Snow blower: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Tool for snow removal}} |
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[[File:Honda hs1136 snowblower.jpg|thumb|A heavy-duty walk-behind two-stage snow blower.]] |
[[File:Honda hs1136 snowblower.jpg|thumb|A heavy-duty walk-behind two-stage snow blower.]] |
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[[File:Schneefräse 0126.jpg|thumb|A snow blower at work in Upper Bavaria, Germany, 2005]] |
[[File:Schneefräse 0126.jpg|thumb|A snow blower at work in Upper Bavaria, Germany, 2005]] |
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[[File:Tractor with a snowblower in Kuopio.jpg|thumb|A tractor with a snow blower in [[Kuopio]], Finland]] |
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[[File:SBB Xrotm Schneeschleuder.jpg|thumb|A Swiss railway snow thrower at [[Erstfeld railway station]], 2016]] |
[[File:SBB Xrotm Schneeschleuder.jpg|thumb|A Swiss railway snow thrower at [[Erstfeld railway station]], 2016]] |
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[[File:Schneefräse auf dem Simplon Pass.jpg|thumb|Snow thrower on [[Simplon Pass]] ]] |
[[File:Schneefräse auf dem Simplon Pass.jpg|thumb|Snow thrower on [[Simplon Pass]] ]] |
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A '''snow blower''' or '''snow thrower''' is a machine for removing [[snow]] from an area where it is |
A '''snow blower''' or '''snowblower''' or '''snow thrower''' is a machine for removing [[snow]] from an area where it is problematic, such as a [[driveway]], [[sidewalk]], [[roadway]], [[Railway track|railroad track]], [[ice rink]], or [[runway]]. The commonly used term "snow blower" is a misnomer, as the snow is moved using an auger or impeller instead of being blown (by air). It can use either [[electric power]] (line power or battery), or a [[gasoline engine|gasoline]] or [[diesel engine]] to throw snow to another location or into a truck to be hauled away. This is in contrast with the action of [[snow plow]]s, which push snow to the front or side. Typically, the snow is discharged to one side, but most snow throwers have a movable chute that can direct snow across the full 180 degrees of motion in front of the appliance. |
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Snow blowers range from the very small, capable of removing only a few inches (a few more cm) of light snow in an {{convert|18|to|20|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} path, to the very large, mounted onto heavy-duty [[winter service vehicle]]s and capable of moving {{convert|20|ft|m|2|adj=on}} wide, or wider, swaths of heavy snow up to {{convert|6|ft|m|2}} deep. |
Snow blowers range from the very small, capable of removing only a few inches (a few more cm) of light snow in an {{convert|18|to|20|in|mm|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} path, to the very large, mounted onto heavy-duty [[winter service vehicle]]s and capable of moving {{convert|20|ft|m|2|adj=on}} wide, or wider, swaths of heavy snow up to {{convert|6|ft|m|2}} deep. |
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Snow blowers can generally be divided into two classes: single-stage and two-stage. On a single-stage snow blower, the auger (the paddle mechanism visible from the front) pulls snow into the machine and directs it out of a discharge chute. The auger contacts the ground, making single-stage snow blowers unsuitable for use on unpaved surfaces. On a two-stage snow blower, the auger pulls snow into the machine and feeds it into a high-speed impeller, which in turn directs it out of a discharge chute. Two-stage snow blowers can generally handle deeper snow depths than single-stage ones, and because their augers don't touch the ground, they can be used on unpaved surfaces. |
Snow blowers can generally be divided into two classes: single-stage and two-stage. On a single-stage snow blower, the auger (the paddle mechanism visible from the front) pulls snow into the machine and directs it out of a discharge chute. The auger contacts the ground, making single-stage snow blowers unsuitable for use on unpaved surfaces. On a two-stage snow blower, the auger pulls snow into the machine and feeds it into a high-speed impeller, which in turn directs it out of a discharge chute. Two-stage snow blowers can generally handle deeper snow depths than single-stage ones, and because their augers don't touch the ground, they can be used on unpaved surfaces. |
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Depending on the design, snowblowers can be pressed into service throwing other things, such as water.<ref>{{cite news |title=Springtime flooding in Canada: What you need to know |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-springtime-flooding-in-canada-what-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=25 April 2019 |work=[[The Globe and Mail]] |date=25 April 2019}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Snow blower 1933.jpg|thumb|right|Snow blower in [[Rocky Mountain National Park]], 1933]] |
[[File:Snow blower 1933.jpg|thumb|right|Snow blower in [[Rocky Mountain National Park]], 1933]] |
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Robert Carr Harris of [[ |
Robert Carr Harris of [[Maple Green, New Brunswick]] patented a "Railway Screw Snow Excavator" in 1870.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=00107485&IDKey=5F3D39B396FF%0D%0A&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect2%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D0107485.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F107485%2526RS%3DPN%2F107485|title=US Patent and Trademark Office: US107485 |last1= Harris |first1= R.C. |date=September 20, 1870 |access-date=18 February 2014}}</ref> In 1923, Robert E. Cole patented a snowplow that operated by using cutters and a fan to blow snow from a surface.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://pdfpiw.uspto.gov/.piw?PageNum=0&docid=01545235&IDKey=B48D701F71D6%0D%0A&HomeUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fpatft.uspto.gov%2Fnetacgi%2Fnph-Parser%3FSect2%3DPTO1%2526Sect2%3DHITOFF%2526p%3D1%2526u%3D%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html%2526r%3D1%2526f%3DG%2526l%3D50%2526d%3DPALL%2526S1%3D1545235.PN.%2526OS%3DPN%2F1545235%2526RS%3DPN%2F1545235|title=US Patent and Trademark Office: US001545235 |last1= Cole |first1= Robert |date=April 21, 1923 |access-date=17 February 2014}}</ref> Various other innovations also occurred.<ref>Mario Theriault, ''Great Maritime Inventions 1833–1950'', Goose Lane Editions, 2001, p. 61</ref> However, it is {{Interlanguage link|Arthur Sicard|fr}} (1876–1946) who is generally credited as the inventor of the first practical snow blower. In 1925 Sicard completed his first prototype, based on a concept he described in 1894.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gilsonsnowblowers.com/snowhistory.html |title=The Gilson SNOW BLOWER Shop, Snowblower History |publisher=Gilsonsnowblowers.com |date=2007-01-27 |access-date=2014-01-22}}</ref> He founded [[Sicard Industries]] in [[Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec]] and by 1927 his vehicles were in use removing snow from the roadways of the town of [[Outremont (borough)|Outremont]], now a borough of [[Montreal]]. His company is now a division of [[SMI-Snowblast]], Inc. of [[Watertown, New York]].<ref>[http://www.sicardgroup.com/ About Sicard Industries<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |
