# US 2009/0260338 A1 · Cleanout mechanism for grass discharge and collection chute

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- Number: US 2009/0260338 A1
- Document ID: US20090260338A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/105,066
- Filed: 2008-04-17
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-17
- Assignees: Deere & Company
- Inventors: Randy Edward Benway
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260338A1

## CPC

- A01D 34/003: {Means for cleaning the machine}
- A01D 34/71: with means for discharging mown material (A01D57/26 - A01D57/30 take precedence; combined with means for gathering or loading mown material A01D43/06)
- A01D 43/06: with means for collecting, gathering or loading mown material {(A01D43/086 takes precedence)}
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING

## Abstract

A cleanout mechanism is disclosed for a grass discharge and collection chute on a mower. The cleanout mechanism includes a door pivotable downwardly from the chute to provide an opening in a bottom surface of the chute, and a wiper pivotable rearwardly along the bottom surface of the chute toward a position adjacent the opening. An operator control is connected through linkages to the door and the wiper to pivot both of the door and the wiper while permitting continued operation of the mower.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A cleanout mechanism for a grass discharge and collection chute on a mower, comprising:
a wiper hinged to a side of the grass discharge and collection chute;
a door in the bottom of the grass discharge and collection chute; and
an operator control linked to the wiper and the door to simultaneously pivot the wiper rearwardly and open the door.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 1 wherein the wiper has a height dimension of less than about one-half of the height of the side of the grass discharge and collection chute.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 1 wherein the door is hinged to the bottom of the grass discharge and collection chute.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 3 wherein the door is pivotable rearwardly and downwardly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing the wiper toward a position on the side of the grass discharge and collection chute.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 1 further comprising a spring biasing the door toward a position against the bottom of the grass discharge and collection chute.

### Claim 7

A cleanout mechanism for a grass discharge and collection chute on a mower, comprising:
a wiper movable between a first, actuated position extending across the chute, and a second, unactuated position on a side of the chute;
a door movable between a first, actuated position uncovering an opening in the bottom of the chute, and a second, unactuated position covering an opening in the bottom of the chute; and
an operator control linked to the wiper and the door to move both the wiper and the door between their first, actuated positions and their second, unactuated positions.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 further comprising a spring biasing the wiper to the second, unactuated position.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 further comprising a spring biasing the door to the second, unactuated position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 wherein the wiper has a height less than about one-half the height of the chute.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 wherein the mower includes at least one rotatable cutting blade under a mower deck, the wiper and the door being movable between their first, actuated positions and second, unactuated positions while rotating the cutting blade.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 wherein the chute extends upwardly and rearwardly from a mower deck to a collection hopper.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 7 wherein the wiper and door are each hinged to the chute.

### Claim 14

A cleanout mechanism for a grass discharge and collection chute on a mower, comprising:
a door pivotable downwardly from the chute to provide an opening in a bottom surface of the chute;
a wiper pivotable rearwardly along the bottom surface of the chute toward a position adjacent the opening; and
an operator control connected through linkages to the door and the wiper to pivot both of the door and the wiper while permitting continued operation of the mower.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 14 wherein the door is biased to close the opening in the bottom surface of the chute.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 14 wherein wiper is biased toward a side wall of the chute.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 14 wherein the door and the wiper are mounted to the chute by hinges.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 14 wherein the chute extends upwardly and rearwardly to a collection hopper.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The cleanout mechanism of claim 14 wherein the wiper in the position adjacent the opening blocks less than about one-half of the chute.