Mulching mower mechanism

A mulching mower, comprising:

• a mower deck defining a cutting chamber within which a cutting blade rotates,
• a channel located at the outer periphery of the cutting chamber for generally confining therein clippings and air circulating within an outer portion of the cutting chamber,
• a discharge outlet formed in the mower deck in communication with an inner portion of the cutting chamber, said inner portion of the cutting chamber being located radially inwardly from the channel, said discharge outlet being positioned to receive relatively clean air from said inner portion of the cutting chamber for allowing said relatively clean air to exit the cutting chamber through the discharge outlet, said channel being positioned to generally block the clippings and air confined therein from exiting through the discharge outlet, thereby allowing the clippings confined within the channel to recirculate within the cutting chamber for being re-cut by the blade, and
• said channel includes an inner wall which extends in a vertical dimension and which separates the clippings in the outer portion of the cutting chamber from relatively clean air circulating within the inner portion of the cutting chamber.

A mulching mower, comprising:

• a mower deck defining a cutting chamber within which a cutting blade rotates,
• a channel located at the outer periphery of the cutting chamber for generally confining therein clippings and air circulating within an outer portion of the cutting chamber, wherein a top wall of the deck defines a portion of an upper wall of the channel,
• a discharge outlet formed in the mower deck in communication with an inner portion of the cutting chamber, said inner portion of the cutting chamber being located radially inwardly from the channel, said discharge outlet being positioned to receive relatively clean air from said inner portion of the cutting chamber for allowing said relatively clean air to exit the cutting chamber through the discharge outlet, said channel being positioned to generally block the clippings and air confined therein from exiting through the discharge outlet, thereby allowing the clippings confined within the channel to recirculate within the cutting chamber for being re-cut by the blade, and
• the channel further includes an inner wall which extends in the vertical dimension and is integral with said mower deck.

A mulching mower, comprising:

• a mower deck defining a cutting chamber within which a cutting blade rotates,
• a channel located at the outer periphery of the cutting chamber for generally confining therein clippings and air circulating within an outer portion of the cutting chamber,
• a discharge outlet formed in the mower deck in communication with an inner portion of the cutting chamber, said inner portion of the cutting chamber being located radially inwardly from the channel, said discharge outlet being positioned to receive relatively clean air from said inner portion of the cutting chamber for allowing said relatively clean air to exit the cutting chamber through the discharge outlet, said channel being positioned to generally block the clippings and air confined therein from exiting through the discharge outlet, thereby allowing the clippings confined within the channel to recirculate within the cutting chamber for being re-cut by the blade,
• said channel being detachable from said mower deck for converting said mower to a mode wherein all clippings are ejected through the discharge outlet directly after being cut, and
• a detachable discharge outlet restrictor for effectively decreasing the size of the discharge outlet to thereby maintain a relatively high velocity of air traveling therethrough.

A mulching mower, comprising:

• a mower deck defining a cutting chamber within which a cutting blade rotates,
• a channel located at the outer periphery of the cutting chamber for generally confining therein clippings and air circulating within an outer portion of the cutting chamber, and
• a discharge outlet formed in the mower deck in communication with an inner portion of the cutting chamber, said inner portion of the cutting chamber being located radially inwardly from the channel, said discharge outlet being positioned to receive relatively clean air from said inner portion of the cutting chamber for allowing said relatively clean air to exit the cutting chamber through the discharge outlet, said channel being positioned to generally block the clippings and air confined therein from exiting through the discharge outlet, thereby allowing the clippings confined within the channel to recirculate within the cutting chamber for being re-cut by the blade, and
• a detachable discharge outlet restrictor for effectively decreasing the size of the discharge outlet to thereby maintain a relatively high velocity of air traveling therethrough, and
• at least a portion of said channel is coupled with said restrictor for being removed and attached to the mower deck with said restrictor when converting said mower between a mulching mode and a discharge mode.