DRIVING SYSTEM FOR DRIVING AT LEAST ONE AUGER OF A SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE, A SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DRIVING SYSTEM, A KIT FOR THE INSTALLATION OF SUCH A DRIVING SYSTEM, A METHOD FOR INSTALLING SUCH A DRIVING SYSTEM AND A METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPONENTS OR PARTS OF THE DRIVING SYSTEM

Abstract

A driving system for driving at least one auger of a snow removing device comprising at least one at least one self-adjusting chain tensioner. A first portion of the driving system is positioned within an auger housing and a second portion of the driving system is positioned outside the auger housing. The roller chain is adapted to move across a third opening provided in the auger housing. The first portion is covered by a front guard to prevent snow or debris contained in the auger housing to contact said first portion. The front guard is provided with an opening adapted to surround a portion of a shaft element of the auger with a play between periphery of the opening and the periphery of a corresponding portion the shaft element. The play is either small enough to prevent water and or debris to enter the first casing, or filled with a filling element and/or covered with a sealing element secured to the front guard or the corresponding portion of the shaft element of the at least one auger, to have the play small enough to prevent water and/or debris to enter the first casing. The second portion prevent snow or debris present around the snow removing device to contact the said second portion. A snow blower provided with the driving system, a kit comprising parts and/or components of the driving system, a method for assembling the driving system, and a method for manufacturing some components or parts of the driving system.

Claims

1. A snowblower used for blowing snow, the snowblower comprising: a housing (10) for receiving snow to be blown by the snowblower; an auger (7) being pivotably mountable about the housing (10), for urging snow to be blown towards an outlet of the snowblower, via a corresponding rotation of the auger (7); a driving system being operatively connectable to an extremity of the auger (7), for selectively driving said auger (7) in rotation with respect to the housing (10); at least one guard (12,13) being operatively mountable about the housing (10), for protecting the driving system, the at least one guard (12,13) having an orifice (32) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving a corresponding segment of a shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through said orifice (32); and a sealing assembly being operatively mountable about said at least one guard (12,13), for sealing a gap defined between the orifice (32) and the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through the orifice (32), the sealing assembly comprising at least one sub-component (23), so that, once installed, an interior portion (36) of the sealing assembly has a geometrical profile being complementary in shape to a corresponding cross-sectional profile of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7), and so that an exterior portion of the sealing assembly has at least one outer groove (35) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said at least one outer groove (35) a portion of the at least one guard (12,13) defining the orifice (32), so as to not only close off the orifice (32), but also provide said orifice (32) with overlapping sealing portions on both sides of the orifice (32) due to the presence of the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

2. A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-component (23) is provided with at least one fastener (24).

3. A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sub-component (23) comprises first and second sub-components (23,23) being connectable to one another.

4. A snowblower according to claim 3, wherein the at least one sub-component (23) comprises first and second sub-components (23,23) being connectable to one another via at least one fastener (24).

5. A snowblower according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fastener (24) includes first and second fasteners (24,24), and wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connectable onto one another via said first and second fasteners (24,24), the first fastener (24) being extendable into the first and second sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly, and the second fastener (24) being extendable into the second and first sub-components (23,23) respectively of the sealing assembly.

6. A snowblower according to claim 5, wherein the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a rear portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a front portion of the second fastener (24), and wherein the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a front portion of the first fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a rear portion of the second fastener (24).

7. A snowblower according to claim 6, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the first passage of the second sub-component (23).

8. A snowblower according to claim 6, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said first passage of the first sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the first fastener (24), so that the first fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

9. A snowblower according to claim 8, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) and the first passage of the second sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the first fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

10. A snowblower according to claim 8, wherein the front portion of the first fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the first fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the first fastener (24).

11. A snowblower according to claim 8, wherein the first passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24).

12. A snowblower according to claim 11, wherein the head of the first fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the first fastener (24) is fastened into said first passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

13. A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is provided about an exterior portion of the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

14. A snowblower according to claim 6, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the second passage of the first sub-component (23).

15. A snowblower according to claim 6, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said second passage of the second sub-component (23) a corresponding head of the second fastener (24), so that the second fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said first fastener (24).

16. A snowblower according to claim 15, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) and the second passage of the first sub-component (23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the second fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (25) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via said second fastener (24).

17. A snowblower according to claim 15, wherein the front portion of the second fastener (24) is threaded, and wherein the corresponding head of the second fastener (24) is provided about a distal end of the rear portion of the second fastener (24).

