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US 12,543,645 B2Granted
Two-stage mowing apparatus and method
OwnerRicky A. Weihlinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method according to one embodiment are provided in a vehicle to perform a two-stage cut of grass or other vegetation in a field or lawn. The first stage may be a coarse cut stage, and the second stage may be a finish cut stage. The first and second stages may be conducted by separate cutting configurations. For instance, the first cutting configuration or coarse cutting configuration may be a flail mower configuration, and the second cutting configuration or finish cutting configuration may be a rotary cutting configuration.
Claims20
A power mower for operation by an occupant along a ground surface, said power mower comprising:
- a frame coupled to a riding platform adapted to support a user;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame, the plurality of wheels including two front wheels that oppose each other and provide traction operable to move the power mower forward along the ground surface, the plurality of wheels including two rear wheels;
- a power source having an output shaft operable to transmit power to one or more components of the power mower;
- a flail cutter operable to cut plant material, the flail cutter operable in a first cutting space to move about a first axis substantially parallel to the ground surface, the flail cutter arranged at a height relative to the ground surface, wherein the first cutting space is defined by a flail cutter housing that includes an upper portion, side portions, and a rear portion so that the flail cutter is at least partially enclosed by the upper portion, the side portions, and the rear portion;
- a secondary cutter operable to receive power from the power source to rotate about a second axis substantially nonparallel to the ground surface, the secondary cutter arranged at a height relative to the ground surface, the secondary cutter configured to cut plant material in a second cutting space, wherein the second cutting space is defined by a secondary cutter housing that is separate from the flail cutter housing, wherein the height of the secondary cutter is adjustable separate from the height of the flail cutter;
- wherein the two front wheels that provide traction are disposed between the flail cutter and the secondary cutter;
- and
- a discharge chute adapted to expel cuttings of plant material generated by the secondary cutter.
5 more elements
A vehicle operable to maintain a field, said vehicle comprising:
- a frame coupled to a riding platform adapted to support a user;
- a plurality of wheels coupled to the frame, the plurality of wheels including two front wheels that oppose each other and provide traction operable to move the vehicle forward along the field;
- a power source coupled to the frame;
- a flail mower including a plurality of flails operable to cut vegetation in the field, the plurality of flails operable in a first cutting space to move about a flail axis of the flail mower, the flail axis being substantially parallel to the field, the plurality of flails arranged at a height relative to the ground surface, wherein the first cutting space is defined by a flail mower housing that includes an upper portion, side portions, and a rear portion so that the flail mower is at least partially enclosed by the upper portion, the side portions, and the rear portion;
- and
- a mower deck and a plurality of cutting blades disposed within a cutting space of the mower deck, the plurality of cutting blades operable to receive cuttings from the flail mower and to cut the received cuttings in a second cutting space, the height of the mower deck arranged at a height relative to the ground surface, the plurality of cutting blades operable to cut vegetation of the field, the mower deck having a discharge chute for expelling cuttings, wherein the second cutting space is defined by a mower deck housing that is separate from the flail mower housing, wherein the height of the mower deck is adjustable separate from the height of the plurality of flails,
- wherein the two front wheels that provide traction are disposed between the flail mower and the cutting blades of the mower deck.
4 more elements
A method of cutting vegetation in a field, said method comprising:
- providing a flail cutter in a first cutting space that is defined by a first cutter housing, wherein the first cutter housing includes an upper portion, side portions, and a rear portion so that the flail cutter is at least partially enclosed by the upper portion, the side portions, and the rear portion, wherein the flail cutter is arranged at a height relative to a ground surface of the field;
- rotating the flail cutter about a flail axis that is substantially parallel to a ground surface of the field;
- providing a rotary cutter in a second cutting space that is defined by a second cutter housing, wherein the second cutter housing is separate from the first cutter housing, wherein the rotary cutter is arranged at a height relative to the ground surface of the field;
- providing two rear wheels and two front wheels forward of the two rear wheels and between the flail cutter and the rotary cutter;
- driving the two front wheels to move the flail cutter and the rotary cutter forward relative to the field;
- adjusting the height of the rotary cutter separate from the height of the flail cutter;
- adjusting the height of the flail cutter separate from the height of the rotary cutter;
- rotating the rotary cutter about a rotational axis that is substantially nonparallel to the ground surface of the field;
- cutting, with the rotary cutter, vegetation previously cut by the flail cutter;
- and
- discharging cuttings from the rotary cutter to a discharge chute.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.