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US 5,960,617 AGranted
Lawn mower cutting blade spindle assembly including quick change characteristics
AssigneeSnapper, Inc.
InventorJohn D. Sheldon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a lawn mower blade spindle assembly which can be easily serviced in the field, which includes a blade height adjustment feature which allows a blade to be replaced or be adjusted without removing the blade spindle bearings. An improved stress loading arrangement is further provided which reduces spindle stress and lessens the opportunity for spindle assembly failure upon catastrophic blade impact with an immovable object such as with a rock.
Claims40
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle subassembly for use with a cutting blade having a central mounting hole and a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section, said subassembly comprising;
- a) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- b) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- c) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- d) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- and
- e) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being located within an annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft and said at least one bearing.
7 more elements
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle subassembly for use with a cutting blade having a central mounting hole and a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section, said subassembly comprising:
- a) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- b) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- c) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- d) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- e) a pulley spacer below the belt-driven portion of said pulley, said pulley spacer including an annular recessed portion;
- and
- f) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being located within an annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft and said pulley spacer.
8 more elements
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle subassembly for use with a cutting blade having a central mounting hole and a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section, said subassembly comprising;
- a) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- b) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- c) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- d) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- e) a pulley spacer below the belt-driven portion of said pulley, said pulley spacer including an annular recessed portion;
- and
- f) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being enclosed within a closed annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft, said closed annular retaining ring clearance region located intermediate said bearing and said pulley.
8 more elements
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle assembly, comprising;
- a) a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section;
- b) a cutting blade having a central mounting hole;
- c) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- d) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- e) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- f) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- and
- g) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being located within an annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft and said at least one bearing.
9 more elements
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle assembly, comprising;
- a) a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section;
- b) a cutting blade having a central mounting hole;
- c) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- d) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- e) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- f) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- g) a pulley spacer below the belt-driven portion of said pulley, said pulley spacer including an annular recessed portion;
- and
- h) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being located within an annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft and said pulley spacer.
10 more elements
A lawn mower cutting blade spindle assembly, comprising;
- a) a pulley configured for being driven by a belt, said pulley having a central mounting hole having an irregular cross section;
- b) a cutting blade having a central mounting hole;
- c) an elongate hollow spindle shaft interconnecting said pulley and said blade, said spindle shaft having an elongate bore extending the length thereof, said spindle shaft also including an upper end having an irregular portion having an irregular transverse cross section substantially conforming to that of said pulley mounting hole, said spindle shaft also having a bearing inner race mounting portion, said spindle shaft also defining a downwardly-directed end face configured for at least partial frictional engagement relative to said cutting blade;
- d) a spindle support housing having a longitudinal bore, said spindle support housing configured for mounting to a lawn mower cutter housing;
- e) at least one bearing intermediate said spindle shaft and said spindle support housing, said bearing including an inner race attached to said inner race mounting portion of said spindle shaft such that said spindle shaft may be rotatably supported relative to said spindle support housing by contact with said inner race of said bearing;
- f) a through bolt and nut subassembly itself comprising:
- a through bolt having a threaded first end and a head at its second, opposite end, said through bolt configured to extend through said hole in said blade, said hollow spindle shaft, and said pulley;
- and
- a nut configured to threadably engage said threaded first end of said through bolt,
- such that as said nut is threaded down said threaded first end of said through bolt, said nut and head of said through bolt combine to capture and compress said pulley, said bearing, and said blade, such that said blade is frictionally engaged relative to said spindle shaft to a degree sufficient to allow said spindle shaft to provide torque to said blade sufficient to cause rotation, and said pulley is positively engaged with said spindle assembly due to their respective irregular cross section, thus deterring relative rotation therebetween;
- g) a pulley spacer below the belt-driven portion of said pulley, said pulley spacer including an annular recessed portion;
- and
- h) a retaining ring attached relative to said spindle shaft at a location on said spindle shaft intermediate said irregular portion and said bearing inner race mounting portion, said retaining ring configured to capture and retain said bearing on said elongate hollow spindle shaft even if said through bolt and nut subassembly is removed, said retaining ring when attached relative to said spindle shaft being enclosed within a closed annular retaining ring clearance region at least partially defined by said spindle shaft, said closed annular retaining ring clearance region located intermediate said bearing and said pulley.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.