18. A snowblower according to claim 15, wherein the second passage of the second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly also includes a section providing an effective extension to the second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, inside said sealing assembly, when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another via the first fastener (24).

19. A snowblower according to claim 18, wherein the head of the second fastener (24) is further shaped, positioned and sized for abutting against the section providing the effective extension to the second passage of the first second sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly, when the second fastener (24) is fastened into said second passage of the first sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly.

20. A snowblower according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly is also provided about an exterior portion of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly.

21. A snowblower according to claim 20, wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have respectively first and second outer grooves (35,35), said first and second outer grooves (35,35) being positioned, shaped and sized so as to form the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another.

22. A snowblower according to claim 21, wherein the first and second outer grooves (35,35) of the first and second sub-components (23,23) are further positioned, shaped and sized so as to provide the sealing assembly with a continuous outer circumferential groove (35) when the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are connected onto one another.

23. A snowblower according to claim 22, wherein each of the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly have a substantially U-shaped interior portion (36), for allowing said first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly to be mounted about the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) having a substantially square cross-sectional profile; wherein the first and second sub-components (23,23) of the sealing assembly are substantially identical to one another; and wherein the at least one fastener (24) is at least one corresponding bolt.

24. A snowblower used for blowing snow, the snowblower comprising: a housing (10) for receiving snow to be blown by the snowblower; an auger (7) being pivotably mountable about the housing (10), for urging snow to be blown towards an outlet of the snowblower, via a corresponding rotation of the auger (7); a driving system being operatively connectable to an extremity of the auger (7), for selectively driving said auger (7) in rotation with respect to the housing (10); at least one guard (12,13) being operatively mountable about the housing (10), for protecting the driving system, the at least one guard (12,13) having an orifice (32) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving a corresponding segment of a shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through said orifice (32); and a sealing assembly being operatively mountable about said at least one guard (12,13), for sealing a gap defined between the orifice (32) and the corresponding segment of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7) extending through the orifice (32), the sealing assembly comprising at least one sub-component (23), so that, once installed, an interior portion (36) of the sealing assembly has a geometrical profile being complementary in shape to a corresponding cross-sectional profile of the shaft element (55) of the auger (7), and so that an exterior portion of the sealing assembly has at least one outer groove (35) being positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said at least one outer groove (35) a portion of the at least one guard (12,13) defining the orifice (32), so as to not only close off the orifice (32), but also provide said orifice (32) with overlapping sealing portions on both sides of the orifice (32) due to the presence of the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly; wherein the at least one sub-component (23) is provided with a fastener (24); wherein the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly includes a first passage for receiving a rear portion of the fastener (24), and a second passage for receiving a front portion of the fastener (24); wherein the first passage of the at least one sub-component (23) is greater in terms of cross-sectional area than the second passage of the at least one sub-component (23); wherein the first passage of the at least one sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized for receiving into said first passage a corresponding head of the fastener (24), so that the fastener (24) be completely located into the sealing assembly when the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly is installed and secured via the fastener (24); and wherein the first passage of the at least one sub-component (23) is further positioned, shaped and sized so that so that the fastener (24) be inserted and positioned inwardly into the sealing assembly beyond a bottommost portion of the at least one outer groove (35) of the sealing assembly when the at least one sub-component (23) of the sealing assembly is installed and secured via the fastener (24).

25. A kit with components for assembling a snowblower according to claim 24.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0126] FIGS. 1 to 12, 30 and 31 represent various views, components and/or features according to the prior art.

[0127] FIGS. 13 to 29 represent various views, components and/or features of possible embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE AND/OR PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0128] Various embodiments are described in the following disclosure with reference to the accompanying figures. It should be understood that elements of these figures are not necessarily depicted to scale, since emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the elements and structures of the present embodiments.

[0129] In the following description, same numerical references refer to similar elements. Furthermore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity, namely so as to not unduly burden the figures with several reference numbers, not all figures contain references to all the components and features, and references to some components and features may be found in only one figure, and components and features of the present disclosure which are illustrated in other figures can be easily inferred therefrom. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures are optional, and are given for exemplification purposes only.

