A snow removal device, adapted to be installed on a motor vehicle, for compacting, transporting and discharging snow, includes:

(a) a rectangular box-shaped structure for carrying snow, the structure having a front panel, side panels and rear gate panel which is can be opened to permit the snow to be discharged;
(b) a compactor plate, disposed substantially vertically in the box-shaped structure, for pushing snow inside the structure toward the rear gate panel;
(c) a screw mechanism which moves the compactor plate from a point adjacent the front panel toward the rear gate panel, thereby compacting the snow, and back again; and
(d) a snow blower mechanism, preferably attachable to and detachable from the front of the motor vehicle, for collecting and blowing snow into the open top of the box-shaped structure.

A powered device may include an engine, a mobility assembly operably coupled to the engine to provide mobility of the powered device responsive at least in part to operation of the engine, a working assembly operably coupled to the engine to perform a working function responsive at least in part to operation of the engine, and a key-operated combination ignition and speed control assembly including switch circuitry configured to control both starting the engine and selection of different selectable positions corresponding to respective different operating speeds for the engine.

A snow removal device may include a chassis supporting a power unit, a mobility assembly operably coupled to the chassis to provide mobility for the snow removal device responsive to power provision from the power unit, a working assembly configured to move snow to an ejection path responsive to power provision from the power unit, and a chute assembly forming a portion of the ejection path, the chute assembly comprising a chute and a deflector. The chute may be rotatable via a chute rotator configured to provide at least 360 degree automated rotation of the chute. An orientation of the deflector may be changeable via automated pivoting of the deflector via an electrically operable deflector adjuster.

A snow removal device may include a chassis supporting a power unit, a mobility assembly operably coupled to the chassis to provide mobility for the snow removal device responsive to power provision from the power unit, a working assembly configured to move snow to an ejection path responsive to power provision from the power unit, and a chute assembly forming a portion of the ejection path, the chute assembly comprising a chute and a deflector. The chute may be rotatable via a chute rotator configured to provide at least 360 degree automated rotation of the chute. An orientation of the deflector may be changeable via automated pivoting of the deflector via an electrically operable deflector adjuster.

A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

A snowbank deconstructing system includes a dulled motorized instrument configured to make repetitive, low-impact contact with accumulated snow. The dulled motorized instrument is configured to be safe to human touch during the repetitive, low-impact contact with the accumulated snow.

A lawn mower or stand-on powered drivable machine has an electrical port that receives current from an alternator powered by the engine or motor. The port receives a plug from a garment worn by the lawn mower operator. The garment includes one or more thermo-electric elements that are powered from current extending through the port. The thermo-electric (TEC) elements may be resistive heaters to warm the operator or TEC coolers to cool the operator. Furthermore, the garment may include a rechargeable battery that powers the thermo-electric elements when the plug is disconnected from the port.

A chute for a drop spreader assembly that includes a body having a vertical axis. A funnel portion of the body has an open top to receive flowable material, a dispensing chute portion of the body has a distal dispensing opening and extending along an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and a plurality of directional vanes of the body protrudes into a flowpath within the dispensing chute portion to direct flowable material to an even distribution pattern through the distal dispensing opening. In some forms, the dispensing chute portion can be divided into a central portion and lateral portions separated from the central portion by gaps adapted to receive structure associated with a snow removal device therethrough. Each of the central and lateral portions can have a plurality of directional vanes protruding into a flowpath thereof.

A chute for a drop spreader assembly that includes a body having a vertical axis. A funnel portion of the body has an open top to receive flowable material, a dispensing chute portion of the body has a distal dispensing opening and extending along an angle with respect to the vertical axis, and a plurality of directional vanes of the body protrudes into a flowpath within the dispensing chute portion to direct flowable material to an even distribution pattern through the distal dispensing opening. In some forms, the dispensing chute portion can be divided into a central portion and lateral portions separated from the central portion by gaps adapted to receive structure associated with a snow removal device therethrough. Each of the central and lateral portions can have a plurality of directional vanes protruding into a flowpath thereof.

An autonomous snowbank deconstructing system includes an autonomous vehicle, one or more boom arms coupled to the autonomous vehicle, and a dulled shovel component coupled to the one or more boom arms. The autonomous vehicle is configured to autonomously gather loose debris to form one or more debris piles with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the loose debris, and autonomously deconstruct accumulated debris with repetitive, low-impact contact of the dulled shovel component with the accumulated debris.