliary claw 102 is formed separately from each side disk 35. Both end portions 102A of each auxiliary claw 102 in the circumferential direction are fixed to the inner surface of the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35 by welding. An inside edge portion 102B of each auxiliary claw 102 in the radial direction is fixed to the outer connecting portion 95 of each side disk 35 by welding. With the above configuration, a space S that opens outward in the radial direction is formed between each side disk 35 and each auxiliary claw 102.

Each auxiliary claw 102 is arranged adjacently to a laterally outside end portion 86A of each outer blade 86 (in FIGS. 6 and 7, only one of the pair of outer blades 86 is shown) that constitutes each outer claw portion 81 of the auger claw 34. More specifically, each auxiliary claw 102 is arranged on an extended line E of the laterally outside end portion 86A of each outer blade 86. With respect to the circumferential direction of the auger shaft 33, each auxiliary claw 102 is spaced at an interval Y from the laterally outside end portion 86A of each outer blade 86. An inner surface of each auxiliary claw 102 is provided with an inclined surface 104. The inclined surface 104 is inclined outward in the lateral direction with respect to the first rotational direction R1 (the rotational direction of each outer blade 86). That is, the inclined surface 104 is inclined in the same direction as each outer blade 86. The angle between the inclined surface 104 and a surface perpendicular to the lateral direction is approximately equal to the angle between the laterally outside end portion 86A of each outer blade 86 and the surface perpendicular to the lateral direction.

Each connecting member 36 of the auger device 7 includes the abovementioned outer bracket 87 and a plurality of (“four” in the present embodiment) connecting shafts 106 extending radially from the outer bracket 87.

The plurality of connecting shafts 106 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. One of the plurality of connecting shafts 106 is arranged on the inside of one auxiliary claw 102 in the radial direction so as to overlap with the one auxiliary claw 102 in the circumferential direction. Another of the plurality of connecting shafts 106 is arranged on the inside of the other auxiliary claw 102 in the radial direction so as to overlap with the other auxiliary claw 102 in the circumferential direction.

Each connecting shaft 106 extends in the radial direction in a side view. A radially inside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined (welded) to the outer bracket 87. A radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined (welded) to an inner surface of the outer flat plate portion 92 of each side disk 35.

Next, the operation of the auger device 7 will be described in detail.

As described above, when the crankshaft 11 of the engine 10 rotates, the rotation of the crankshaft 11 is transmitted to the transmission shaft 12 via the speed reduction mechanism (not shown), and the transmission shaft 12 rotates. When the transmission shaft 12 rotates in this way, the first driving gear 61 of the transmission 32, the main shaft portion 66 and the pair of outer shaft portions 68 of the auger shaft 33, the pair of outer claw portions 81 of the auger claw 34, and the pair of side disks 35 rotate integrally in the first rotational direction R1. Accordingly, the snow in front of the snowplow 1 is crushed by the pair of outer claw portions 81 of the auger claw 34 and the pair of side disks 35, and is conveyed toward the lateral center of the auger housing 31.

Further, when the pair of side disks 35 rotate in the first rotational direction R1 as described above, the pair of auxiliary claws 102 provided on the inner surface of each side disk 35 rotate in the first rotational direction R1. Accordingly, the snow that enters the gap between each side disk 35 and each outer claw portion 81 of the auger claw 34 is crushed by the pair of auxiliary claws 102.

Further, when the transmission shaft 12 rotates as described above, each second driving gear 62 of the transmission 32, each inner shaft portion 67 of the auger shaft 33, and each inner claw portion 80 of the auger claw 34 rotate integrally in the second rotational direction R2. That is, each inner claw portion 80 of the auger claw 34 rotates in a direction opposite to each outer claw portion 81 of the auger claw 34 and each side disk 35. Accordingly, the snow in front of the snowplow 1 is crushed by each inner claw portion 80 of the auger claw 34 and conveyed toward the lateral center of the auger housing 31.