[0130] Also, as will be explained below in relation to various embodiments, the invention relates to driving systems for driving auger(s), snow removal devices provided with the driving systems, kits provided with components and/or parts of the driving systems, methods for the installations of said driving systems, and methods for the manufacture of some components and/or parts of the driving system, and in particular with respect to snow blowers. However, the invention can be used in any other suitable activities that would be obvious to persons skilled in the art.

[0131] Expressions such as «snow removal», «snow», «blower», «auger», etc., as used in the present description, and/or other references or expressions which are equivalent or similar to the above-mentioned expressions, do not have to be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention and include all other object/substitute and/or other application according to which the present invention can be used or may be useful, as it would be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0132] Moreover, the expressions such as «system», «blower», «vehicle», «device», «set», mechanism», «product», «equipment», etc. as well as any other equivalent expressions and/or words comprising them, can be used in an interchangeable manner in the context of the present description. This also applies to any other expressions which are mutually equivalent, such as «component», «tool», and «accessory», as an example, as well as «snow» and «material», or a «front» and «upstream», or «rear» and «downstream», as it would be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0133] Moreover, even if illustrated preferred embodiments comprise several parts and/or components, all these parts and/or components are not necessarily essential for the invention and consequently do not have to be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that other suitable parts and/or components and cooperation thereinbetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

[0134] Moreover, in the context of the present description, it should be considered that all elongated objects implicitly have a «longitudinal axis» and/or «a center line», such as the longitudinal axis of a rod, as an example, or the center line of a cylindrical drum, and that the expressions such as «connected» and «adapted to be connected», or «pivoting» and «adapted to be pivoted», can be interchanged and are mutually equivalent, and that the present invention also relates to a kit having corresponding parts and/or components to assembled to provide a resulting snow blower which is operational when fully assembled to achieve a method and/or obtain any resulting product and/or derivate.

[0135] Furthermore, certain components of the present system and/or steps of the present method (e.g. for the manufacturing, the assembly, the operation, ect.) described in the present specification can be modified, simplified, omitted and/or interchanged, without departing from the scope of the present invention, independently of particular applications for which the present system is conceived and/or intended for.

[0136] Generally, the present invention, as illustrated in the enclosed drawings, relates to a new driving system for driving at least one auger of a snow blower.

[0137] More particularly, the present invention relates to a driving system related to an original configuration of various parts and/or components of a snow blower allowing to transfer the power from a gear box to an auger, and also relates to a snow blower provided with such a system. Also, the present invention relates to snow blowers provided with such a system, vehicles allowing to operate such snow blowers, a method for the manufacturing and assembly of these pieces, etc. More particularly, the present invention also relates to a kit having parts and/or components intended for the assembly and/or embodying the present driving system, as well as methods for the corresponding assembly, the operation and uses. Also, the invention relates to a method for the manufacturing of some components and/or parts of the driving system.

[0138] In the light of the following paragraphs, referring to the enclosed drawings, it will be better understood how the above-mentioned advantages are associated to the novel features of the invention.

[0139] More particularly, to overcome the problems existing with above-mentioned conventional systems, it would be possible to use a sealed guard 31 (see FIGS. 30 and 31, as an example) provided with an oil bath 30 that would be compatible with the use of the «Roll-Ring» 29 and that would completely protect said «Roll-Ring» 29 from debris. The Applicant already used this concept with the «Roll-Ring» 29 in applications other that those related to the driving system for driving an auger 7, as an example, for chain boxes useful for the main driving of a snow blower with various ratios. The oil bath 30, 31 is also a concept that is widely used in the field of industrial snow blowers for the driving of the auger 7 frequently with the principle of a tandem tensioner 28 as described hereinbefore.

[0140] However, the high costs of oil bath 30, 31 is not compatible with commercial and/or domestic snow blowers. On commercial and/or domestic snow blowers, the roller chain 19 is protected with minimal front guard (especially provided with parts 12 and 13) and a rear guard 52 that protect the roller chain 19 from big objects on most of locations of the roller chain 19 but always provide an easy access via an opening provided in the rear guard 52 (see FIG. 11 as an example) and/or the area 53 (see FIG. 7, as an example), for the adjustment of the tensioner 29 and/or the lubrication of the roller chain 19 and/or mobiles parts and/or components of the tensioner 29. The opening further defines a free space further allows to evacuate ice debris or snow and the stiffness of the concept of actual tensioners, which do not necessitate closed environment, was up to now suitable to meet with for basic needs.

