Apparatus and method for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower

Abstract

An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower. The snow blower has an intake locus through which snow is received as received snow and an output locus through which the received snow is ejected as blown snow. The snow handling mechanism conveys the received snow from the intake locus to the output locus. The snow blower includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust port. The internal combustion engine is coupled with the snow handling mechanism for effecting the conveying. The apparatus includes: (a) a collecting unit coupled with the exhaust port; the collecting unit receives exhaust fluids from the exhaust port; and (b) a fluid conveying unit coupled with the collecting unit and coupled substantially adjacent to the intake locus; the fluid conveying unit delivers the exhaust fluids from the collecting unit to the intake locus.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower; said snow blower having an intake locus through which snow is received as received snow and an output locus through which said received snow is ejected as blown snow; said snow handling mechanism conveying said received snow from said intake locus to said output locus; said snow blower including an internal combustion engine having an exhaust port; said internal combustion engine being coupled with said snow handling mechanism for effecting said conveying; the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a collecting unit coupled with said exhaust port; said collecting unit receiving exhaust fluids from said exhaust port; and   (b) a fluid conveying unit coupled with said collecting unit and coupled substantially adjacent to said intake locus; said fluid conveying unit delivering said exhaust fluids from said collecting unit to said intake locus.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises: a distributor unit coupled between said fluid conveying unit and said intake locus; said distributor unit distributing said exhaust fluids substantially throughout said intake locus. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said exhaust port presents said exhaust fluids from a muffler installed with said engine. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said collecting unit includes a selector mechanism; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port to said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a first orientation; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port to said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a second orientation. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said exhaust port presents said exhaust fluids from a muffler installed with said engine. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said collecting unit includes a selector mechanism; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port to said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a first orientation; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port away from said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a second orientation. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         11 . A method for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower; said snow blower having an intake locus through which snow is received as received snow and an output locus through which said received snow is ejected as blown snow; said snow handling mechanism conveying said received snow from said intake locus to said output locus; said snow blower including an internal combustion engine having an exhaust port; said internal combustion engine being coupled with said snow handling mechanism for effecting said conveying; the method comprising:
 (a) receiving exhaust fluids from said exhaust port; and   (b) delivering said exhaust fluids to said intake locus.   
     
     
         12 . A method for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises: providing a distributor unit coupled with said intake locus for receiving said exhaust fluids; said distributor unit distributing said exhaust fluids substantially throughout said intake locus. 
     
     
         13 . A method for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 11  wherein said exhaust fluids are received from said exhaust port via a muffler installed with said engine. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower; said snow blower having an intake locus through which snow is received as received snow and an output locus through which said received snow is ejected as blown snow; said snow handling mechanism conveying said received snow from said intake locus to said output locus; said snow blower including an internal combustion engine an exhaust port; the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a collecting unit coupled with said exhaust port; said collecting unit receiving exhaust fluids from said exhaust port; and   (b) a fluid conveying unit coupled with said collecting unit and coupled substantially adjacent to said intake locus; said fluid conveying unit delivering said exhaust fluids from said collecting unit to said intake locus.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the apparatus further comprises: a distributor unit coupled between said fluid conveying unit and said intake locus; said distributor unit distributing said exhaust fluids substantially throughout said intake locus. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said exhaust port presents said exhaust fluids from a muffler installed with said engine. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said collecting unit includes a selector mechanism; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port to said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a first orientation; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port away from said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a second orientation. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said exhaust port presents said exhaust fluids from a muffler installed with said engine, and wherein said fluid conveying unit is a flexible tube. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for mitigating freezing of a snow handling mechanism in a snow blower as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said collecting unit includes a selector mechanism; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port to said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a first orientation; said selector mechanism directing said exhaust fluids from said exhaust port away from said fluid conveying unit when said selector mechanism is in a second orientation.