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==Safety issues== |
==Safety issues== |
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The [[U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]] estimates that each year there are approximately 5,740 snowblower related injuries in the United States which require medical attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5117.pdf |title=Snow Thrower Safety |publisher=Consumer Product Safety Commission |date |
The [[U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission]] estimates that each year there are approximately 5,740 snowblower related injuries in the United States which require medical attention.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/5117.pdf |title=Snow Thrower Safety |publisher=Consumer Product Safety Commission |access-date=2014-01-22}}</ref> One problem with the design of the snow blower is that snow can build up in the [[auger (drill)|auger]], jamming it and stalling the motor. This is complicated by the fact that the auger could deform before applying enough resistance to the motor to turn it off. If the jam is cleared by hand, it is possible for the auger to return to its natural shape suddenly and with great force, possibly injuring the operator. Snow blowers are a leading cause of traumatic hand and finger amputations.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facilitiesnet.com/groundsmanagement/tip/13-Tips-for-Snow-Thrower-Safety--40168|title=13 Tips for Snow Thrower Safety - Facility Management Grounds Management Quick Read|last=Steward|first=Angela|date=November 16, 2017|website=Facilitiesnet|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-21}}</ref> The correct procedure is to turn off the engine, disengage the clutch and then clear the jam with a broom handle or other long object.<ref name=":0" /> In an effort to improve safety, many manufacturers now include a plastic tool to be used to clear jams, often mounted directly to the snow blower. |
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Most modern machines mitigate this problem by including a |
Most modern machines mitigate this problem by including a [[dead man's switch]] to prevent the mechanism from rotating when the operator is not at the controls; these may be mandatory in some jurisdictions. |
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==Jet-engine snow blowers== |
==Jet-engine snow blowers== |
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[[File:MTA New York City Transit - After the Snow (12091335743).jpg|thumb|A jet-engine snow blower clearing a railway track at [[Coney Island Yard]], New York, 2014]] |
[[File:MTA New York City Transit - After the Snow (12091335743).jpg|thumb|A jet-engine snow blower clearing a railway track at [[Coney Island Yard]], New York, 2014]] |
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[[Jet engine]]s and other [[gas turbine]]s are used for large scale propelling and melting of snow over rails and roads. |
[[Jet engine]]s and other [[gas turbine]]s are used for large scale propelling and melting of snow over rails and roads. These blowers first were used in Russia and Canada in the 1960s, and were later introduced into the U.S. by the Boston Transportation Authority. |
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The jet engine both melts and blows the snow, clearing the tracks faster than other methods. |
The jet engine both melts and blows the snow, clearing the tracks faster than other methods. While offering considerably greater power in a relatively lightweight machine, this method is much more expensive than traditional snow removing methods. In [[Russia]], the high cost is partially offset by utilizing retired military jet engines, such as the [[Klimov VK-1]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cracked.com/article_19624_5-absurd-solutions-to-huge-problems-that-actually-worked_p4.html |title = 5 Absurd Solutions to Huge Problems (That Actually Worked) {{!}} Cracked.com|date = 8 January 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=259223 CSX jet powered snow removal unit]</ref><ref>[http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/18mlt3s2xe3n7jpg.jpg Relic of a Klimov VK1 engine used to clear Russian runways]</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Commons category|Snow throwers}} |
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{{Commons category|Snow blowers}} |
{{Commons category|Snow blowers}} |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Snowplows]] |
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[[Category:Snow removal]] |
[[Category:Snow removal]] |
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[[Category:Canadian inventions]] |
[[Category:Canadian inventions]] |
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[[Category:Machinery]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:26, 7 December 2024
A snow blower or snowblower or snow thrower is a machine for removing snow from an area where it is problematic, such as a driveway, sidewalk, roadway, railroad track, ice rink, or runway. The commonly used term "snow blower" is a misnomer, as the snow is moved using an auger or impeller instead of being blown (by air). It can use either electric power (line power or battery), or a gasoline or diesel engine to throw snow to another location or into a truck to be hauled away. This is in contrast with the action of snow plows, which push snow to the front or side. Typically, the snow is discharged to one side, but most snow throwers have a movable chute that can direct snow across the full 180 degrees of motion in front of the appliance.