[0141] The Applicant has surprisingly discovered that is it is possible to use of a «Roll-Ring» combined with a low cost sealed guard system, in order to obtain a major advance concerning the quality of domestic or commercial snow removal devices, preferably blowers. The proposed new driving system according to the invention allows an easy access to the roller chain 19 for its lubrification while protecting the «Roll-Ring» 29 from all debris that would make the same derailed, without significative increase of the manufacturing costs of a domestic or commercial snow blowers.

[0142] The first zone to protect is located at the front of the auger housing 10 (see FIG. 11 as an example), at the inside of a side of the auger housing 10, at the left or the right of the auger 7. In most of cases, the front guard has two parts defined by a first part 12 and a second part 13, for accessing the shaft element 55 defining an axis of the auger 7 in order to assemble or disassemble the bearing 15 which maintain the auger 7 in place and for installing the roller-chain 19 on the output gear 20 of the auger 7.

[0143] According to the prior art, the joint 51 between the first part 12 of front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard has a play of about more or less 1/32 of an inch (i.e. more or less one millimeter), and this is not sufficient to prevent powder snow to infiltration. In order to improve the joint 51, the use of modern cutting and folding equipments allow obtaining a play of about 0.005 inch or less and this is surprisingly sufficient to improve the joint between the first part 12 of front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard to prevent powder snow infiltration. Alternatively, a rubber joint may be used to improve the sealing of the static joint 51.

[0144] The shaft element 55 which may be provided with a circular cross section 18 (see FIG. 13 as an example) or a square cross section 14 (see FIG. 11 as an example), defines the main frame of the auger 7 in its axis, and passes across the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard, to connect the shaft element 55 of the auger 7 in bearings 15 secured by any appropriate fastening means, such as for example bolts and/or screws, preferably bolts, to the lateral wall of the auger housing 10.

[0145] According to the prior art (see FIG. 11 as an example), the half-moon opening 32 of the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard are larger than the cross-section of the shaft element 55 in order to have a play that will prevent friction of the shaft element 55 with the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard (13) when turning. The play between the shaft element 55 and the half-moon opening 32 is of about 0.25 to 0.5 inch (about 6 to 12 millimeters), and is obviously to large to block the powder snow.

[0146] According to preferential methods according to the present invention, two methods can be selected, depending the cross section of the shaft element 55 is a circle 18 or a square 14.

[0147] For the auger 7 provided with a shaft element 55 having a circular cross-section 18, a rubber, circular sealing joint 16 or any other flexible material, comprising or not a reinforcing fabric and able to be in contact with the corresponding cylindrical surface 18 of the shaft element 55 that rotates, without generating noise and being sufficiently sealable to stop powder snow. This circular sealing joint 16 does not have to necessarily apply a pressure on the corresponding cylindrical surface 18 of the shaft element 55.

[0148] In order that this circular sealing joint 16 can be easily assembled or disassembled, the circular sealing joint 16 may be provided with a slit 33 extending from the inside to the outside, perpendicularly on not to the circle or alternatively, may be made of two distinct parts which once assembled, perfectly fit together. This circular sealing joint may be fastened by any appropriate fastening means, such as bolts or screws, preferably bolts, to the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard ((see FIG. 13 as an example) in order to prevent its rotation. To obtain a good support and sealing between the circular, sealing joint 16 and the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard, two half-moon metallic pieces 17 may be required and/or advantageously provided for certain models of snow blowers. The circular sealing joint 16 and eventually parts 17 may be fastened to the front guard with any type of fasteners, such as mechanical fasteners, adhesive, etc., preferably with bolts 34.

[0149] For the auger 7 having a shaft element 55 having a square cross-section 14 (see FIG. 15 as an example), two haft-moon parts 23) made of plastic material or any other material sufficiently resistant to cold temperature and impacts, are added to the shaft element 55, to form when facing one to the other, a resulting filling element having an exterior form defining a cylindrical surface provided with a groove 35 in its center over all the circumference, and an inner shape 36 that is coincident for each part 23 to one half of the shaft element 55 having a square cross-section.

