US 5,205,112 A · Multi-bladed mulching/bagging mower

Abstract

A multi-bladed mulching mower is convertible between a mulching mode in which the grass clippings are deposited as mulch or a discharge/collection mode in which the grass clippings are discharged from the housing or are bagged. The mower includes two separate cutting chambers which are staggered forwardly relative to one another but otherwise are arranged side-by-side next to one another. The peripheral wall of the forward cutting chamber has a selectively openable gate which is closed in the mulching mode but is opened in the discharge/collection mode. The rearward cutting chamber is provided with a discharge outlet which can be selectively opened in the discharge/collection mode but is otherwise closed. When the gate and discharge outlet are opened and the mower is operating in the discharge/collection mode, the grass clippings in the forward cutting chamber are deposited onto the ground in advance of the rearward cutting chamber to be picked up and evacuated by the blade in the rearward cutting chamber as the rearward cutting chamber passes over the clippings during forward movement of the mower.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-bladed mower which is selectively convertible between a grass mulching mode and a grass discharge/collection mode, which comprises:

(a) a cutting deck which is movable over the ground;
(b) first and second cutting chambers carried on the cutting deck in each of which at least one generally horizontal cutting blade is contained, the cutting blades being rotatable about a vertical axis to sever grass or the like, wherein each cutting chamber is substantially enclosed around the top and sides thereof, but is open at the bottom thereof, such that the grass clippings are contained within the cutting chamber until such time as they are driven downwardly out of the cutting chamber through the open bottom of the cutting chamber in the mulching mode of the mower;
(c) wherein the first cutting chamber is provided with a selectively openable discharge outlet which is closed in the mulching mode of the mower but is opened in the discharge/collection mode of the mower to allow the grass clippings to be evacuated from the first cutting chamber through the discharge outlet when the discharge outlet is opened;
and
(d) wherein the second cutting chamber has selectively openable means which is closed in the mulching mode of the mower but is opened in the discharge/collection mode of the mower for allowing the grass clippings circulating therein to exit therefrom and be deposited on the ground in advance of the first cutting chamber to be picked up and evacuated by the blade in the first cutting chamber as the first cutting chamber passes over the grass clippings deposited on the ground from the second cutting chamber.

2 more elements

A multi-bladed mower which is selectively convertible between a grass mulching mode and a grass discharge/collection mode, which comprises:

(a) a cutting deck which is movable over the ground, the cutting deck having an underside facing the ground;
(b) at least first and second cutting chambers carried on the underside of the cutting deck, wherein the cutting chambers are located side-by-side with the first cutting chamber being staggered rearwardly from the second cutting chamber in the direction of travel of the deck;
(c) a plurality of substantially horizontal cutting blades rotatably carried beneath the cutting deck spaced below the underside of the deck and above the ground, wherein at least one cutting blade is located within each of the first and second cutting chambers, and wherein each cutting chamber includes a peripheral side wall which substantially surrounds the blade and is relatively unbroken at the level of the grass clippings being circulated by rotation of the blade such that the grass clippings are contained within the cutting chamber until such time as they are driven downwardly out of the cutting chamber through an open bottom side of the cutting chamber in the mulching mode of the mower;
(d) wherein the first cutting chamber is provided with a selectively openable discharge outlet which is closed in the mulching mode of the mower but is opened in the discharge/collection mode of the mower to allow the grass clippings to be evacuated from the first cutting chamber through the discharge outlet when the discharge outlet is opened;
and
(e) wherein the second cutting chamber has selectively openable means which is closed in the mulching mode of the mower but is opened in the discharge/collection mode of the mower for allowing the grass clippings circulating therein to exit therefrom and be deposited on the ground in advance of the first cutting chamber to be picked up and evacuated by the blade in the first cutting chamber as the first cutting chamber passes over the grass clippings deposited on the ground from the second cutting chamber, wherein the selectively openable means comprises a movable gate that forms a portion of the peripheral wall of the second cutting chamber which gate may be selectively moved between a closed position in which the gate is aligned with the side wall to form an unbroken side wall and an open position in which the gate has been moved relative to the peripheral side wall to provide a gap therein through which the grass clippings can exit from the second cutting chamber, and wherein the gate is located in the second cutting chamber forwardly of and adjacent to the first cutting chamber such that clippings exiting through the gap provided by the opened gate will travel sideways and fall on the ground in advance of the first cutting chamber.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,691 words

Summary1,395 words

#This invention relates to a mower having a plurality of cutting blades carried by a cutting deck. More specifically, the present invention relates to such a mower which is convertible between a mulching mode and a grass discharge/collection mode.

#Walk-behind lawn mowers are known having a housing supported for movement over the ground by a plurality of wheels. A single cutting blade rotates horizontally in a cutting chamber located within the housing. The user pushes or guides the mower by holding an upwardly extending handle assembly connected to the mower housing. The cutting blade cuts grass as the mower travels over the ground.

#The grass clippings are often discharged through a side or rear discharge opening in the mower housing. A bagging attachment can be removably secured to the discharge opening to allow the grass clippings to be collected in the attachment. The bagging attachment can be removed from the mower housing to allow the clippings to be dumped.

Brief description of the drawings3 figures

#The present invention will be described hereafter in the Detailed Description, taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements or parts throughout.

#FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of an improved mower according to the present invention, particularly illustrating a deck having multiple cutting blades and multiple cutting chambers, and further illustrating the cutting chambers of the deck being configured in the grass mulching mode;

#FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 1 of the improved mower according to the present invention, but illustrating the cutting chambers of the deck being configured in the grass discharge/collection mode; and

Detailed description2,133 words

#FIG. 1 illustrates a mower according to the present invention which includes a cutting deck generally referred to as 2. Cutting deck 2 is supported for movement over the ground in any suitable manner known in the art. For example, deck 2 could be a self contained deck directly supported on the ground by various wheels 3 or, alternatively, could be an attachment to a traction unit (not shown) which suspends and carries deck 2 above the ground. In any event, cutting deck 2 shown herein has two side-by-side cutting chambers 4 and 5 that are staggered fore and aft relative to one another, i.e. cutting chamber 4 is placed somewhat forwardly of cutting chamber 5.

#A generally horizontal cutting blade 6 is contained within each cutting chamber 4 and 5. Blade 6 has cutting edges 7 on opposed ends thereof. Each cutting edge 7 is followed by a grass elevating sail 8. In addition, each blade 6 has a pre-determined diameter defined by the length of the blade between the opposed tips 9 thereof.

#As blades 6 are rotated within chambers 4 and 5, the blades have their cutting edges 7 brought into contact with standing stalks of grass to sever the grass at a particular height above the ground determined by the height of cutting deck 2 above the ground. The blade sails 8 then cause the grass to be circulated within the cutting chambers in a generally circumferential path identified by the arrows C. Blades 6 can have any appropriate configuration of cutting edges 7 and sails 8 which would allow the grass cutting and circulating actions just described to take place.

Facts

Application

07/854,168Filed 20 Mar 1992

Granted

27 Apr 1993

Term ended

20 Mar 2012

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification8 codes

A01D 34/685
With motor driven cutters or wheels: with two or more cutters
A01D 34/71
Having cutters rotating about a vertical axis: with means for discharging mown material
A01D 42/005
Mowers convertible to apparatus for purposes other than mowing; Mowers capable of performing operations other than mowing: mulching
A01D 34/63
Having rotating cutters: having cutters rotating about a vertical axis

Multi-bladed mulching/bagging mower

Life of this patent

Multi-bladed mulching/bagging mower

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description3,691 words

Drawings

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,691 words