A new type of snow clearance machine has been designed by Dr. E. Bucher, the former director of the Weissfluhjoch Snow and Avalanche Research Station (Schnee- and Lawinenforschungsinstitut Weissfluhjoch) at Davos.

The machine, of which illustrations are shown on page 502, is designed on the principle of the small hand-directed cultivator now common on small holdings.

It is driven by a 10 h.p. air-cooled, totally enclosed engine of 88 mm. bore and 76 mm. stroke, using petrol at the rate of 2.7–3.2 litres an hour at sea-level. The snow is gathered into the machine by an eight-bladed “fraiser” whence it is either delivered into trucks or blown out, in the latter case to a distance of 10–15 metres. It will clear 300–500 cubic metres of snow an hour or load 1,000 kg. a minute.

These figures are probably optimum calculations for new snow and will naturally depend on the exact conditions obtaining. The speed of travel can be regulated according to conditions from 545 to 4,370 metres an hour with four intermediate speeds.

The small size and handiness of this machine should make it a valuable tool for operating in confined spaces such as footpaths or between buildings.

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Snow plough (see text, p. 495)