Snow blowers range from the very small, capable of removing only a few inches (a few more cm) of light snow in an 18 to 20 in (457 to 508 mm) path, to the very large, mounted onto heavy-duty winter service vehicles and capable of moving 20-foot (6.10 m) wide, or wider, swaths of heavy snow up to 6 feet (1.83 m) deep.
Snow blowers can generally be divided into two classes: single-stage and two-stage. On a single-stage snow blower, the auger (the paddle mechanism visible from the front) pulls snow into the machine and directs it out of a discharge chute. The auger contacts the ground, making single-stage snow blowers unsuitable for use on unpaved surfaces. On a two-stage snow blower, the auger pulls snow into the machine and feeds it into a high-speed impeller, which in turn directs it out of a discharge chute. Two-stage snow blowers can generally handle deeper snow depths than single-stage ones, and because their augers don't touch the ground, they can be used on unpaved surfaces.
Depending on the design, snowblowers can be pressed into service throwing other things, such as water.[1]
History
[edit]
Robert Carr Harris of Maple Green, New Brunswick patented a "Railway Screw Snow Excavator" in 1870.[2] In 1923, Robert E. Cole patented a snowplow that operated by using cutters and a fan to blow snow from a surface.[3] Various other innovations also occurred.[4] However, it is Arthur Sicard (1876–1946) who is generally credited as the inventor of the first practical snow blower. In 1925 Sicard completed his first prototype, based on a concept he described in 1894.[5] He founded Sicard Industries in Sainte-Thérèse, Quebec and by 1927 his vehicles were in use removing snow from the roadways of the town of Outremont, now a borough of Montreal. His company is now a division of SMI-Snowblast, Inc. of Watertown, New York.[6]
Safety issues
[edit]The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that each year there are approximately 5,740 snowblower related injuries in the United States which require medical attention.[7] One problem with the design of the snow blower is that snow can build up in the auger, jamming it and stalling the motor. This is complicated by the fact that the auger could deform before applying enough resistance to the motor to turn it off. If the jam is cleared by hand, it is possible for the auger to return to its natural shape suddenly and with great force, possibly injuring the operator. Snow blowers are a leading cause of traumatic hand and finger amputations.[8] The correct procedure is to turn off the engine, disengage the clutch and then clear the jam with a broom handle or other long object.[8] In an effort to improve safety, many manufacturers now include a plastic tool to be used to clear jams, often mounted directly to the snow blower.
Most modern machines mitigate this problem by including a dead man's switch to prevent the mechanism from rotating when the operator is not at the controls; these may be mandatory in some jurisdictions.
Jet-engine snow blowers
[edit].jpg){kind=spacer}
Jet engines and other gas turbines are used for large scale propelling and melting of snow over rails and roads. These blowers first were used in Russia and Canada in the 1960s, and were later introduced into the U.S. by the Boston Transportation Authority.
The jet engine both melts and blows the snow, clearing the tracks faster than other methods. While offering considerably greater power in a relatively lightweight machine, this method is much more expensive than traditional snow removing methods. In Russia, the high cost is partially offset by utilizing retired military jet engines, such as the Klimov VK-1.[9][10][11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Snow blowers.
- ^ "Springtime flooding in Canada: What you need to know". The Globe and Mail. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- ^ Harris, R.C. (September 20, 1870). "US Patent and Trademark Office: US107485". Retrieved 18 February 2014.
- ^ Cole, Robert (April 21, 1923). "US Patent and Trademark Office: US001545235". Retrieved 17 February 2014.
- ^ Mario Theriault, Great Maritime Inventions 1833–1950, Goose Lane Editions, 2001, p. 61
- ^ "The Gilson SNOW BLOWER Shop, Snowblower History". Gilsonsnowblowers.com. 2007-01-27. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
- ^ About Sicard Industries
- ^ "Snow Thrower Safety" (PDF). Consumer Product Safety Commission. Retrieved 2014-01-22.
- ^ a b Steward, Angela (November 16, 2017). "13 Tips for Snow Thrower Safety - Facility Management Grounds Management Quick Read". Facilitiesnet. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
- ^ "5 Absurd Solutions to Huge Problems (That Actually Worked) | Cracked.com". 8 January 2012.
- ^ CSX jet powered snow removal unit
- ^ Relic of a Klimov VK1 engine used to clear Russian runways
