Ariens Company

Perry L Prochnow

Scott E Deschler

John R Adrian

Scot A Koehler

Timothy J Peter

Bela I Csonka

Thomas E Phillip

Paul F Koltz

Kyle T Roggenkamp

Joseph J Damle

Thomas R Banse

A utility machine including a frame, a prime mover supported by the frame, a pair of wheels rotatably coupled to the frame, a drive disk coupled to the prime mover to be driven by the prime mover, and a friction disk assembly. The friction disk assembly includes a friction disk in engagement with the drive disk for transmitting rotation of the drive disk to the pair of wheels, and a carrier disk coupled to the friction disk for rotation therewith. The utility machine also includes a shifter mechanism including a bearing disposed directly between the friction disk and the carrier disk. The shifter mechanism is operable to move the friction disk assembly with respect to the drive disk to selectively vary a drive speed of the pair of wheels.

Friction drive system for a utility machine

A snow thrower having discharge chute locking and rotating mechanisms, both of which are actuated by a chute handle in the operator zone of the snow thrower. The chute locking mechanism disengages from the chute in response to initial movement of the chute handle in first or second directions, and the rotating mechanism rotates the discharge chute in response to continued movement of the chute handle in the same direction beyond the initial movement.

Chute rotation and locking mechanism for snow thrower

A control apparatus for an implement such as a snow thrower, the control apparatus comprising a handle having at least two substantially upright portions and a cross portion extending between the upright portions. A first bail is pivotally connected to both upright portions of the handle to pivot about a first axis. A second bail is also pivotally connected to both upright portions of the handle to pivot about a second axis that is not co-linear with the first axis. The first and second bails are both separately movable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. Both the first and second bails are independently operable from one another, and move in the same direction with respect to the handle when moving from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition. The first bail may control a first mechanism, and the second bail may control a second mechanism.

Split wireform bail

A self-propelled power implement having a friction drive system to transmit rotation from the engine to the wheels. The friction drive system includes an output disc and a friction disc. The output disc rotates in response to rotation from the engine's output shaft. The friction disc is coupled to the implement's wheels, and contacts the output disc and rotates in response to rotation of the output disc. The location on the output disc that the friction disc contacts determines the rotation speed of the friction disc. A flexible member is interconnected to the friction disc and a controller, and movement of the controller causes the flexible member to actuate the friction disc radially in relation to the output disc. The flexible member adjusts the location on the output disc that the friction disc contacts, and thereby adjusts the rotation speed of the friction disc and the wheels.

Friction drive cable shifter

Portion of a line trimmer

Growing community of inventors

Brillion, WI, United States of America

Perry L Prochnow