Snow thrower

Abstract

A snow thrower including an auger housing, a center snow impelling blade housed within the auger housing, a first blade positioned on a first side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about a rotational axis of a drive shaft, and a second blade positioned on a second side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about the rotational axis of the drive shaft. The first blade and the second blade are housed within the auger housing and configured to drive snow to the center snow impelling blade. The auger housing directs snow to the center snow impelling blade, the first blade, and the second blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A snow thrower comprising:
 an auger housing;   a center snow impelling blade housed within the auger housing and comprising a rotating element;   a first blade positioned on a first side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about a rotational axis of a drive shaft; and   a second blade positioned on a second side of the center snow impelling blade and configured to be driven about the rotational axis of the drive shaft, the first blade and the second blade housed within the auger housing and configured to drive snow to the center snow impelling blade;   wherein the auger housing directs snow to the center snow impelling blade, the first blade, and the second blade.   
     
     
         2 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the rotating element comprises one or more paddles radially extending outward from the rotational axis of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The snow thrower of  claim 2 , wherein an outermost edge of the one or more paddles is offset from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         4 . The snow thrower of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more paddles comprises a portion that is substantially parallel with the rotational axis. 
     
     
         5 . The snow thrower of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more paddles extend in a plane intersecting the rotational axis. 
     
     
         6 . The snow thrower of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more paddles extend parallel to the rotational axis. 
     
     
         7 . The snow thrower of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more paddles comprise an outer portion for engaging with a ground. 
     
     
         8 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the first blade comprises a first helical portion and the second blade comprises a second helical portion. 
     
     
         9 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the first blade and the second blade helically extend at least partially about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         10 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the first blade, the second blade, and the center snow impelling blade are driven by a torque source, the torque source comprising an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         11 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , wherein the first blade, the second blade, and the center snow impelling blade are driven by a torque source, the torque source comprising an electrically powered motor. 
     
     
         12 . The snow thrower of  claim 1 , further comprising a transmission configured to transmit torque from a torque source to the first blade, the second blade, and the center snow impelling blade. 
     
     
         13 . The snow thrower of  claim 12 , wherein the transmission extends along an exterior of the auger housing and is coupled to the drive shaft. 
     
     
         14 . A snow thrower comprising:
 an auger housing; and   an auger assembly housed within the auger housing and comprising:
 a center snow impelling blade rotating about a rotational axis of a drive shaft and comprising one or more paddles extending radially outward from the rotational axis; 
 a first helical blade positioned on a first side of the center snow impelling blade; and 
 a second helical blade positioned on a second side of the center snow impelling blade, the first helical blade and the second helical blade configured to be driven about a rotational axis of the drive shaft to drive snow to the center snow impelling blade; 
 wherein at least one portion of the one or more paddles is offset from the rotational axis. 
   
     
     
         15 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein an outermost edge of the one or more paddles is offset from the rotational axis. 
     
     
         16 . The snow thrower of  claim 15 , wherein the outermost edge is substantially parallel with the rotational axis. 
     
     
         17 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more paddles extend in a plane intersecting the rotational axis. 
     
     
         18 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more paddles extend parallel to the rotational axis. 
     
     
         19 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein each of the one or more paddles comprise an outer portion for engaging with a ground. 
     
     
         20 . The snow thrower of  claim 14 , wherein the first blade and the second blade helically extend at least partially about the rotational axis.