Snow removal technique, how to choose, types

Type of motor harvester in a private house in the yard

"Advanced" models of snow blowers are equipped with engines - gasoline or electric. Each type of motor has its own advantages and disadvantages. Read about gasoline here.

Electric motor

Electrical engine

The electric snow blower is designed for cleaning small areas. The machine is powered either directly from the mains or from the battery. Engine power - from 2.5 liters. with. Electrical equipment in comparison with gasoline has a number of advantages:

• environmental friendliness;
• quiet running;
• relatively low price;
• no need to add oil and gasoline.

The disadvantages include:

• low productivity;
• efficiency in relation to freshly fallen, loose snow;
• connection to the power grid;
• cleaning only a smooth street surface (if a stone gets into the auger, it fails).

Another limitation is that this device cannot be used in rainy weather.

Price - from $ 30.

Read how to make an electric snow blower with your own hands here.

Petrol engine

The power of models with a gasoline engine reaches 5-13 horsepower. They are used on any surface (if there are skis) and relief. Snow blowers (both electric and gasoline) have a snow throwing function. On petrol models, this distance is greater, making cleaning easier. Attachments for a walk-behind tractor can be very diverse, which greatly facilitates the work and allows you to almost instantly remake the equipment for the desired task.

Petrol engine

These snow blowers are usually equipped with four-stroke engines. In order to facilitate the plant at extremely low temperatures, some manufacturers equip machines with an electric start function from the mains.

The advantages of gasoline engines:

• high performance;
• the ability to process distant areas, without being tied to a stationary power source;
• long throw distance;
• removal of stale, dense snow.

Equipment with a gasoline engine is more expensive than an electric one, and it is somewhat larger in size. These are cons, which are also taken into account when buying.

Price - from $ 200.

You can also make a gasoline snow blower yourself. Read more here.

What to look for when choosing snow removal equipment

Before buying a unit, it is necessary to more precisely determine the choice. First, you need to calculate the expected amount of work. If you need to clean only paths and small areas (up to 4-6 hectares), then you can purchase a machine equipped with a low-power gasoline engine (up to 1-2 kW). These include PATRIOT PS 301 and Efco ARTIK 55 S.

If the territory is quite large (more than 10,000 square meters) and has complex entrances, elevation changes and vegetation, it is worth giving preference to more productive equipment, such as Caliber SNUB-11.0 / 70 E.

The second parameter of choice is the frequency of use (once a week, daily or a couple of times per season) based on it, select a tracked or wheeled, self-propelled or non-self-propelled unit with a certain power and fuel tank volume.

Pay attention also to the presence of headlights, the type of start (manual or electric). Depending on the planned budget, choose the required degree of automation and the number of speeds

Also, speaking about snow removal equipment, it is worth mentioning that you can use attachments: plows and special buckets. Initially, they were developed for garden tractors and motor-cultivators, but today there are models for cars.

Most popular brands

MTZ

The most popular tractors today are, of course, the MTZ (Minsk Tractor Plant) models. They now offer a range of snowplow tractors, both mini and communal. Also, this plant produces mounted on the basis of its tractors:

• snow dump with hydraulic rotation SO 2.5 (cost from 130,000 rubles);
• snowblower SU 2.1 OM (price from 411,500 rubles, this is an excellent option for urban areas, it can work in three inclined positions, it is possible to control the visor, which allows you to change the angle of snow discharge instantly);
• auger snowplow ShRK 2.0 (price from 450,000 rubles, allows not only to clean roads, but also to rid the area of ​​the formed shafts after cleaning with a bulldozer, can punch roads on virgin snow).

Craftsman

Craftsman mini tractors of various models are very popular. They are characterized by high power and working capacity, working width up to 107 cm, mechanical transmission.

The cost of these tractors from an American manufacturer ranges from 85 thousand to 98 thousand rubles.

KIOTI

The cost is 1-2 million rubles.

It will be easy for you to choose a snowplow tractor if you know what area you need to clean, how often you will use it and what tools you have at your disposal.

Cleaning technology requires an integrated approach

It is really not at all easy to comply with all the norms of winter road maintenance required by the Federal Road Agency. It is no secret that it is often the quality of the organization and conduct of events to clean roads and yards from snow that residents make a conclusion about the work of local authorities in general, reflecting their opinion later on in the ballots.

