Floatation cutting apparatus with support surface sealant and centrifuge chamber

An air floated cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a lower portion of said interior surface being angled inwardly and downwardly at an angle less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis for directing air inwardly and downwardly within said housing;
• rotatable air moving means located in said housing for pressurizing air within said housing sufficient to float said housing above a support surface, air being moveable by said air moving means inwardly and downwardly along said lower portion of said interior surface;
• rotatable cutting means located in said housing for cutting vegetation;
• drive means for rotating said air moving means and said cutting means;
• centrifuge means located in said housing and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging vegetation cut by said cutting means;
• wherein said centrifuge means is spaced inwardly from said interior surface to define said centrifuge raceway inside said centrifuge means and an air pressure chamber separate from said centrifuge raceway between said centrifuge means and said interior surface, such that air can flow between an outer surface of said centrifuge means and said interior surface;
• and
• wherein said centrifuge means includes diverter means for directing the flow of air in said air pressure chamber in a predetermined direction.

An air floated cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a lower portion of said interior surface being angled inwardly and downwardly at an angle less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis for directing air inwardly and downwardly within said housing;
• rotatable air moving means located in said housing for pressurizing air within said housing sufficient to float said housing above a support surface, air being moveable by said air moving means inwardly and downwardly along said lower portion of said interior surface;
• rotatable cutting means located in said housing for cutting vegetation;
• drive means for rotating said air moving means and said cutting means;
• centrifuge means located in said housing and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging vegetation cut by said cutting means;
• and
• further including ring means extending around a bottom periphery of said housing, said ring means having a vertical inner surface for directing air vertically downward.

An air floated cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an interior surface and an exterior surface, a lower portion of said interior surface being angled inwardly and downwardly at an angle less than 30 degrees with respect to a horizontal axis for directing air inwardly and downwardly within said housing;
• rotatable air moving means located in said housing for pressurizing air within said housing sufficient to float said housing above a support surface, air being moveable by said air moving means inwardly and downwardly along said lower portion of said interior surface;
• rotatable cutting means located in said housing for cutting vegetation;
• drive means for rotating said air moving means and said cutting means;
• centrifuge means located in said housing and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging vegetation cut by said cutting means;
• and
• further including a shroud at least partially surrounding said housing and defining a suction chamber between said shroud and said housing, said air moving means being adapted to draw material from a support surface beneath the housing upwardly through said suction chamber and into said housing for cutting by said cutting means.

An air-floated apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an open bottom and an air intake opening, said housing being adapted to cooperate with a support surface beneath said housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber;
• air moving means located in said chamber for pressurizing air within said chamber sufficient to float said housing above the support surface, said air moving means being adapted to provide a downward flow of air in said chamber;
• and
• centrifuge means located in said chamber and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging material in said chamber, said chamber being configured to accommodate centrifuging of material in the presence of air pressure sufficient to float said housing above the support surface.

An air-floated apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an open bottom and an air intake opening, said housing being adapted to cooperate with a support surface beneath said housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber;
• air moving means located in said chamber for pressurizing air within said chamber sufficient to float said housing above the support surface, said air moving means being adapted to provide a downward flow of air in said chamber;
• centrifuge means located in said chamber and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging material in said chamber, said chamber being configured to accommodate centrifuging of material in the presence of air pressure sufficient to float said housing above the support surface;
• and
• wherein said housing has an interior surface and exterior surface, said interior surface being configured to define said centrifuge raceway.

An air-floated cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an open bottom and an air intake opening, said housing being adapted to cooperate with a support surface beneath said housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber;
• air moving means located in said chamber for pressurizing air within said chamber sufficient to float said housing above the support surface, said air moving means being adapted to provide a downward flow of air in said chamber;
• cutting means located in said chamber for cutting vegetation;
• and
• centrifuge means located in said chamber and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging in said chamber vegetation cut by said cutting means, said chamber being configured to accommodate centrifuging of vegetation in the presence of air pressure sufficient to float said housing above the support surface.

An air-floated cutting apparatus, comprising:

• a substantially endless housing having an open bottom and an air intake opening, said housing being adapted to cooperate with a support surface beneath said housing to define a substantially enclosed chamber;
• air moving means located in said chamber for pressurizing air within said chamber sufficient to float said housing above the support surface, said air moving means being adapted to provide a downward flow of air in said chamber;
• cutting means located in said chamber for cutting vegetation;
• centrifuge means located in said chamber and defining a centrifuge raceway for centrifuging in said chamber vegetation cut by said cutting means, said chamber being configured to accommodate centrifuging of vegetation in the presence of air pressure sufficient to float said housing above the support surface;
• and
• wherein said housing has an interior surface and exterior surface, said interior surface being configured to define said centrifuge raceway.