As described above, in the auger device 7 according to the present embodiment, each side disk 35 includes the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer flat plate portion 92, the inner flat plate portion 93, the outer connecting portion 95, and the inner connecting portion 96. According to this configuration, the outer connecting portion 95 and the outer flat plate portion 92 form a first protrusion relative to the outer circumferential edge portion 91, and the inner connecting portion 96 and the inner flat plate portion 93 form a second protrusion relative to the outer flat plate portion 92. Accordingly, the second protrusion functions to reinforce the first protrusion, so that the overall rigidity of each side disk 35 is improved. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the thickness of each side disk 35 while ensuring the rigidity of each side disk 35. This improves the ability of each side disk 35 to cut into the snow surface, so that each side disk 35 can efficiently crush the snow. Further, by reducing the thickness of each side disk 35, it is possible to reduce the weight of each side disk 35, thereby saving the material used to form each side disk 35. Further, since the first protrusion and the second protrusion can be easily formed by drawing a single sheet metal, it is possible to prevent the manufacturing process of each side disk 35 from being complicated.

Further, the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 are inclined inward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the total area of the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93, which are flat and relatively less rigid, as compared with a case where the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 are provided parallel to the lateral direction (that is, a case where the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 are provided perpendicularly to the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93). Accordingly, the overall rigidity of each side disk 35 is further improved. Moreover, the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 can smoothly convey the snow toward the inside in the lateral direction as compared with a case where the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 are provided parallel to the lateral direction.

Since the outer connecting portion 95 is arranged closer to the outside in the radial direction than the inner connecting portion 96, the outer connecting portion 95 contacts with the snow surface before the inner connecting portion 96 contacts therewith. In light of this point, in the present embodiment, the distance in the lateral direction between the outer circumferential edge portion 91 and the outer flat plate portion 92 is narrower than the distance in the lateral direction between the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93. Accordingly, the thickness of the outer connecting portion 95 that contacts with the snow surface first can be made thinner than the thickness of the inner connecting portion 96, so that it is possible to further improve the ability of each side disk 35 to cut into the snow surface.

Further, the areas of the outer flat plate portion 92 and the inner flat plate portion 93 are larger than the areas of the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer connecting portion 95, and the inner connecting portion 96, and the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined to the outer flat plate portion 92. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the joint area between each connecting shaft 106 and each side disk 35 as compared with a case where the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined to the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer connecting portion 95, or the inner connecting portion 96. Accordingly, each connecting member 36 can stably support each side disk 35. Further, as the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is arranged closer to the inside in the radial direction than the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35, each connecting shaft 106 is less likely to inhibit the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35 from cutting into the snow surface.

Further, as the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined to the outer flat plate portion 92, each connecting member 36 can stably support each side disk 35 as compared with a case where the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined to the inner flat plate portion 93. Accordingly, each side disk 35 is unlikely to deform in a case where a force from the outside in the radial direction is applied to each side disk 35.

Further, the width W1 in the radial direction of the outer flat plate portion 92 is wider than the width W2 in the radial direction of the inner flat plate portion 93. Accordingly, since the joint area of each connecting shaft 106 and each side disk 35 can be increased, each connecting member 36 can more stably support each side disk 35.

Further, each side plate 42 includes the first flat plate portion 46, the second flat plate portion 47, the third flat plate portion 48, the first connecting portion 50, and the second connecting portion 51. According to this configuration, the first connecting portion 50 and the second flat plate portion 47 form a first protrusion relative to the first flat plate portion 46, and the second connecting portion 51 and the third flat plate portion 48 form a second protrusion relative to the second flat plate portion 47. Accordingly, the second protrusion functions to reinforce the first protrusion, so that the overall rigidity of each side plate 42 is improved. Further, the outer circumferential edge portion 91, the outer flat plate portion 92, the inner flat plate portion 93, the outer connecting portion 95, and the inner connecting portion 96 of each side disk 35 are opposed at an interval to the first flat plate portion 46, the second flat plate portion 47, the third flat plate portion 48, the first connecting portion 50, and the second connecting portion 51 of each side plate 42, respectively. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the integrity of the design of each side disk 35 and each side plate 42, thereby improving the appearance of the auger device 7.

