US 4,127,980 AGranted

Crossflow mower with automatic brake/sharpener

OwnerHugo S. Fergusoninventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A mower of the cross-flow blower type has clutch means for engaging the motor with the rotor and disengaging the motor therefrom. One wall section of the blower conduit has an abrasive panel facing the rotor and is mounted for movement between a moving position in which the abrasive panel is spaced from the rotor and a brake/sharpening position in which the panel is contacted by the rotor blades. Means are provided for automatically moving the abrasive panel to the brake/sharpening position when the clutch means is disengaged and to the mowing position when the clutch means is engaged. Advantageously the abrasive panel is on a portion of the upper wall section which is close to the rotor and forms the front vortex breaker of the blower conduit. The wall section carrying the abrasive panel may be pivotally mounted or, advantageously, resiliently attached to the adjacent portion of the blower conduit. An eccentric rod may be employed for moving the wall section and abrasive panel.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A mower of the cross-flow blower type comprising

(a) a carriage,
(b) a cylindrical rotor mounted on said carriage with the axis thereof substantially horizontal and extending laterally of the carriage,
(c) said rotor having one or more sections along the axis thereof with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced approximately helical fixed blades in each section moving in the same path of travel and spaced from the rotor axis to leave the major portion of the interior of the rotor free for air flow through the rotor transversely thereof,
(d) motor means for driving said rotor,
(e) the outer leading edges of the blades being sharp to form cutting edges and the cross-section of the blades having at least a portion on the leading side thereof which slopes backwardly and inwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor,
(f) a blower conduit cooperating with said rotor to form therewith a cross-flow blower,
(g) said conduit comprising two wall sections extending laterally along the length of the rotor and having respective portions close to the rotor at circumferentially spaced positions separating inlet and outlet regions of the blower,
(h) said inlet region opening downwardly and forwardly with a portion of the rotor therein exposed to material to be mowed,
(i) the portions of the mower adjacent the rotor being non-shearingly spaced from the path of travel of said blades during moving operation,
(j) clutch means for engaging said motor means with said rotor and disengaging the motor means therefrom,
(k) one of said wall sections of the conduit having an abrasive panel facing said rotor,
(l) means mounting said abrasive panel for movement between a mowing position in which the panel is spaced from the rotor and a brake/sharpening position in which the panel is contacted by the rotor blades,
(m) and means for automatically moving said abrasive panel to said brake/sharpening position when said clutch means is disengaged and to said mowing position when the clutch means is engaged.

10 more elements

A mower of the cross-flow blower type comprising

(a) a carriage,
(b) a cylindrical rotor mounted on said carriage with the axis thereof substantially horizontal and extending laterally of the carriage,
(c) said rotor having one or more sections along the axis thereof with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced approximately helical fixed blades in each section moving in the same path of travel and spaced from the rotor axis to leave the major portion of the interior of the rotor free for air flow through the rotor transversely thereof,
(d) motor means for driving said rotor in a rotational direction such that the lower blades move in the normally forward direction of travel of the mower,
(e) the outer leading edges of the blades being sharp to form cutting edges and the cross-section of the blades having at least a portion on the leading side thereof which slopes backwardly and inwardly with respect to the direction of rotation of the rotor,
(f) a blower conduit cooperating with said rotor to form therewith a cross-flow blower,
(g) said conduit comprising upper and lower wall sections extending laterally along the length of the rotor and having respective portions close to the rotor at circumferentially spaced positions separating inlet and outlet regions of the blower,
(h) said inlet region opening downwardly and forwardly with a portion of the rotor therein exposed to material to be moved,
(i) the portions of the mower adjacent the rotor being non-shearingly spaced from the path of travel of said blades during mowing operation,
(j) clutch means for engaging said motor means with said rotor and disengaging the motor means therefrom,
(k) one of said upper and lower wall sections having an abrasive panel facing the rotor,
(l) means mounting said one wall section for movement between a mowing position in which the abrasive panel is spaced from the rotor and a brake/sharpening position in which the panel is contacted by the rotor blades,
(m) and means for automatically moving said abrasive panel to said brake/sharpening position when said clutch means is disengaged and to said mowing position when the clutch means is engaged.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/820,226Filed 29 Jul 1977 · continuation in part
Priority: 11 Nov 1976
Granted: 5 Dec 1978
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A01D 34/49
Having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders: with means for discharging mown material
A01D 34/46
Having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders: hand-guided by a walking operator
A01D 75/08
Accessories for harvesters or mowers: sharpening apparatus fixed to the harvester or mower
A01D 75/20
Accessories for harvesters or mowers: devices for protecting men or animals