CA2060465C - Mulching mower apparatus - Google Patents
Mulching mower apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA2060465C CA2060465C CA 2060465 CA2060465A CA2060465C CA 2060465 C CA2060465 C CA 2060465C CA 2060465 CA2060465 CA 2060465 CA 2060465 A CA2060465 A CA 2060465A CA 2060465 C CA2060465 C CA 2060465C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- clippings
- blade
- air
- discharge outlet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 13
- 244000025254 Cannabis sativa Species 0.000 claims description 30
- 230000005465 channeling Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000002362 mulch Substances 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002689 soil Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000950314 Figura Species 0.000 description 1
- 241000235935 Hilaria belangeri Species 0.000 description 1
- 241001494496 Leersia Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000016709 nutrition Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
- A01D34/001—Accessories not otherwise provided for
- A01D34/005—Mulching means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D2101/00—Lawn-mowers
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Harvester Elements (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A mulching mower apparatus for use in a mower having a housing that includes a discharge outlet. A guide means is provided for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting, and a blocking means is provided for partially blocking the housings discharge outlet to thereby allow a portion of the air circulating within the housing to escape and increase the lifting of the vegetation to be cut.
A mulching mower apparatus for use in a mower having a housing that includes a discharge outlet. A guide means is provided for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting, and a blocking means is provided for partially blocking the housings discharge outlet to thereby allow a portion of the air circulating within the housing to escape and increase the lifting of the vegetation to be cut.
Description
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MULCHING MOWER APPARATUS
! Backqround of ~he Invention 1. Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to mechanisms for mulching vegetation such as grass as it is being mowed.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Conventional mowers typically include a mower housing or deck for enclosing a rotating cutter blade. Discharge chutes have been provided in these conventional housings for allowing grass clippings to be ejected ~rom the housing. The outlet also allows air to be discharged from the housing, thereby j allowing the rotating blade to create a vacuum effPct that lifts the grass within the housing so that it can be cut properly and evenly. The clippings ejected ~rom the discharge outlet are then blown on top of the mowed grass, or collected by use of a bagging attachment coupled to the discharge outlet. However, it may be desirable to mulch or chop the grass clippings into fine particles and direct these clippings downwardly into the growing grass. This allows the grass clippings to be hidden beneath the top sur~ace of a lawn. In addition, this allows the grass clippings to decompose on the soil where they are of nutritional value to growing vegetation.
In an attempt to meet the need ~or a mulching mower, mechanisms have been provided that entirely enclose the discharge outlet o~ the mower housing. The grass clippings are thereby prevented from exiting the housing and are re-cut by the mower blade. Nowever, since these mowers totally block the discharge of air through the outlet, the circulation of air i~ reduced. Therefore, the vacuum effact is reduced when tha discharge is blocked, and the grass is not li~ted properly for cutting by the blade.
Also, many prior art mulchin~ mowers having enclosed diæcharge outlets tend to plug up with grass clippings during mowing operations in heavy or long vegetation. Since there is no outlet for the clippings, they build up within the housing.
The clippings tend to wad together and fall out of the housing in unsightly clumps when heavy or long grass is mowed. These moweræ tend to deposit grass along the sides o~ the housing, 2 ~
thereby creating an unsightly "windrowing" of clippings.
Also, the relatively small vacuum effect created by the blade in a housing having an enclosed discharge outlet results in a low quality o~ cut during operation in heavy or long grass.
Other prior art mulching mechanisms provide a plate for covering the discharge outlet of the mower deck, and have slots or other openings formed therein. The slots are provided for allowing air to exit the housing to enhance the vacuum ef~ect within the housing while blocking clippings from exiting the housing. However, prior art mulch plates tend to quickly clog with grass clippings during operation, and therefore tend to act as a solid plate that totally covers the outlet. Therefore, slotted mulch plates that quickly become clogged with clippings have disadvantages similar to those associated wit~ mower decks having totally enclosed outlets.
