Ice-pulverizing knife and ice-pulverizing device comprising an ice-pulverizing knife

Abstract

The present specification relates to an ice-pulverizing knife for pulverizing ice from a ground surface, and to an ice-pulverizing device equipped therewith. The ice-pulverizing knife comprises a frame and a blade. The frame has a substantially circular base, and comprises a top, a base, at least one opening, a slot and a shoulder. The top has a socket adapted for mechanically coupling the frame with a vertical drive shaft, a rotation of the vertical drive shaft resulting in a circular rotation of the frame. The top has a first diameter. The base engages with the ground surface and has a second diameter greater than the first diameter. The at least one opening is positioned between the top and the base. The slot defines an aperture along the base. The shoulder is adjacent the slot and comprises a securing mechanism. The blade is adapted for insertion in the slot and affixing to the shoulder by means of the securing mechanism. When affixed to the shoulder, the blade projects towards the ground surface. Ice cut by the blade and accumulated inside the frame is expelled from the frame through the at least one opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice-pulverizing knife for pulverizing ice from a ground surface, the ice-pulverizing knife comprising:
 a frame having a substantially circular base, the frame comprising:
 a top having a socket, the socket being adapted for mechanically coupling the frame with a vertical drive shaft, a rotation of the vertical drive shaft resulting in a circular rotation of the frame, the top having a first diameter; 
 a base for engaging with the ground surface, the base having a second diameter greater than the first diameter; 
 at least one opening between the top and the base; 
 a slot defining an aperture along the base; 
 a shoulder adjacent the slot, the shoulder comprising a securing mechanism; and 
   a blade for insertion in the slot and affixing to the shoulder by means of the securing mechanism, the blade projecting towards the ground surface when affixed to the securing mechanism;   wherein ice cut by the blade and accumulated inside the frame is expelled from the frame through the at least one opening.   
     
     
         2 . The ice-pulverizing knife of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame comprises a plurality of slots defining apertures along the base, the slots being equidistant along a circumference of the base;   a plurality of shoulders, each shoulder being adjacent one of the slots, each shoulder comprising a securing mechanism; and   a plurality of blades, each blade being sized for insertion in one of the slots and for being affixed to the adjacent shoulder by the securing mechanism.   
     
     
         3 . The ice-pulverizing knife of  claim 1 , wherein the blade extends inside a circumference of the base of the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The ice-pulverizing knife of  claim 1 , wherein the slot is oriented at an angle between 30 and 75 degrees with respect to the base. 
     
     
         5 . The ice-pulverizing knife of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is proximate to the top. 
     
     
         6 . The ice-pulverizing knife of  claim 1 , comprising four openings evenly distributed along the frame closer to the top. 
     
     
         7 . An ice-pulverizing device for pulverizing ice from a ground surface, the ice-pulverizing device comprising:
 at least one ice-pulverizing knife in accordance with  claim 1 ; and   a propulsion mechanism comprising the vertical drive shaft, the socket of the at least one ice-pulverizing knife being mechanically coupled with the vertical drive shaft,   whereby upon rotation of the vertical drive shaft, the at least one ice-pulverizing knife rotates.   
     
     
         8 . The ice-pulverizing device of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one ice-pulverizing knife and the propulsion mechanism are part of an implement. 
     
     
         9 . The ice-pulverizing device of  claim 7 , wherein the at lest one ice-pulverizing knife and the propulsion mechanism are part of a vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The ice-pulverizing device of  claim 7 , wherein the propulsion mechanism is a Power Take Off (PTO) Coupler. 
     
     
         11 . The ice-pulverizing device of  claim 7 , further comprising a vertical adjustment mechanism for lifting and lowering the at least one ice-pulverizing knife with respect to the ice on the ground surface. 
     
     
         12 . The ice-pulverizing device of  claim 10 , further comprising a propulsion mechanism for moving substantially horizontally the at least one ice-pulverizing knife on the ground surface while the at least one ice-pulverizing knife is rotating.