Snowthrower with adjustable rotor

Abstract

A snowthrower having a rotor housing with first and second sidewalls and a rotor extending between the sidewalls. As the rotor wears, it may be repositionable, relative to a ground surface and to the rotor housing to maintain snowthrower performance. In some embodiments, end portions of the rotor may connect to the sidewalls via an adjustable coupler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snowthrower comprising:
 a rotor housing comprising spaced-apart first and second sidewalls connected to one another by a rear wall to define a front-facing collection opening;   a rotor positioned within the housing between the collection opening and the rear wall, the rotor comprising:
 a rotor shaft comprising first and second end portions connected to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, and defining a rotor axis intersecting the sidewalls, wherein the rotor shaft is adapted to rotate, relative to the rotor housing, about the rotor axis; and 
   at least one flyte attached to, and radially spaced-apart from, the rotor shaft, wherein each end portion of the rotor shaft is securable, relative to its respective first or second sidewall, at both a first location and a second location, and wherein, as the flyte wears during snowthrower operation, the rotor is movable from a first position in which the end portions of the rotor shaft are in their respective first locations, to a second position in which the end portions of the rotor shaft are in their respective second locations.   
     
     
         2 . The snowthrower of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second couplers connected to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, the first and second couplers adapted to support the first and second end portions of the rotor shaft, respectively, at both the first and second locations. 
     
     
         3 . The snowthrower of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second couplers comprises an arm pivotally connected to its respective sidewall. 
     
     
         4 . The snowthrower of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor is movable to a third position in which the end portions of the rotor shaft are each in a third location. 
     
     
         5 . A snowthrower comprising:
 a rotor housing comprising spaced-apart first and second sidewalls connected to one another by a rear wall to define a front-facing collection opening;   a rotor positioned within the housing between the collection opening and the rear wall, the rotor comprising:
 a rotor shaft extending between the first and second sidewalls and defining a rotor axis intersecting the sidewalls, wherein the rotor shaft is adapted to rotate, relative to the rotor housing, about the rotor axis; and 
 at least one flyte attached to, and radially spaced-apart from, the rotor shaft; and 
   a coupler connected to the first sidewall and adapted to rotationally support an end portion of the rotor shaft at two or more locations relative to the first sidewall.   
     
     
         6 . The snowthrower of  claim 5 , further comprising a second coupler connected to the second sidewall and adapted to rotationally support a second end portion of the rotor shaft at two or more locations relative to the second sidewall. 
     
     
         7 . The snowthrower of  claim 5 , wherein the coupler comprises an arm pivotally connected to the first sidewall. 
     
     
         8 . The snowthrower of  claim 5 , wherein the coupler further defines a slot adapted to receive a fastener connected to the first sidewall, wherein engagement of the fastener with the slot defines the two or more locations of the rotor shaft. 
     
     
         9 . A snowthrower comprising:
 a rotor housing comprising spaced-apart first and second sidewalls connected to one another by a rear wall to define a front-facing collection opening;   a rotor comprising a rotor shaft and a radially-offset flyte connected to the rotor shaft, the rotor extending between the first and second sidewalls, wherein the rotor shaft includes a first end portion and a second end portion, the rotor shaft defining a rotor axis that intersects each of the first and second sidewalls; and   an arm pivotally connected to the first sidewall at a pivot joint, wherein the arm comprises a rotor joint adapted to rotationally support the first end portion of the rotor shaft, the arm pivotable about the pivot joint between a first position and a second position.   
     
     
         10 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , further comprising a fastener associated with the first sidewall, the fastener adapted to secure the first arm to the first sidewall in either of the first position or the second position. 
     
     
         11 . The snowthrower of  claim 10 , wherein the arm defines an arcuate slot adapted to receive the fastener therein. 
     
     
         12 . The snowthrower of  claim 11 , wherein the arcuate slot defines an arc about the pivot joint. 
     
     
         13 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , wherein the arm further comprises a brake mount connected to a brake member, and wherein movement of the arm between the first and second positions results in corresponding displacement of the brake mount. 
     
     
         14 . The snowthrower of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 an endless drive member engaged about both the rotor shaft and a drive shaft associated with the snowthrower; and   an idler member pivotally attached to the snowthrower and rotationally supporting an idler pulley, wherein the idler member is configured to move the idler pulley between an engaged position, in which the endless drive member is tensioned about the drive shaft and the rotor shaft, and a disengaged position in which the endless drive member is relaxed about the drive shaft and the rotor shaft;   wherein the idler member is operatively connected to the brake member such that when the idler pulley is in the engaged position, a brake shoe associated with the brake member is spaced-apart from the endless drive member, and when the idler member is in the disengaged position, the brake shoe is in contact with the endless drive member.   
     
     
         15 . The snowthrower of  claim 14 , wherein the idler member is slidably connected to the brake member. 
     
     
         16 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , wherein one or both of the arm and the first sidewall comprises indicia corresponding to each of the first position and the second position of the arm. 
     
     
         17 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , wherein the arm comprises a recess or detent associated with each of the first position and the second position. 
     
     
         18 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , wherein pivoting the arm about the pivot joint alters a gap between the rotor housing and the flyte. 
     
     
         19 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , wherein the arm is positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         20 . The snowthrower of  claim 9 , further comprising a second arm pivotally connected to the second sidewall at a second pivot joint, wherein the second arm comprises a second rotor joint adapted to rotationally support the second end portion of the rotor shaft, the second arm pivotable about the second pivot joint between a first position and a second position. 
     
     
         21 . The snowthrower of  claim 20 , wherein the second pivot joint defines a pivot axis coaxial with a pivot axis of the pivot joint. 
     
     
         22 . The snowthrower of  claim 20 , wherein the second arm is located on a side of the second sidewall that is outside of the rotor housing.