System for chipping and moving ice

Abstract

An ice chipper comprising a pair of cylindrical drums each mounted for counter-rotation about parallel, generally vertical axes. Each drum includes an outwardly rounded, disk shaped bottom surface and an auger flight spiraled helically about the outer cylindrical surface thereof. The auger flights each include a plurality of spaced, outwardly extending teeth to chip the ice abutting the front of the system. The chipper is mounted to the front of a tractor and each drum includes a hydraulic motor which is operated by a hydraulic pump also carried by the tractor. Rotation of the drums causes the auger teeth to chip the ice and tends to pull the drums forwardly while the auger flights carry the ice particles up and out away from the cleared area. Tilting the system forwardly and rearwardly upon the rounded drum bottom surfaces varies the depth of cutting in the vertical direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for chipping ice and forming a pathway through rough, icy terrain, comprising: a pair of cylindrical drums mounted for rotation about parallel vertical axes, each of said drums including a smooth, outwardly rounded lower end surface to support the weight of the drum; a plurality of spikes protruding outwardly from the cylindrical outside surface of each drum to engage and chip the ice, the circular paths formed by the tops of the spikes when the drums are rotated being overlapping in the .[.regioon.]. .Iadd.region .Iaddend.between the drums; and means for rotating said drums in opposite directions to chip ice and pull the drums forwardly through the ice to form a pathway along a generally level grade. 
     
     
       2. A system for chipping ice and forming a pathway through rough, icy terrain, as set forth in claim 1, which also includes: means for applying a forward force to said drums to increase the rate of ice cutting.   
     
     
       3. A system for chipping ice and forming a pathway through rough, icy terrain, as set forth in claim 2, further including: an auger spiraled around the cylindrical outside of each drum, each of said augers including at the lower ends thereof a plurality of spikes extending downwardly to a plane level with the rounded bottom surfaces of each drum; and also including means for tilting said drums forwardly and rearwardly to vary the grade slope of said pathway. 
     
     
       4. A system for chipping ice and forming a pathway through rough icy terrain, as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said rotating means includes a hydraulic motor connected to each drum and a hydraulic pump connected to drive said motor.   
     
     
       5. A system for chipping and forming a pathway through ice, comprising: a pair of cylindrical drums mounted for rotation about parallel axes;   a plurality of spikes protruding outwardly from each of said drums, the spikes on different drums intermeshing with one another in the region therebetween when said drums are rotated; and   
     
     
       means for rotating said drums in opposite directions .[.toward.]. .Iadd.away from .Iaddend.one another at the front to chip ice and tend to pull the drums forwardly through the ice.   
     
     
       6. A system for chipping and forming a pathway through ice, as set forth in claim 5, which also includes: an auger spiraled about the outside surface of each drum to lift and remove the chipped ice when the drums are rotated.   
     
     
       7. A system for chipping and forming a pathway through ice, as set forth in claim 6 wherein each auger on each drum comprises a plurality of auger flights; and wherein said spikes are mounted to said auger flights.   
     
     
       8. A system for chipping and forming a pathway through ice, as set forth in claim 7 which also includes: means for applying a forward force to said drums to increase the rate of ice chipping.   
     
     
       9. A system for chipping and moving ice to form a pathway through rough, icy terrain, comprising: a tractor for applying a forward force;   an angular frame having a back member and a top member, said back member being attached to the front of said tractor;   a pair of cylindrical drums mounted for rotation beneath said top member about parallel, generally vertical axes lying in front of said back member, each of said drums having smooth downwardly rounded bottom surfaces;   a auger, comprising a plurality of flights, spiraled around the outer periphery of each of said drums, in the opposite direction;   a plurality of spikes protruding outwardly from each auger flight on each of said drums, each spike on each flight lying in the same horizontal plane as another spike on a different flight of the same drum and all spikes on one drum lying in different horizontal planes from all spikes on the other drum to permit intermeshing of the sikes without interference therebetween; and   means for rotating said drums in opposite directions, .[.toward.]. .Iadd.away from .Iaddend.one another at the front, to chip ice, auger the chips up and away from the system and tend to pull the drums forwardly through the ice to form a pathway.   
     
     
       10. A system for chipping and moving ice to form a pathway through rough, icy terrain, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said means for rotating said drums includes; a pair of hydraulic motors mounted within openings in said top member and having output shafts connected, respectively, to rotate said drums; and   a pair of auxiliary motor driven hydraulic pumps carried by said tractor and fluid coupled to drive said motors.   
     
     
       11. A system for chipping and moving ice to form a pathway through rough, icy terrain, as set forth in claim 9, which also includes: a spike positiond at the lower end of each auger flight and extending downwardly to the level of the rounded drum bottom surfaces; and   means for tilting the back member of said angular frame forwardly and rearwardly to vary the grade slope of said pathway.