Technologically, snow removal from roads is divided into two stages. The first covers the treatment of the surface of the carriageway with anti-icing agents, as well as the subsequent shoveling of snow and sweeping of the carriageway surface with the formation of snow banks in the near-river areas. A large number of municipal equipment is engaged in the first technological stage of the fight against the fallen snow, despite the fact that at this stage there is no full-fledged cleaning. This technique is called "snow removal" conventionally, since machines only move and shovel snow from the central part of the road to the shoulder or sometimes to the center of the roadway, thereby reducing the width of the roadway and impairing visibility. Instead of improving the situation on the road, they thereby increase the likelihood of an accident.

In utilities, tractors, loaders, mini-loaders and other equipment are used to shovel snow, equipping it with snow plows and brushes, but the most effective first stage of snow removal is performed by combined road machines (KDM). As a rule, these communal machines are based on domestic chassis, and their functionality allows them to cover the entire range of work required to maintain cleanliness in settlements. Today KDM is produced by a whole group of Russian enterprises.

More than a dozen KDM models of the MD series are offered to domestic utilities by the "Kurgandormash" enterprise, and most of the models of the series have two or three modifications. Cars in the "winter-summer" operating mode are based on the chassis of GAZ, ZIL, MAZ. KamAZ, Amur. The models differ in the capacity of the bunker of sand-spreading equipment, the presence of a medium brush, and various types of snow plows. The Kurgandormash sand spreaders provide for stepless adjustment of the width of the working area within the range from 2 to 10 m, as well as the density of distribution of deicing materials (PGM) from 10 to 500 g / m2.

Combined machines of the KO series on the KAMAZ and MAZ chassis are offered by the Arzamas Municipal Engineering Plant. The machines are designed for year-round operation. In winter, they are used to clean the roadway from freshly fallen snow with the help of plow and brush equipment, and to deal with ice, they are equipped with sand-spreading equipment that allows you to cover “problem” sections of sidewalks and roads with inert materials or anti-ice reagents.The design of the KDM has a tank for reagents, a body with a conveyor and a spreading disc, various types of brushes with a hydraulic drive, as well as rotary, side, high-speed and other types of dumps.

Of the youngest enterprises, the Region 45 plant from Kurgan is seriously engaged in the production of CDM. The enterprise offers five models of combined machines based on the KamAZ chassis, equipped with a front blade with a width of 2.6 m with the possibility of turning by ± 30 ° for shoveling freshly fallen snow up to 0.2 m high.And for the final cleaning of the roadway from snow, cylindrical middle brushes are installed ∅0.55 m with a working width of 2.5 m. Moreover, the brush can change the angle of rotation relative to the longitudinal axis by 60 °. To protect the roadway from slipperiness, sand spreaders are installed on the CDMs offered by Region 45. It is no secret that the road surface covered with a snow-ice layer increases the turning radius of the vehicle and its braking distance by 3-9 times! The enterprise equips spreaders with bins for sand-salt mixture (PS) with a volume of 3 to 12 m3, and the bunker material is steel sheet 3 mm thick. Thanks to the original solution of the designers of the Region 45 plant, the load applied from the PSS bunker to the conveyor is evenly distributed, and this protects the conveyor chain from stretching and premature destruction, and therefore increases the service life of the sand spreader itself.

Alternative to a mini tractor

For solving specific household and agricultural tasks, the mini-tractor is not adapted in the best way. Therefore, when choosing, it is advisable to consider alternative options.

Country walk-behind tractors

Such devices are simpler than mini tractors. Their functionality is fully sufficient for loosening, planting crops, mowing grass, snow removal and other activities in a small area. The suburban walk-behind tractor is easy to maintain and store.

Loaders for summer cottages

If construction is planned on the site or a wholesale and trade business is being developed, you will need a compact and maneuverable loader. Models of Chinese equipment for summer cottages will perfectly cope with all the tasks. These are multipurpose units that can minimize the proportion of manual labor. They are tracked or wheeled. It is easy to find the necessary attachments for them.

