Normand Inverted Snowblower

[skyhook]

Does anyone make an inverted blower with a rotating drum? I know Provonost makes a standard style rear blower with a rotating drum, but I don't think anyone makes an inverted with that option, I wonder why, seems like it would be nice to have.

When you say "rotating drum" do you mean 2 stage? I believe rear pull's are all 2 stage.

 

[Piston]

The "housing" the encompasses the fan on the snowblower is referred to as the 'drum' from what I understand. Typically the snow gets pushed into the drum by the main auger, and then the "2nd stage" portion of the blower is the fan itself, pushing the snow through the shute.

Sometimes the shute can get clogged/blocked with heavy wet snow, and the shute itself also restricts the snow from being thrown further (just the nature of the narrow passage and friction of the snow being pushed through.)

A "rotating" drum, means that the housing can actually rotate hydraulically, which bypasses the drum. So, instead of the snow coming out the shute, it exits at a "hole" in the drum BEFORE it goes up the shute, and just gets discharged out the side instead. There is a "hole" on both sides of the drum, and you can rotate it so either of these holes are used, or so they are both blocked, in which case it will go up the shute.

Of course, with the rotating drum in use, you can't aim the snow aside from sending it through either the left side, or right side. However, you can clear a LOT more snow a lot faster, with less power required (your not pushing the snow through the shute.) It's also helpful in heavy wet snow that can clog the shute, in fact, you can completely clog the shute with a block of ice from heavy wet snow, and with it completely clogged, you can rotate the drum open continue blowing the snow.


Here is a video of a larger tractor using a blower with a rotating shute, the provonost P860TRC (the TRC comes standard with the rotating drum as I understand it) Granted, this tractor has 62pto hp which is more than most of us, but you get the idea...

 

[Piston]

This video shows the actual drum which gives you a better idea of what I was trying to explain...

 

[Winmac]

Anyone have experience with a cortoure inverted blower, they look very good.
Produits - Machinerie Gérard Couture inc.

 

[fishhead]

When you say "rotating drum" do you mean 2 stage? I believe rear pull's are all 2 stage.

I actually asked Pronovost about this and there response was that the inverted was already a greater expense (and smaller market) and adding the drum would make it more so.

Too, i think that currently the main inverted customers are doing residential drives, where you want to really control the snow thats blown, you don't get that control when the drum rotates.

They did say that they have been looking at it, i imagine someone will

 

[pete-mi]

I have never seen a blower with a rotating drum other than photos. It looks interesting but in the videos above the blower looks to be a back up type not a pull type.

I have an Erskine rear pull blower that I have run for several years. I had a back up one before and am glad that is history as it was an actual pain in the back to use. The pull type is much nicer to use and faster. Its nice not having to look through the snow stream when blowing. The back cab window also stays a lot cleaner that what it was with the back up type on windy days.
It cleans the snow up well to. Depending on how the skid shoes and tractor top link are adjusted makes a difference.

 

[fishhead]

Anyone have experience with a cortoure inverted blower, they look very good.
Produits - Machinerie G駻ard Couture inc.

looks wise they are a lot like the normands and pronovosts

http://www.pronovost.qc.ca/pdf/Pronovost - Inversees_EN.pdf
http://www.cienormand.com/depliant/english/Souffleuse_Normand_eng.pdf

even down to the paint, the spout looks a little cruder, and the weight seems really low for a rear pull- not sure if its apples to apples or built lighter, seems like they are more homeowner/medium duty than commercial. heavier is not necessarily better but steel might be thicker etc.

comparing 74" blowers:because thats what i have

normand 836 pds without accessories- not sure exactly what is considered accessory

econor- normands homeowner line 68 inch is 595 lbs

pronovost 936 pds including chute and cylinder

erskine 78" using wings body is 72 1075 lbs

couture 665 lbs

 

[Winmac]

That was my take on it too, they seem to be built lighter at least by the spec, but i did read estimated weight somewhere. I don't need a commercial duty unit so they might fit the bill for me, I do like the fact that a 5 blade impeller is standard.

From what I read The advertised weight would be for a base model blower, manual chute rotator, manual dipper, without skid shoes etc. Once you add hydraulics, industrial chutes, scrapers etc the weight goes up from there.

 

[fishhead]

That was my take on it too, they seem to be built lighter at least by the spec, but i did read estimated weight somewhere. I don't need a commercial duty unit so they might fit the bill for me, I do like the fact that a 5 blade impeller is standard.

From what I read The advertised weight would be for a base model blower, manual chute rotator, manual dipper, without skid shoes etc. Once you add hydraulics, industrial chutes, scrapers etc the weight goes up from there.

i think i recall a discussion on here regarding the optimum blade number and that the consensus or wisdom was 4 on smaller fans more on larger

i think pronovost (and probably normand ) do 4 up to 28" then 5 then 6 on the largest (34"?)

another manufacturer of pull blowers that has some satisfied owners on tbn is lucknow
Pull Type Snowblowers | Lucknow Products

there is also
66", 78" & 90" Pull Types (Residential & Agricultural) - Smyth Welding & Machine Shop Limited | Smyth Welding

and

MK Martin | Pull Type Snowblowers
i think member kco has one and likes it

 

[grader guy]

i think i recall a discussion on here regarding the optimum blade number and that the consensus or wisdom was 4 on smaller fans more on larger

i think pronovost (and probably normand ) do 4 up to 28" then 5 then 6 on the largest (34"?)

another manufacturer of pull blowers that has some satisfied owners on tbn is lucknow
Pull Type Snowblowers | Lucknow Products

there is also
66", 78" & 90" Pull Types (Residential & Agricultural) - Smyth Welding & Machine Shop Limited | Smyth Welding

and

MK Martin | Pull Type Snowblowers
i think member kco has one and likes it

I have a 92'' normand behind my M7040 and it handles it well. We have not had that much snow this season so I don't think I have had the true test in regards to having enough horsepower. The unit is very well build and whenever anyone sees it they are very impressed. For my size tractor I would not want anything any heavier hanging off the back. They are expensive.

