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To clear snow-covered roads in rural Canada, the first snowblower came into being in 1925. Arthur Sicard, a farmer and road contractor, designed this first snow blower. It looked like a wheat combine, with a long chute that hurled the snow to one side, and two rotating blades in front.
Later, modifications on this machine ultimately made the snow blower a crucial implement for all road contractors, airports, and railroad, the world over. Two decades after its invention, Toro introduced the domestic push snow blower. This reinforced the machine’s place as one of the most important back-saving devices ever created. These days, even the small, light, and economical domestic Toro snow blowers can effortlessly clear about 250 pounds of snow in a minute and throw it nearly 25 feet away. Under such competition, a strong man with a good shovel would undoubtedly collapse. Even the leading snow blowers can eat snow at the rate of almost two tons per minute, launch the snow to an amazing 45 feet, and pave along a three-foot path! For a snow blower, there is no job that is too small or too big. From the modest light powdering to the heaviest blizzards, the machines are designed to clear the way after snowfall. Commonly, there are two types of gas-powered snow blowers - single-stage snow blowers and dual-stage snow blowers. Single-stage snowblowers are ideal for clearing flat surfaces - like patios, walkways, and paved driveways. They have rubber-faced augers that reach ground level, and clear away every last bit of snow. They are easier to maneuver in tight spaces, and are usually smaller and lighter than dual-stage machines. Single-stage snowblowers have a single, high-speed auger to both scoop and throw snow. The curved blades of the auger spin parallel to the ground, carve out a section of snow with each rotation, and move the snow towards the machine’s centerline. In one continuous motion, the snow is then forced up and out through the discharge chute. Single-stage snow blowers cannot clear as much snow, or throw it as far, as dual-stage machines. Conversely, dual-stage units cannot fit into confined spaces like single-stage units do. In addition, dual-stage snow blowers cannot clear snow from flat surfaces as effectively as a single-stage snow blowers. Ideal for medium to large jobs, dual-stage snow blowers are useful in places where snow is deep and heavy, and where the terrain might be gravelly or bumpy. With an ‘impeller’ - a slow-rolling auger for scooping up snow - and a fast fan for forcing snow out, these blowers do heavy jobs. There are two types of blades that make the auger, namely - serrated blades, for breaking up hardened snow and ice; and smooth blades, for scooping and lifting the snow. Depending on how uneven the terrain is and how close you want to shave it, the auger can be adjusted up and down. Moreover, for adjusting total allowed ground clearance, the auger casing also comes with skid shoes. What makes dual-stage like John Deere snowblowers so effective for larger jobs is the separation of snow-handling tasks. However, an electric snow blower is what you need for smaller jobs, as it is easy to maneuver! |
