Two stage snow thrower auger housing

Abstract

A two stage snow thrower comprises an auger, and a snow discharge housing. The snow discharge housing comprises a one piece deep drawn auger housing.

1 . A two stage snow thrower comprising:
 a one piece deep drawn auger housing having a mouth, wherein the auger housing omits welds and is formed from a single deformed sheet of material, wherein the mouth is flared out;   an auger supported from opposite sides of the housing;   an impeller can extending from the housing;   an impeller within the can; and   a chute extending from the impeller can.   
     
     
         2 . The two stage snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the impeller is supported for rotation about an axis, wherein the auger housing includes a rear opening and a first flange about the opening and wherein the impeller can includes the second flange having a second face, wherein one of the first flange and the second flange has a depression receiving the other of the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         3 . The two stage snow thrower of  claim 1  further comprising a bent C-shaped bar coupled to the auger housing so as to serve as a scraper and to strengthen the mouth of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The two stage snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the auger housing has a first face, wherein the impeller can has a second face opposite the first face and wherein the first face and the second face are each coated with a layer of paint. 
     
     
         5 . The snow thrower of  claim 1  further comprising:
 an inner ring coupled to one of the shoot and the housing; 
 an outer ring about the inner ring and coupled to the other of the chute and the housing; 
 detents associated with one of the inner ring and outer ring; and 
 a projection associated with the other of the inner ring and outer ring, wherein the projection is resiliently biased into one of the detents to releasably retain the chute in one of a plurality of positions. 
 
     
     
         6 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein outer ring includes the detents. 
     
     
         7 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein the detents comprise a series of spaced apertures through said one of the inner ring and outer ring. 
     
     
         8 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein the projection comprises a leaf spring. 
     
     
         9 . The snow thrower of  claim 8 , wherein the leaf spring is removably captured and retained between the inner ring and outer ring without fasters, welding or adhesives. 
     
     
         10 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein the inner ring comprises a first channel receiving outer ring. 
     
     
         11 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein outer ring comprises a second channel receiving the inner ring. 
     
     
         12 . The snow thrower of  claim 11 , where outer ring comprise a first clamshell portion and a second clamshell portion joined about the inner ring. 
     
     
         13 . The snow thrower of  claim 5 , wherein the projection extends substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the chute. 
     
     
         14 . A two stage snow thrower comprising:
 an impeller housing;   an impeller within the housing; and   a chute extending from the impeller housing;   a first ring coupled to the chute;   a second ring coupled to the housing, wherein the first ring and the second ring rotate relative to one another;   a drive adapter secured to and encircling the first ring, the drive adapter including gear teeth; and   a drive gear in meshing contact with the gear teeth of the drive adapter.   
     
     
         15 . The snow thrower of  claim 10 , wherein the first ring comprises an inner ring about which the second ring encircles. 
     
     
         16 . A method comprising:
 providing a single sheet of material;   deep drawing the single sheet of material in at least one die to form a one piece auger housing having a bottom portion, a top portion, a central portion between the bottom portion and the top portion, a first side portion and a second side portion opposite the first side portion, wherein the first side portion and the second side portion are flared outwardly;   painting a rear face of the one piece auger housing;   painting a front face of an impeller can;   following the painting of the rear face and the painting of the front face, securing the impeller can to the one piece auger housing with the front face of the impeller can in abutment with the rear face of the one piece auger housing.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the auger housing includes a first annular flange having a first face and wherein the method further comprises securing a second face of a second flange of the impeller can in abutment with the first face, wherein the first face and the second phase extend non-parallel to a centerline of the impeller can. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein securing the first face in abutment with the second face comprises fastening the first flange to the second flange. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein fastening the first flange to the second flange comprises inserting one or more fasteners through the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising positioning one of the first flange and the second flange in a recess in the other of the first flange and the second flange.