Further, the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35 is arranged on the same plane as the second flat plate portion 47 of each side plate 42, and the outer flat plate portion 92 of each side disk 35 is arranged on the same plane as the third flat plate portion 48 of each side plate 42. Accordingly, it is possible to further enhance the integrity of the design of each side disk 35 and each side plate 42, thereby further improving the appearance of the auger device 7.

In the above embodiment, each inner claw portion 80 and each outer claw portion 81 of the auger claw 34 are spaced at an interval in the lateral direction. On the other hand, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, as each inner claw portion 80 and each outer claw portion 81 of the auger claw 34 are connected to each other, the auger claw 34 may be continuous in a spiral shape.

In the above embodiment, each connecting member 36 includes the outer bracket 87 and the plurality of connecting shafts 106. On the other hand, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, each connecting member 36 may include only the plurality of connecting shafts 106. When such a configuration is adopted, the radially inside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 may be directly joined (welded) to the auger shaft 33.

In the above embodiment, the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 is joined (welded) to the inner surface of the outer flat plate portion 92 of each side disk 35. On the other hand, in another embodiment, the radially outside end portion of each connecting shaft 106 may be joined (welded) to the inner surface of the inner flat plate portion 93 of each side disk 35.

In the embodiment, the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 are inclined inward in the radial direction toward the inside in the lateral direction. On the other hand, in another embodiment, the outer connecting portion 95 and the inner connecting portion 96 may be provided parallel to the lateral direction.

In the above embodiment, each auxiliary claw 102 is arranged on the inner surface of the outer circumferential edge portion 91 of each side disk 35. On the other hand, in another embodiment, each auxiliary claw 102 may be arranged on the inner surface of the outer flat plate portion 92 or the inner flat plate portion 93 of each side disk 35.

In the above embodiment, each auxiliary claw 102 is provided separately from each side disk 35. On the other hand, in another embodiment, each auxiliary claw 102 may be provided integrally with each side disk 35.

In the above embodiment, the pair of auxiliary claws 102 are provided on the inner surface of each side disk 35. On the other hand, in another embodiment, only one auxiliary claw 102 or three or more auxiliary claws 102 may be provided on the inner surface of each side disk 35.

In the above embodiment, the engine 10 is used as a drive source for driving the blower device 6 and the auger device 7. On the other hand, in another embodiment, an electric motor may be used as a drive source for driving the blower device 6 and the auger device 7, or both the engine 10 and the electric motor may be used as a drive source therefor.

In the above embodiment, the travel motor 14 is used as a drive source for driving the crawler belt 17 of each travel device 4. On the other hand, in another embodiment, the engine 10 may be used as a drive source for driving the crawler belt 17 of each travel device 4, or both the engine 10 and the travel motor 14 may be used as a drive source therefor.

Concrete embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing, but the present invention should not be limited by the foregoing embodiments and various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

Glossary of Terms

• • 1: snowplow
  • 7: auger device
  • 31: auger housing
  • 33: auger shaft
  • 34: auger claw
  • 35: side disk
  • 36: connecting member
  • 42: side plate
  • 42A: outermost surface (outermost surface in the lateral direction)
  • 46: first flat plate portion
  • 47: second flat plate portion
  • 48: third flat plate portion
  • 50: first connecting portion
  • 51: second connecting portion
  • 91: outer circumferential edge portion
  • 92: outer flat plate portion
  • 93: inner flat plate portion
  • 95: outer connecting portion
  • 96: inner connecting portion
  • 106: connecting shaft
  • X: axial line