Hydraulic tractor

It is a practical and multifunctional machine with a large number of compatible accessories and assemblies. It is suitable both for everyday work in the country and for use in a small building. It is convenient to transport goods on a hydraulic tractor, including bulk goods (provided that the appropriate equipment is installed). He is able to cultivate and loosen the land, huddle agricultural crops.

How to make a rotary snow blower for a tractor yourself?

If, simultaneously with the task of cleaning the snow with a tractor, it is also necessary to discard the harvested material outside the area to be cleaned, you cannot do without a rotary snow blower.

To assemble a rotary snow blower on a tractor with your own hands:

We make a detailed drawing;

Recreate the DIY frame. In this case, it will have a rectangular shape, which will be given by welded metal corners and a profile pipe;
We weld a hitch to a homemade frame for aggregation with a tractor;
We construct a rotor with our own hands - an impeller with 2-5 blades, which outwardly resembles a household fan

It is important that the size and weight of each blade are the same, so that after hitching to the tractor to avoid skewing to the side and strong vibration: we take the shaft (from used agricultural machinery), designed for large bearings and a rotor; on a metal sheet we draw circles with a diameter of 30 cm, which we cut out with a metal saw or a grinder; drill a hole in the center of each circle,equal in size to the shaft diameter. This solution will make it possible to make a collapsible rotor, which will be easier to maintain and repair.

In the case of a non-separable design, the horizontal bridge can simply be welded to the discs; we cut the threads on the shaft so that each circle is fixed with nuts;

We proceed to the execution of the blades, which we cut from the remaining metal;
We put 2 bearings on the central axis, having previously equipped them with a hub. To do this, you can take it ready-made from other equipment or do it yourself from an old pipe;
We weld 4 lugs to the hub, through which it will hold on to the body of the protective casing;
We finish building a safety case that looks like a snail. For this, a part of the pipe is taken, one side of which is welded (the shaft hub will adapt to it), and 2 guides are welded on the other;
We make a snow sleeve - a deflector. In the central part of the snail, a 10-15 cm branch pipe with a 90 ° swivel chute is cut (to set the direction for the rejection);
To avoid spreading snow, the front of the casing is covered with metal;

A hole for the axle is drilled inside the snail;
We put the impeller and clamp it with bolted ties;
We adapt a belt or chain drive to the protruding part of the shaft (it will require a motorcycle sprocket);
We connect the frame with the resulting rotor mechanism and proceed to cleaning the area from snow with a tractor.

The described homemade product is designed for a tractor with a capacity of 2-25 hp, 0.6 traction class with a crankshaft speed of no more than 1.8 thousand per minute. It can operate confidently in gear 2-4 and provide a 15m kickback.

Which tractor to choose?

Choosing a specific tractor model for snow removal depends on the conditions of its use: how high you need to lift snow with a front loader bucket, how compact and maneuverable the machine should be so as not to damage trees and buildings, how much area you need to clean and how much money you are willing to pay for a mini-tractor.

1. Front loader lifting height.

   If you are going to take out the removed snow from the territory, you will need to correlate the capabilities of the tractor and the height of the sides of the dump truck. Most often, KAMAZ or MAZ are used to transport snow. We compared the lifting capabilities of KIOTI tractors and the height of the sides of the most common Russian dump trucks in the table (the data is suitable for loading snow, sand, gravel and other bulk materials):

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   Loader tractor	CK2810	CK3510, CK4010	DK5010	NX5020	RX6030	PX9530
   Truck side height, m
   MAZ 5551, MAZ 6517, body volume, m3	—	5	8,2	8,2	12	10,5
   KAMAZ 55111, body volume, m3	—	6,5	6,5	6,5	10	12

2. The area of ​​the territory and the width of the tracks.

   These parameters limit the choice of a mini-tractor: the narrower the tracks, the more maneuverable and compact it should be. For large areas, you will need a machine of increased power, which, due to its high performance, will harvest faster.

   • Up to 1 hectare and paths 1.2–1.6 m wide. For a small area with narrow paths, the compact snow tractor CK2810 or CK3510 is suitable.
   • From 1 hectare, dense buildings, paths with a width of 1.6 m. To remove snow in the yards, you need a tractor with a small turning radius. The mid-size models NX5020 and DK5010 can maneuver between cars in yards and drive gently along narrow aisles. By installing a jaw bucket on such a tractor, you can load snow into the body of a dump truck.
   • From 2 hectares, paths from 2 m wide. The vast territory with full-fledged highways needs a powerful cleaning machine. The high performance of the PX9530 and RX6030 will help keep the roadway clear, even in very snowy winters.