Other prior art mulching mechanisms provide deflectors and/or plates within the housing for deflecting the clippings forwardly, downwardly and/or inwardly toward the center support for the blade. However, these mechanisms may not provide an assured direction to the deflected grass, and may not therefore always move the clippings into the blade for re-cutting. Typically, prior art mowers having deflector surfaces also have enclosed discharge openings and may therefore create the aforementioned problems of clogging, clumping and windrowiny associated with totally blocked discharge openings.
¦ Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a mulching mower that channels a large portion of the circulating air which carries the grass clippings inwardly and downwardly toward the mower blade. It would be desirable for such a mower to maintain a discharge outlet that is at lea~t partially open to enhance the lifting e~ect on the uncut grass. It would also be desirable to provide such a ~ower with an overflow feature such that operation in areas of dense vegetation does not cause the housing to become clsgged with ~lippings, or clippings to be deposited on the ground in clumps or windrows.
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Summary of the Invention ! The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a guide mean~ for guiding vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly toward the blade ~or re-cutting of the clippings. The guide means of the preferred embodimen~ includes a ramp means for channeling the air and clippings downwardly and a slide member for channeling the air and clippings inwardly. Blocking means is provided ~y the preferred embodiment for partially covering the discharge outlet. The blo~king means includes a plate member and adjustable member that extend downwardly over the top p~rtion of the discharge outlet. The blocking means allows a portion of the air circulatiny within the housing to pass through the discharge outlet to thereby create a relatively large vacuum effect ~or lifting the vegetation to be cut. During operation in heavy or long vegetation a portion o~ the clippings can flow beneath the slide member and toward the discharge outlet such that an overload function is provided. Clogging of the housing and windrowing of clippings during operation in dense vegetation is therefore reduced.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs Figure 1 is a plan view of a mower deck housing including the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a partially exploded side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the plate member and adjustable member according to the preferred embodiment as viewed from section line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mulching blade for use with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figura 5 is a plan view o~ the ramp means, arm member, and slide member according to the preferred embodim2nt o~ the present invention.
Figure 6 is a ~ide ~iew of the ramp means, arm ~ember and slide member as viewed from the left side o~ the housing as shown in Figure 1~
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Figure 7 is a side view of the ramp means, arm member and slide member as viewed from the rear of the housing shown in Figur~ 1.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figures 1 - 7, there is shown the preferred embodiment of ~he present invention. A mower d~ck housing 10 is shown in Figure 1 as used with the preferred embodiment of the pr~sent inventionO The housing lQ may be coupled to the front or undersid~ of a vehicle (not shown) such as a lawn and garden tractor for mowing an area of grass or vegetation. A power ~ource (not shown) such as an engine carried by the vehicle rotatably drives cutter blades 12, 14 in a generally horizontal plane and in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1. As best shown in Figure 4, the blades 12, 14 have a conventional end portion 16 having a leading cutting edge 18 and a trailing upturned wing portion 20 for creating an up-draft. The blades 12, 14 also include an inner portion 22 having a leading cutting edge 24 and a trailing downturned wing portion 26 for creating a down-draft. The housing 10 includes a generally horizontally extending top wall 28 and a vertical side wall 30 for enclosing the cutter blades 12, 14. A discharge outlet 32 is provided in the side of the housing 10 for allowing air and grass clippings to be ejected sidewardly from the housing 10 during operation. A
chute 34 i~ formed in the front portion 36 of the housing 10 to channel the flow of air and clippings from left to right within the housing 10 and out the discharge outlet 3~. The chute 34 i5 defined by the ~ront vertical side wall 38 of the housing 10, a ~ront portion 40 o~ the housing's top wall 28 and a vertical chute wall 42 formed integral with tAe housing's top wall 28.