[0150] Mechanical fastener, such as bolts 24 can be used to joint these parts together, the joint connecting these two parts being positioned at the center of two of the four flats portions of a square tube defining the shaft element 55 of the auger 7, opposed to each other. The openings for the bolts 24 are aligned on the center of the circumference and on one of both openings. An undercutting may be provided to completely house the head of the bolt 24 under the groove 35. The groove 35 of both pieces 23 are aligned on the second part 13 of the front and the bolts 24 are tightened in place. Then, the first part 12 of the front guard will be fastened by any appropriate fastening means, such as mechanical fastener, adhesive, preferably bolted with bolts on the lateral wall of the auger housing 10, applied against the second part 13 of the front guard, to thus complete the tight closure to snow or other debris around the shaft element 55 of the auger 7 having a square cross-section 14.

[0151] Two others non-preferential methods can be used to seal with shaft element 55 of the auger 7 having a square cross-section, are described hereinbelow.

[0152] The first, in order to seat the sealing joint 16 described hereinbefore (see FIG. 13 as an example) for the shaft element 55 having a circular cross section 18, two half-moon parts 25 made of plastic or any other material that is sufficiently resistant to cold temperature or impacts (see FIG. 21 as an example), are added to the shaft element 55 having a square cross-section 14, in two parts, with an outer shape cylindrical 37 and devoided of a groove, and an inner shape «coincident» with one half of the shaft element 55 of the auger 7 having a square cross section 36, these parts being facing to each other. In order to join theses parts 25 with two bolts 24, the joint connecting the two parts are positioned at the center of two of the four flat of the shaft element 55 having a square cross-section 14 opposite to each other. The openings for the bolts 24 are positioned to avoid the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard and the circular sealing joint 16.

[0153] The second, (see FIG. 22 as an example), in order to seat the sealing joint 16 described hereinabove, a piece of metal 26 having the same characteristics that the shaft element of the auger 7) is fastened, preferably welded, at the end of the shaft element 55 with in addition, a cylindrical collar 37 on its exterior and square in its interior 38, in the same axis that the shaft element 55 having a square cross section 14, preferably manufactured from the piece of metal defining the shaft element 55. This piece is more compact and stiff that preceding solutions, but necessitate obtaining a more onerous piece to manufacture, thus applicable to models having a slightly higher quality.

[0154] At the rear of the snow blower (see FIG. 25 as an example), the exposure to snow and other debris is less intense, and thus necessitate a lower degree of clogging. However, the most important contaminants originate from the wheels 54 of the carrying vehicle (see FIG. 7 as an example) which while moving on the road, project sands, salts, de-icing products or mud (e.g. a mixture of salt and/or wetted sand and snow). To sufficiently seal this part, the rear guard comprises at least two-parts, that is a main part 41 may be provided with a minimal but easily dismountable second part 39 to allow an easy access to the roller chain 19 and to the «Roll-Ring» 29. To allow a quick installation/deinstallation of this part 39 of the rear guard 41, two positioning notches 42 are added at the base of the actual rear guard 41 in order to insert therein two tongues 43 making part of the part 39, with a sufficient play to allow to freely incline this part 39 from the left to the right. According to this way, a visual and quick access is possible. If it becomes necessary to completely remove the part 39, it is only necessary to lift the part 39 to remove the tongues 43 from the notches 42.

[0155] To maintain the upper portion of the part 39 and secure it into an operational way, a system comprising a flexible tongue 40 cut out in the upper portion of the part 39 cooperating with a notch allowing to pass therethrough a rigid tongue 44 cut out from the existing rear guard 41, provided with a support on each side 56 and with a clearance 57 vis-à-vis the underneath of the tongue 40 of the part 39 in order to clear a necessary space allowing the tongue 40 of the part 39 to bent until liberating the opening 46 positioned slightly under the natural surface of the part 39. While releasing the tongue 40 of the part 39, the tongue comes contacting the pin 45 and creates a tension by the natural resistance of the metal and accordingly the pin 45 and the part 39 are always under tension to avoid vibration noise that may impair the operator and the resident of the sector where the snow blower is operating.

[0156] Inside this semi-sealed environment of economical manufacture, the use of a «Roll-Ring» 29 becomes possible in replacement of all other tensioning systems. However, in some cases, the tension of a «Roll-Ring» 29 may be insufficient to cover a large range of tension adjustments, especially when the length of the roller chain is important. Because the distance between the output gear 20 of the shaft element 55 and the driving gear 21 connected to a driving shaft 5 (see FIG. 7 as an example) may vary slightly from an equipment to another and because the roller chain 19 may become worn and elongated at a certain speed, the sole installation of a «Roll-Ring» 19 may be insufficient to cover the whole range of elongation of the rolled-chain 19. Old systems (see FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 30 and 31, as an example) cover sufficient ranges to adjust the roller chain 19 to the removal of a complete link when possible. The adjustment range of old systems cover more that the equivalent of one complete link.