Features of the device of compact technology

Modern snow plows are a fairly wide range of equipment. There are non-self-propelled cars that need to be pushed in front of you.They are equipped with an electric motor and are ideal for cleaning the area around the cottage. There are also self-propelled snowblowers equipped with a gasoline engine and with a higher power, thanks to which they can cope even with dense packed snow. In general, this technique includes:

Snow plow tractors

• utility snow plow tractors with high engine power and impressive dimensions,
• compact mini-tractors for cleaning snow drifts in a small area,
• mixed-type machines that remove drifts and clean the area without replacing attachments,
• snowblowers that are best at handling fresh, recent rainfall. They cannot fight icing on the roads.

Thus, such a variety as a mini-tractor for cleaning snow is separately distinguished. In fact, this is a small tractor, only equipped with special attachments, with which it removes snow blockages.

Important! The main advantage of snow blower tractors is that they are able to remove large amounts of snow in short periods of time with minimal labor. At the same time, managing them can be mastered quite quickly, it does not require special experience and skills.

Another advantage of such a tractor is that it not only removes snow blockages, but also performs other functions, for example, it can collect garbage, carry out excavation work (dig ditches), and if there is a trailer, transport goods. The main thing is to purchase the appropriate attachments for him.

The argument in favor of purchasing such equipment is its relatively low weight compared to conventional tractors used by public utilities. Lightweight machines will not damage tiles, mosaics or other fragile surfaces.

You can put any attachments on the mini-tractor-snow blower. Most often, this is a special dump, which, as it were, pushes the snow aside, forming huge snowdrifts along the way. Then comes the turn of other equipment - auger or milling, and with the help of an air jet, the snow is thrown a long distance from the tractor.

Note! This technique is of two types - wheeled and tracked. Each of them has its own advantages.

For example, the wheel drive improves the maneuverability of the tractor, while the caterpillar track provides high cross-country ability.

You should choose a tractor-snow blower taking into account the specific operating conditions, and also, taking into account all the pros and cons of its device

What is a snow blower and where is it used?

Snowblowers are considered a versatile technique that can be used to clear large areas of snow. The main purpose of such devices is to facilitate labor for a person and save time. The field of application of snow removal equipment has a wide range.

The main places of application include highways, areas near shops and cafes, private areas, cottage settlements, summer cottages, etc. The places most requiring cleaning are highways.

Types of snow plows

Today, there are many different types of cleaning mechanisms. The choice should be based on the economic component (the amount of investment) and the technical characteristics of the unit. Do not forget about the size of the area that will need to be cleaned.

The snow plow tractor is presented on the market in several types that are in demand:

1. Utility tractor for cleaning snow. These tractors are most often found on our city roads during snowfall. They are irreplaceable in the work of public utilities during heavy snowfalls.
2. Mini tractor for cleaning snow.With its small size, such a device has high power and copes with large volumes of snow. Companies that have a considerable territory most often use a mini-tractor to remove snow.
3. Mixed tractors. With the help of such tractors, you can sweep and remove snow debris without replacing attachments, which saves the owner.
4. Snowblowers. The function of such machines is not only to remove snow from the ground, but also to sweep fresh snow that has not yet packed.

Snowblower ShRS (FRS-200M)

Snow tractors help to load and carry out the removal of snow outside the area where the cleaning took place. The big advantage of this technique is the ability to de-icy roads and sidewalks.

Attachments for snow blowers

In case of heavy snowfalls, the standard equipment is not always enough to effectively cope with cleaning, especially on the roadway. It is necessary not only to shovel the snow into a pile, but also to get rid of the ice. In this case, hinged nozzles are used.

