Snow surface grooming apparatus

Abstract

A snow grooming apparatus is adapted for being drawn by a towing vehicle on a snow surface such as a ski slope. A chassis rides on a pair of runners and supports plural snow shearing blades which are angled for directing snow laterally with respect to the center of the apparatus. An hydraulic actuating system is adapted for vertically positioning a ski centered with respect to the runners. Thus, when this ski is extended downwardly, the chassis and the snow shearing blades are raised to accommodate the snow surface. A pair of wheels are movable to support the chassis above the surface for moving across roads.

1 . A snow grooming apparatus adapted for being drawn by a towing vehicle in contact with a snow surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a chassis providing opposing spaced apart runners positioned for moving the apparatus on the snow surface, and at least two pairs of opposing snow shearing blades angled so as to move snow in contact therewith toward a center of the chassis;    a ski medially engaged with the chassis and movable vertically relative thereto;    a means for fixing the ski at vertical positions including a position wherein the ski is in contact with the snow surface while the runners are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners are in contact with the snow surface while the ski is above the snow surface;    a pair of wheels rearwardly engaged with the chassis and movable vertically relative thereto;    a means for fixing the wheels at vertical positions including a position wherein the wheels are in contact with the snow surface while the runners and ski are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners or the ski are in contact with the snow surface while the wheels are above the snow surface.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a means for hitching the chassis to the towing vehicle, the hitching means providing a means for fixing the chassis at vertical positions including a position wherein the chassis is approximately parallel with the snow surface, and a position wherein a forward end of the chassis is raised above the snow surface.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the means for fixing the ski, means for fixing the wheels, and means for fixing the chassis each include a linear actuator.  
   
   
       4 . A snow grooming apparatus adapted for being drawn by a towing vehicle in contact with a snow surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a chassis providing opposing spaced apart runners positioned for moving the apparatus on the snow surface, and at least two pairs of opposing snow shearing blades angled so as to move snow in contact therewith toward a center of the chassis;    a ski medially engaged with the chassis and movable vertically relative thereto;    a means for fixing the ski at vertical positions including a position wherein the ski is in contact with the snow surface while the runners are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners are in contact with the snow surface while the ski is above the snow surface;    a pair of wheels rearwardly engaged with the chassis and movable vertically relative thereto; and    a means for hitching the chassis to the towing vehicle, the hitching means providing a means for fixing the chassis at vertical positions including a position wherein the chassis is approximately parallel with the snow surface, and a position wherein a forward end of the chassis is raised above the snow surface.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising a means for fixing the wheels at vertical positions including a position wherein the wheels are in contact with the snow surface while the runners and ski are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners or the ski are in contact with the snow surface while the wheels are above the snow surface.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the means for fixing the ski, means for fixing the wheels, and means for fixing the chassis each include a linear actuator.  
   
   
       7 . A snow grooming method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a chassis having opposing spaced apart runners on a snow surface; engaging at least two pairs of opposing snow shearing blades with the chassis; angling the blades so as to move snow in contact therewith toward a center of the chassis;    moving a ski medially engaged with the chassis vertically relative thereto between a position wherein the ski is in contact with the snow surface while the runners are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners are in contact with the snow surface while the ski is above the snow surface in order to accommodate the snow surface;    engaging a pair of wheels rearwardly on the chassis and moving the wheels vertically relative thereto between a position wherein the wheels are in contact with the snow surface while the runners and ski are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners or the ski are in contact with the snow surface while the wheels are above the snow surface in order to accommodate the type of snow surface.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of: providing a means for hitching the chassis to the towing vehicle; adjusting the hitching means between a position wherein the chassis is approximately parallel with the snow surface, and a position wherein a forward end of the chassis is raised above the snow surface.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the means for fixing the ski, means for fixing the wheels, and means for fixing the chassis are each actuated by a linear actuator.  
   
   
       10 . A snow grooming method comprising the steps of: 
 positioning a chassis having opposing spaced apart runners on a snow surface; engaging at least two pairs of opposing snow shearing blades with the chassis; angling the blades so as to move snow in contact therewith toward a center of the chassis;    moving a ski medially engaged with the chassis vertically relative thereto between a position wherein the ski is in contact with the snow surface while the runners are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners are in contact with the snow surface while the ski is above the snow surface in order to accommodate the snow surface;    providing a means for hitching the chassis to the towing vehicle; adjusting the hitching means between a position wherein the chassis is approximately parallel with the snow surface, and a position wherein a forward end of the chassis is raised above the snow surface.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of: engaging a pair of wheels rearwardly on the chassis and moving the wheels vertically relative thereto between a position wherein the wheels are in contact with the snow surface while the runners and ski are above the snow surface, and a position wherein the runners or the ski are in contact with the snow surface while the wheels are above the snow surface in order to accommodate the type of snow surface.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for fixing the ski, means for fixing the wheels, and means for fixing the chassis are each actuated by a linear actuator.