Rear discharge mulching apparatus

A rear discharge mower mechanism, comprising:

• a mower blade housing within which a plurality of mower blades rotate to cut vegetation, a rear portion of the housing defining a housing opening through which cut materials exit the housing,
• a plurality of baffle means each positioned generally between a respective mower blade and the housing opening,
• a vertically extending first surface defined by said baffle means and positioned adjacent the rotational path of a respective mower blade,
• at least one vertically extending second surface defined by said baffle means and connected with and extending rearwardly from the first surface,
• chutes being defined by the second surfaces and between the baffle means for channeling vegetation clippings rearwardly from the rotational paths of respective mower blades to the housing opening, said chutes extending rearwardly and inwardly toward the centerline of the housing such that the paths of travel of the clippings from the respective chutes converge near the centerline of the housing, said chutes each extending independent of and without merging with any other chute,
• each of said baffle means also including a generally horizontal third surface extending between a lower portion of the first and second surfaces for generally enclosing the space between the first and second surfaces to thereby prevent clippings and air from accumulating therein.

A rear discharge mower mechanism, comprising:

• a mower blade housing within which a plurality of mower blades rotate to cut vegetation, a rear portion of the housing defining a housing opening through which cut materials exit the housing,
• a plurality of baffle means each positioned generally between a respective mower blade and the housing opening,
• a vertically extending first surface defined by said baffle means and positioned adjacent the rotational path of a respective mower blade,
• at least one vertically extending second surface defined by said baffle means and connected with and extending rearwardly from the first surface,
• chutes being defined by the second surfaces and between the baffle means for channeling vegetation clippings rearwardly from the rotational paths of respective mower blades to the housing opening, said chutes extending rearwardly and inwardly toward the centerline of the housing such that the paths of travel of the clippings from the respective chutes converge near the centerline of the housing,
• a generally horizontal third surface being defined by said baffle means and extending between a lower portion of the first and second surfaces for generally enclosing the space between the first and second surfaces to thereby prevent clippings and air from accumulating therein,
• ramp means positioned within respective chutes, said ramp means including a vertically extending fourth surface . positioned within the chute and generally adjacent the rotational path of the mower blade for partially blocking the entrance of air and clippings into the chute, said ramp means also including a horizontally extending fifth surface extending rearwardly from a lower portion of the fourth surface to a position adjacent the housing opening for guiding clippings toward the housing opening and for preventing air and clippings from accumulating within the chute near the top wall of the housing, the portions of the fifth surfaces adjacent the housing opening being at a plurality of vertically offset positions to discharge air and clippings at a variety of elevations.