List of attachments:

1. Blade snow blower brush. This set is popular. The snow plow is placed in front of the tractor and serves to collect it, and the brush is behind. She removes what is left of the snow cover. Both of these parts are removable and replaceable parts. It is better to choose hydraulic blades, they remove snow at a certain angle. In winter, a mechanical brush is used, it rotates in only one direction. Its cost is cheaper than hydraulic, but its efficiency is not less than hydraulic.
2. A bucket is installed instead of a blade. The bucket not only performs the function of cleaning, but also loading the removed snow for removal to storage areas.
3. A mounted snow blower is used for a tractor, which throws snow to the side. It is located either in front or behind the tractor. The most common is a rotary snow blower for a mini tractor. To crush the piled snow layer, you can purchase a rotary auger snow blower. If the snow blower is installed at the rear of the tractor, the blade is mounted at the front. A brush is installed behind the tractor. Cleaning with this brush will be cleaner.
4. It is preferable to use a grader knife with the blade. When paired, they do an excellent job with freshly fallen snow. The thickness of the layer does not matter for such a pair, on the contrary, the thicker the layer, the cleaner the cleaning.

Snowblower SU 2.1 OPM

More recently, it became possible to purchase all these attachments for mini tractors. Thus, clearing snow with a tractor or mini tractor becomes more productive.

Description and purpose of the professional cleaning trolley

Regardless of the type of design features, harvesting trolleys are used for:

1. Dry cleaning of premises. In this case, the inventory is used to collect garbage, dirt and waste, as well as to transport tools by means of which such operations are performed.
2. Wet cleaning. The trolleys are complemented by buckets in which the solution can be mixed for cleaning various surfaces and materials.
3. Service maintenance. With the help of such devices, it is convenient to deliver towels, bed linen and other regularly replaced products around the premises.

> Professional trolleys are often supplemented with interchangeable units, which allow the cleaner to select the necessary attachments for himself, depending on the task at hand.

Each such cleaning equipment consists of the following elements:

• frame, which is made of metal parts;
• wheelbase;
• bucket (several buckets);
• additional details that extend the functionality of the trolley.

Depending on the field of application, the cleaning equipment is divided into 3 types:

1. Uniform. The most common type of inventory. Such trolleys are mainly used for cleaning small premises.Most often, models of this type consist of a metal frame with swivel wheels on which a bucket is installed. A number of carts are complemented by a garbage bag.
2. Two-bucket. Models of this type are used for cleaning large rooms. Such products simplify the work, as they allow you to perform the necessary manipulations without constantly changing the water.
3. Multifunctional (universal). Models of this type, in addition to buckets, contain additional containers, nets and other devices designed to transport various items.

Professional equipment is often complemented by means for wringing out the mop. Cleaning companies mainly buy universal models, since such equipment allows them to perform the assigned tasks without wasting time looking for the necessary tools or tools.

Choosing the right snow removal equipment

If you have never come across the purchase of a tractor, you cannot decide on the optimal equipment for it, then we advise you to seriously pay attention to our recommendations and valuable advice - they will be a good help for everyone. Take a closer look at attachments that perform well when working in tandem: Take a closer look at attachments that perform well when used in conjunction:

Take a closer look at attachments that perform well when used in conjunction:

• Blade combined with a brush is a classic. This combination solves many tasks for clearing snow on the site. The oval is fixed to the front hitch of the tractor, and a special snow brush is fixed to the rear. While the area is cleared of snow, the blade is aimed at displacing the mass of snow, and the brush removes all snow residues, leaving the surface perfectly clean.
• Blade combined with a rotary snow blower is ideal for large areas. The blade shovels the snow into fairly high swaths, and then the snow blower simply throws it aside.
• The brush in combination with a snow blower (frontal) - perfectly copes with the final winter cleaning on the site. The snow blower is installed at the front of the tractor and the brush is installed at the rear. Due to the use of the rotor, it is possible to throw the collected snow mass over a considerable distance, if necessary, it can be immersed in a car for subsequent removal, and the brush does an excellent job of completing the cleaning.
• Front loader in combination with a brush - perfectly copes with a large amount of work. Ideal for perfect final cleaning of the area from snow. After cleaning, the snow can be immersed in the vehicle for further removal.
• Blade combined with a grader knife - in just one pass, the technique copes with the widest swath on your site. The blade is fixed on the front hitch, and the knife is fixed on the rear one with a slight shift relative to the central axis.