Means is provided in the pre~erred embodiment for guiding or directing clippings downwardly within the housing 10 and toward the blade 14. A ramp means 44 slopes downwardly in the direçtion o~ blade rotation and is coupled to the housing 10 for deflecting air and clippings downwardly toward the blade 14. An arm memher 46 extends outwardly from the ramp means 44 ~ ~ $ ~
for securing the ramp means 44 to the housing 10 via a bolt 48. A clip 50 bolted to the housing 10 acts to secure the front portion of the ramp means ~4 against the top wall 28 of the housing 10.
Means is provided for guiding or directing ¢lippings radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade 14.
The ramp means 44 includes an outer radial edge portion 52. A
slide member 54 extends vertically downwardly from the outer radial edge portion 52 of the ramp means 44. The slide m mber 54 acts to channel or guide air and clippings away from the discharge outlet 32 and inwardly toward the inner porkion 22 of the blade 14 where the clippings can be re-cut by the inner portions leading cutting edge 24 and blown downwardly by the trai.ling downturned wing portion 26.
A blocking means is provided for partially closing the discharge outlet 32. A plate member 56 is coupled via bolts 48, 58 to the housing 10 and extends downwardly to cover a portion of the discharge outlet 32. The preferred embodiment provides an adjustable member 60 having a plurality n~
openings 62 formed therein that is adjustably coupled to the plate member 56 via attachment bolts 64. The adjustable member 60 can be adjusted vertically to vary the restriction o~ the outlet 32 to accommodate dif~erent operating conditions.
Next, the assQmbly of the preferred embodiment will be discussed. Once the clip 50 has been fixed in place the ramp . means 44 may be inserted beneath the housing 10. An operator : can slide the ramp means 44 into the discharge outlet 32 and position the ramp means 44 within and against the clip 50, which h~as been previously mounted to the top wall 28 of the housing 10, without having to remove the housing 10 from the vehicle, The opexator can then bolt the plate member 56 to the housing 10 while using one of the attachment bolts 48 to also secure the arm member 46 to the housing 10.
Next, the operation o~ the preferred embodiment will be discussed. When mowing an area of grass with the mulching attachment according to the present invention installed, the blades 12, 14 rotate clockwi~e within the housing 10, as shown in Figure 1. The leading cutting edge 18 on the end portion 16 of the blades 1~, 14 will cut grass as the housing 10 moves forwardly, and the upturned wing portion 20 will act to force air and clippings upwardly within the housing 10. Clippings cut by the left blade 12 flow to the right within the rhute 34 formed in the ~ront o~ the housing 10. As the clippings flow to the right in the chute 34 they encounter the ramp means 44.
The ramp means 4~ directs or channels the air and clippings downwardly toward the right blade 14. As the clippings continue flowing to the right beneath the ramp means 44 they will strike the vertically extending slide member 54 and be directed or channeled radially inwardly toward the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. The slide member 54 redirects the flow of air away from the discharge outlet 3~
and toward the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 form a channel that ends proximate the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. As the clippings leave the ramp means 44 the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 re-cuts them, and the trailing downturned wing portion 26 directs the clippings downwardly toward the soil.
During mowing operation in areas of relatively short grass, the clippings will tend to flow within the housing 10 near the top wall 28 of the housing 10 due to the lifting force imparted by the upturned wing portion 20. As the clippings encounter the ramp means 44 and slide member 54 they remain pressed upwardly against the ramp means 44. Air flowing within the housing 10 will be intermingled with the clippings and will also be flowing beneath the clippings. 30 Therefore, as the air and clippings are forced downwardly by the ramp means 44, the majority of the clippings are directed inwardly by the slide member 54. However, a portion of the air beneath the flowing clippings is allowed to flow rightwardly beneath the slide member 54 and out the discharge outlet 32. Since a portion of the air flows beneath the slide member 54, the oirculation of air within the housing 10 is improved and the vacuum effect for lifting grass to be cut is enhanced. The partially opened discharge outlet 32 therefore improves the quality of cut during cutting operations in normal length grass.
