Group 11 - Dual Stage Snow Thrower (Gasoline Powered) - Gate 1

Revision as of 19:12, 7 October 2012

Work Proposal

Objective:

We will disassemble a Toro CCR2000 Single-Stage Snow Thrower and examine the parts for various ways to improve upon it. (Note: Due to a mistake on the initial project proposal, the Snow Thrower was labeled as a Dual-Stage. It is a Single-Stage.)

The foremost machine is the product we will be examining.

Tentative Plan:

1) We will empty the machine of all fluid. As the engine does not have a cooling system, the fluid will only be the gasoline and oil mixture.

2) We will disconnect the drive line from the handle, and remove the key from the machine to ensure that it cannot ignite.

3) We will remove the hood and discharge chute. This will require socket wrenches, pliers, and possibly lubricating oil, and will expose the engine and chassis. All parts removed in this and future steps will be labeled and cataloged against the manufacturer's parts list by part number prior to removal. See here: Media:assembly_manual.pdf

4) We will disconnect and remove the spark plug, and then carefully swab off any fluid residue from the engine block assembly, fuel tank and lines, and the rest of the chassis.

5) We will remove the pulley system connecting the engine to the impeller, followed by the impeller itself.

6) We will remove the engine and fuel tank, according to the procedure in the Service Manual for the snow thrower. See here: Media:Service_manual.pdf

7) We will break down the rest of the chassis and set it aside. This will require power tools such as drills with screwdriver bits and liberal application of lubricating oil due to the age of the machine and rust-fusing of the parts.

8) We will carefully disassemble the engine, and clean out the cylinders and piston assembly.

9) We will examine all the parts, and determine which parts can be or have been improved since the model's introduction.

10) We will carefully reassemble the entire machine, beginning with the chassis and testing the engine once it is completed to ensure functionality.

11) We will submit our report on the snow thrower.

Management Profile

We will meet after every class, and on the weekends in the Furnas Hall Dissection Laboratory. Group communication will take place using our project Facebook group: MAE 277 Product Dissection

Outside of listed responsibilities, each member will work on other contributions for research. The Chief Researcher will collate and condense it all into one package for approval by the Project Manager. The Communications Liaison will then be responsible for the presentation of the information on this website and in class.

Product Archaeology

Development Profile (Mustaq Mohamed)

In late 1884’s, a few years after the industrial revolution, the absence of a snow blower badly affected the people those who lived thousands of miles away from the equator. As a result few designers started working on this new invention, though it didn’t succeed. However, in 1894 a Canadian inventor called Arthur Sicard, who was inspired by a Grain thresher, began working on his first snow blower, and was able to unveil his machine in Montreal on 1925. A company named Toro in 1952 came up with the first human powered snow blower, which built our product, the CCR-2000 snow thrower, in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s.

One major global concern during the time of development is milder winter seasons. Snow was a relative scarcity during the winters of 1980 and 1981 and, consequently, so were snow blower sales. The business suffered devastating losses during this period. Another key concern at the time of development was economy. Economic recessions reduced the demand for snow throwers, which also caused large losses of profit at times. However, single stage snow blowers are light, efficient, easy to use, and inexpensive when compared to two stage snow blowers or plows. This machine is intended to be sold in regions that experience cold winter seasons which get heavy snow during winter. This excludes most of the Asian countries and other areas close to the equator. So, mainly sales take place in Northern European countries, Northern United States, and some areas in Japan and China.

Usage Profile (Mustaq Mohamed)

The intended use of the Toro snow thrower is to remove snow from unwanted locations such as sidewalks, driveways, or other areas of traffic. This single stage snow thrower is not adequate for dealing with heavy snow fall. It is a single stage snow blower because only the impeller moves the snow. There is no auger to break up the incoming flow into manageable pieces. The impeller spins at a high speed, scraping up snow and throwing it out a discharge chute.

This particular product is both for home and professional use. The ultimate purpose of this machine is to avoid any inconvenience caused by the snow in order to save time and energy. In a professional context, many business in areas with snowfall have to keep their driveways and parking lots clear of snow in order to avoid any inconvenience to the customers. In addition, homeowners utilize this product to clean their sidewalks and driveways. Even though the Toro snow thrower is very easy to handle, there are few safety concerns that should be addressed. Always keep children and pets away from the area of operation, and wear adequate winter clothing and footwear that will improve footing on slippery surfaces. Always turn off the blower and remove the key before attempting to clean the auger.

Energy Profile (Minh Dao)

Energy	Source	Usage
Chemical Energy 300x	Gasoline-Oil mixture, Air (Oxygen)	The chemical mixture is ignited within the cylinder, forcing it to expand. A piston drive converts that forced movement into shaft rotational energy within the engine. External connections or pulley systems transfer that energy to the impeller.
Electrical Energy 200x	Permanent magnet in Recoil Starter Assembly.	After “enabling” the starter with the key, pulling the Starter Cord spins the magnet inside a coil of wire, inducing a current. This current is enough to allow the spark plugs in the engine to fire, igniting the gas mixture in the cylinder. Essentially, this system converts electrical energy into heat energy in the form of sparks.
Mechanical Energy	Recoil Starter and User Interaction.	The Recoil Starter requires the user to pull on the flywheel, creating rotational energy and spinning a magnet. This mechanical energy is then converted into electrical energy to power the spark plug circuits.

Complexity Profile (Hengtian Yao)

Quantity of Components

Complexity of individual components

More than half the components used in the snow thrower are standardized components and parts, like bearing and screws. These parts, easily obtained from hardware stores like “Home Depot” are mass produced items, cheap and simple.