[0157] To overcome this problem, a chain diverter system 47 (see FIG. 18 as an example) adjustable with tools may be added to reposition the path of the roller chain 19 proportionally to its wear by providing a sufficient degree of movement to allow an adjustment of the roll chain of a complete link.

[0158] According to a preferential embodiment of the present invention (see FIG. 18 as an example), the use of block provided made from a material having a low resistance to friction, or provided with a coating or an insert of a material having a low resistance to friction, preferably a Teflon® block 47) is preferred. This block 47 comprises a curve 48 adapted to the size of the roller chain 19 to offer a smooth contact of the links of the roller chain 19. The block 47 is provided with two openings 49 that may be aligned with a set of openings 50 provided in the frame and/or the auger housing of the snow blower, and positioned according to a ladder. These openings 49 are positioned at the center of the block 47 and the block 47 is sized in such a way to always cover the openings positioned along the ladder containing openings 50 provided in the frame or the lateral wall of the auger housing. According to this way, the block 47 will block openings 50 and prevent the snow to reach the roller chain 19, the «Roll-Ring» 29, the output gear 20 and the driving gear 21.

[0159] It is understood that the replacement of the block 47 (see FIG. 18, as an example) by a free sprocket wheel 58, turning on a ball bearing may be a good deviation solution. Also, in certain other cases, an adjustment with oblong openings 59 provided in the lateral wall of the auger housing, may allow to move the shaft element 55 of the auger 7 from the front to the rear, may be sufficient to compensate the length of the roller chain 19 of a chain link. In this later case, an adjustment with oblong openings on the first part 12 of the front guard and the second part 13 of the front guard will be necessary to allow the displacement of the sealing joint simultaneously with the shaft element 55 of the auger 7. Also, in this case, the auger 7 would further comprise tensioners that will hold the auger 7 in place once adjusted because violent impacts may move the auger 7 backwardly and distort the adjustment. It may be understood that this last option is not preferential.

[0160] The invention also relates to a method for the installation of a driving system as on the snow removal device. The method comprises the steps of: [0161] rotatably mounting on the frame or the auger housing 10 the driving gear 21 adapted to be rotatably supported by the frame or the auger housing 10; [0162] mounting the at least one output gear adapted to be mounted on the shaft element 55 of the auger 7; [0163] installing the roller chain 19 to link the driving gear 21 and the output gear 20; [0164] installing the Roll-Ring 29; [0165] removably securing the front guard to the first lateral wall to form with the first lateral wall the first casing to prevent snow or debris contained in the auger housing to contact said first portion; [0166] removably securing to the frame the rear guard to cover the second portion and to prevent snow or debris present around the snow removing device to contact the said second portion; and [0167] optionally providing a third opening in the auger housing; [0168] a first portion of the driving system for driving the auger 7 being positioned within the auger housing 10 and a second portion of the driving system for driving the auger 7 being positioned outside the auger housing 10, [0169] the roller chain 19 being adapted to be moved across the third opening of the auger housing 10.

[0170] The invention also relates to a method for the manufacture of components and/or parts of the driving system. More particularly, parts 12, 13, 16, 17 and 23 of the front guard and parts 39 and 41 of the rear guard can be manufactured by any appropriate techniques, especially by folding, cutting or molding a piece of material, preferably by folding and cutting sheets of metal, preferably sheets of steel and more preferably stainless steel.

[0171] Finally, according to the present invention, the snow blower and its corresponding parts and/or components are preferably made of substantially rigid material, such as metallic materials (e.g. steel, stainless steel, etc.), hardened polymer, composite materials, and/or any other appropriate materials, while other parts and/or components of the system according to the invention, in order to obtain the above-mentioned advantages, may be made of any appropriate materials, such as polymeric materials (e.g. plastic, rubber, etc.), and/or any other appropriate materials, depending of the particular uses for which the system is designed and of various parameters involved, as it would be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

[0172] Even if the present invention was hereinabove explained with reference to preferred embodiments, it is to be noted that any modification to these preferred embodiments is not considered modifying or altering the nature and the scope of the present invention. Indeed, all claims defined hereinafter, must receive the broadest interpretation that is conform to the whole description.