Vane adjusting mechanism for a powered snow thrower

Abstract

A compact, lightweight snow thrower having a power driven impeller rotating about a horizontal, transverse axis to throw snow upwardly and forwardly through a chute which is substantially coextensive in width with the axial length of the impeller. A plurality of laterally spaced upright vanes are disposed in and pivotally connected to the upper end of the chute for the purpose of directing the discharge of snow. A vane adjusting mechanism includes a transverse, laterally shiftable vane adjusting bar which is connected to the vanes through pairs of laterally spaced fingers extending forwardly from the control bar on opposite lateral sides of the vanes. Lateral shifting movement of the bar effects simultaneous lateral tilting of the vanes. The vane adjusting bar includes a pair of rearwardly extending stud parts which extend through slots in the rear wall part of the transverse recess in the rear wall of the discharge chute in which the bar is disposed. The slots and stud parts cooperate to guide the control bar when it is shifted between an intermediate position in which the vanes direct the discharged snow straight ahead and laterally adjusted positions in which the vanes direct the snow discharged through the chute to one lateral side or the other. The recess for the control bar is sufficiently deep so that the control bar is disposed therein and does not interfere with discharge of snow through the chute and a resilient detent is provided to selectively, releasably hold the control bar in its intermediate and laterally adjusted positions.