 

[grader guy]

i think i recall a discussion on here regarding the optimum blade number and that the consensus or wisdom was 4 on smaller fans more on larger

i think pronovost (and probably normand ) do 4 up to 28" then 5 then 6 on the largest (34"?)

another manufacturer of pull blowers that has some satisfied owners on tbn is lucknow
Pull Type Snowblowers | Lucknow Products

there is also
66", 78" & 90" Pull Types (Residential & Agricultural) - Smyth Welding & Machine Shop Limited | Smyth Welding

and

MK Martin | Pull Type Snowblowers
i think member kco has one and likes it

I have a 92'' normand behind my M7040 and it handles it well. We have not had that much snow this season so I don't think I have had the true test in regards to having enough horsepower. The unit is very well build and whenever anyone sees it they are very impressed. For my size tractor I would not want anything any heavier hanging off the back. They are expensive.

 

[Agvg]

It always makes me wonder why inverted blowers are so common in places that get serious amounts of snow, and uncommon most other places where a lot of people suggest they wouldn't work as well.

I don't think anyone here in Norway would even consider to buy anything than a pulled blower for use on the rear, on tiny tractors they maybe better but those are very rare here.

Snowblowers mechanical | Tokvam as - snøfresere - strømaskiner - feiemaskiner

 

[Dave M7040]

One aspect to weight when considering fan blade number and size is the height of the shaft for the pto on the blower compared to the height of the pto on the tractor.
Some fans have more blades and smaller diameter and some just are smaller in diameter. The net result is a blower shaft height lower to the ground.
If your tractor is on tall tires or sits high, then the tractor pto shaft will be high.
The net result is that the pto shaft will be at a more severe angle than is good for u joint life.
Also factoring in the calculation is the distance from the point where the pto shaft is on the blower to the end of the pto on the tractor.
If the blower is close to the tractor and the height difference between the two is significant, then your pto joints are going to wear much more quickly.
This chart shows that a pto joint angle of 5 degrees has a life of 450 hours whereas an angle of 25 degrees has a life of 20 hours.

Dave M7040

 

[Dave M7040]

One aspect to weight when considering fan blade number and size is the height of the shaft for the pto on the blower compared to the height of the pto on the tractor.
Some fans have more blades and smaller diameter and some just are smaller in diameter. The net result is a blower shaft height lower to the ground.
If your tractor is on tall tires or sits high, then the tractor pto shaft will be high.
The net result is that the pto shaft will be at a more severe angle than is good for u joint life.
Also factoring in the calculation is the distance from the point where the pto shaft is on the blower to the end of the pto on the tractor.
If the blower is close to the tractor and the height difference between the two is significant, then your pto joints are going to wear much more quickly.
This chart shows that a pto joint angle of 5 degrees has a life of 450 hours whereas an angle of 25 degrees has a life of 20 hours.

Dave M7040

 

[Piston]

Dave M7040,
That pictorial you posted above is very interesting. I swear I learn something new every time I check this website, and this is no different. What struck me as pretty incredible, is the difference in life between just 5 and 10 degrees! I will keep this in mind when operating my equipment from here on.

I have a 92'' normand behind my M7040 and it handles it well. We have not had that much snow this season so I don't think I have had the true test in regards to having enough horsepower. The unit is very well build and whenever anyone sees it they are very impressed. For my size tractor I would not want anything any heavier hanging off the back. They are expensive.

Grader Guy,
Do you use your tractor/blower commercially? I always wondered how well a 7040 would handle the big 92", so it's good to know yours handles it well. Have you had it a while, or just last winter? I know last winter wasn't much of a test, but the proportion winter was certainly a challenge!

 

[grader guy]

Dave M7040,
That pictorial you posted above is very interesting. I swear I learn something new every time I check this website, and this is no different. What struck me as pretty incredible, is the difference in life between just 5 and 10 degrees! I will keep this in mind when operating my equipment from here on.





Grader Guy,
Do you use your tractor/blower commercially? I always wondered how well a 7040 would handle the big 92", so it's good to know yours handles it well. Have you had it a while, or just last winter? I know last winter wasn't much of a test, but the proportion winter was certainly a challenge!

I do, and will hopefully be getting more customers this year. I wanted the 92" for future upgrade on tractor size but I was surprised on how well it handled it. While last winter was not the best I think that I still got to test it a bit. And yes last winter was my first season snow blowing driveways. I figure if we get a big storm it will slow me down a bit but not enough to justify a tractor upgrade at this current time. Matt

 

[Piston]

That's great that you are getting into it, seems like a lot of guys are doing very well. I have wanted to start doing the same thing but due to my real job of working on a ship, I can't exactly be around all winter

I'm absolutely fascinated by these inverted blowers. Nice setup and please post more pictures for us through the following winter!