Components like the cover, plastic plate and scraper however are designed and produced specifically for this type of snow blower. They are semi-complex. They are in simple shape and easily assembled, but not convenient to produce and purchase for replacement.

Components like gear kits, and shot block parts, are specially designed and manufactured for the blower, and in need of high production technology and precision. We can classify these as complex parts. They are hard to get from the general market. Additionally, when assembling them together, the engineer should be aware of the range of the degree of the adaptability. They are crucial components for the production and assembly of the machine.

Interaction

They are 12 main modules of the snow blower. More than 10 parts are assembled to make a subsystem. The parts belonging to each module guarantee the module is stable and work appropriate. The housing is the upper cover of snow blower, connected to the discharge chute. It's primary purpose is to protect the engine. the discharge chute is used to collect snow and redirect it to a more desirable location. While the snow blower is pushed forward, snow is collected and propelled out of the chute. The chute can be redirected to control which direction the snow is launched away from the machine, allowing adaptability and ensuring that the working area will remain clear.

The Engine and Chassis are used to provide energy and generate the torque required for the Impeller to chip the snow and propel the blower forward. The Chassis also keeps the engine working in a proper position. The other subsystems are simply used to transfer and convert energy for the machine. With a microscopic and static view, when the blower are dissected in to small subsystems, they are simply interacting to stabilize parts or transmit power. On the macroscopic and dynamic view, they are complex.

Material Profile (Kristin Cameron)

Visible Components: Many of the external components, including the housing, are made of firm plastic. As expected, the plastic appears to vary in composition depending on the application; that is, there are material differences among the plastics that comprise the housing, the wheels, the fuel cap, and so on. The tires are made of firm rubber. The handle, screws, nuts, and bolts are made of metal.

Non-visible Components: Materials in the visible components – hard plastic, firm rubber, and metal -- will all be found in non-visible components as well. In addition, the drive belt is probably made of rubber or a more flexible plastic. While not quite visible, the starter has a flexible cord, likely a synthetic product made of yet another variety of plastic. O-rings and washers are probably made of a more ductile rubber.

User Interaction Profile (Kristin Cameron)

First, the user is required to mix and load the fuel, which requires a particular ratio of gas and oil. The fuel tank is clearly visible on top of the snow thrower. To begin operating the equipment, the user must turn the ignition to the “on” position and then pull the starter. During normal operation, the user must push the snow thrower around the area to be cleared of snow. Prior to storage at the end of the season, the fuel mixture must be drained from the system to ensure nothing coalesces. The interfaces for everyday usage are very clear. All components are visibly obvious (such as the handle) or well marked (such as the ignition switch). Properly mixing the fuel when needed and thoroughly draining the fuel at the end of the season may not be intuitive for casual users; however, the owner’s manual clearly outlines these processes. Generally, maintenance is not required. The snow thrower is reasonably easy to use. It requires only forward or turning movement and does not require substantial effort to push, nor does it obstruct the user's view of the path to be cleared.

Product Alternatives Profile (Suman Muthurayan)

Alternatives	Advantages	Disadvantages
Wheeled Snow Shovel ($120-$150)	• Easy to handle • Low cost and maintenance • Less risk factor • Wheel – easily movable • Convenient storage • Environmental friendly • Good exercise to youngsters • Easy to assemble • Wheel can be detached	• Much man power needed • Too much time needed to shovel • Not suitable for elderly people • Less useful for heavy snow places
Traditional Snow Shovel ($5-$20)	• Very low cost than other alternatives • Portable • Easy to store • Extendable handle • Easy to handle and secure as well • No maintenance • Environmentally friendly	• It elevates the pain for the people with back ache • Quite heavy with loaded snow • Difficult to lift and clean the snow • Metal shovel gets rusty
Liquid Snow Remover (Low Grade: $10-$70. Professional grade: as much as $1000)	• Friendlier with eco system • It works efficiently • Low cost and no maintenance • Less storage space is needed • Inexpensive application equipment(Sprayer and pump) • Safe and harmless • Easy to use(Just spray)	• A lot to apply to remove snow on a sidewalk and driveway • The solution process takes time • Not suitable for heavy snow • It has to be applied more number of times
Electric Snow Thrower ($130-$1500)	• Quiet operation than gas snow thrower • There is no gasoline requirement • Light weight and Easy to use • The chute helps to rotate in any direction • Eco friendly • Easy to maintain • Need minimal storage place • Electric start rather than recoil start	• Can only handle limited feet of snow • Limited length of cord • Not suitable for wet and paved surfaces • Expensive
Largest Snow Blower (No Price Available)	• High RPM fan helps to throw the snow far out • Controlled from the driver seat • Chute can be adjusted and manipulated to any direction • Reliable and fast performance • Can handle any amount of snow • It considerably decreases the amount of time to shovel • Efficient shoveling	• Limited visibility due to snow and fog • Expensive and high maintenance cost • It has to be maintained at frequent intervals • Occupy more space • High level emission • Specific skill set for operation is required • Cannot be easily handle • Consumes more fuel
Vertex Rolling Snow Shovel ($40-$60)	• It can clear light snow • Easy to handle • Ergonomically designed • Reduces back strain • No maintenance and low cost • Easily storable	• Very hard to assemble • It can handle up to 7 inches of snow • Less durable • Small wheels • Less rigid
Snow Plow Truck ($900-$4,000)	• Quick and easy to remove snow in wide areas • Hydraulic angling makes easy to turn the chute • Multipurpose • Can be used during snow storms • Increased safety for both operator and the motorists • Reduces the need for other alternatives	• Very expensive • Requires knowledge to operate • Regular maintenance • Environment pollution • Hydraulic system has to be maintain frequent at subzero condition • Need license, insurance and registration to operate • Noise pollution