The partially opened discharge outlet 32 also improves the quality of cut when operating in areas of thick or dense vegetation. When mulching in relatively long or thick gras~
the housing 10 will contain a larger amount of flowing clippings. However, the housing 10 will tend not to clog or deposit clumps of grass in windrows, as does the prior art devices. In the preferred embodiment, the partially opened discharge outlet 32 allow~ air to continually flow within the housing to provide a steady stream for moving the clipping~.
The preferred embodiment therefore reduces the amount of clumped grass that falls to the ground. Also, as the amount of flowing clippings increases, the ability of the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 to mulch the clippings decreases.
Therefore, when operating in relatively long or dense grass the preferred embodiment provides an overflow function by allowing a portion of the clippings to flow rightwardly beneath the slide member 54. The inner portion 22 of the blade 14 is thereby prevented from receiving an excessive amount of clippings to mulch. A portion of the clippings that have flvwed beneath the slide member 54 will contact the plate member 56 or adjustable member 60 and will bP blocked ~rom passing through the discharge outlet 32. These clippings continue to circulate within the housing 10 and will be guided toward the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 when they again - encounter the ramp means ~4 and slide me~ber 54. The ~ remainder of the clippings that flow beneath the slide member - 30 54 will be discharged through the outlet 32 and onto the surface of the lawn. Only a small portion of the clippings are ejected from the discharge outlet 32 due to the overflow function of the preferred embodiment such that the appearance of the clippings on the top surface of the lawn will not be objectionable. The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 continue to direct a large portlon of the air toward the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 to b~ chopped and deposited beneath the top surface of the lawn.
The adju~table member 60 provides a plurality of orifices or openings 62 that serve to allow air to pass ther~through during mulching operation. The openings 62 tend to become covered or plugyed with grass during operation in grassy areas. When the openings 62 are covered or plugged with grass, the only path the air and clippings can take through the discharge outlet 32 is beneath the adjustable member 60.
Therefore, the adjustable member ~0 tends to act as a continuous solid surface w~en the openings 62 are covered with grass during operation in grassy areas. However, the openings 62 are particularly useful when mulching leaves, since dry leaves will shatter and crumble as they are forced through the openings 62. Therefore, the operator can fix the adjustable member 60 in a lowered position to accommodate the mulching of leaves or the cutting and mulching of relatively short gra~s.
When the adjustable member 62 is in a raised position, the passage of air through the discharge outlet 32 is increased and the uplifting and circulation of clippings is improved.
Accordingly, the operator can raise the adjustable member 60 when relatively great circulation and uplifting are desirable, such as when relatively long, heavy or wet grass is to be cut and mulched.
The ramp means 44 as illustrated in Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7 discloses an inclined surface that receives the air ~low and clippings and directs them into the slide member 54. The ramp means 44 could also be constructed to include a sur~ace that would be inclined inwardly such that it would assist the slide - 30 member 54 in directing air and clippings toward the blade's axis of rotation.
The preferred embodiment o~ the present invention is described herein for use with a mower deck having a plurality of cutter blades. However, the present invention may also be utilized with a variety of sizes of mower decks having single o~ multipl~ cutter blades. In addition, the pre~erred embodiment describes the ramp means 44 and slide member 54 as 2 ~
positioned between the discharge outlet 32 and the blade 14.
The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 may be positioned at a location within the housing 10 other than between the discharge outlet 32 and a blade 14. However, the ef~i.ciency of the mulching operation and the quality of cut may be hindered when the ramp means 44 and slide me~ber 54 are not positioned between the discharge outlet 32 and the blade 14.
MULCHING MOWER APPARATUS
! Backqround of ~he Invention 1. Field of the Invention:
The invention relates to mechanisms for mulching vegetation such as grass as it is being mowed.
2. Description of the Related Art:
Conventional mowers typically include a mower housing or deck for enclosing a rotating cutter blade. Discharge chutes have been provided in these conventional housings for allowing grass clippings to be ejected ~rom the housing. The outlet also allows air to be discharged from the housing, thereby j allowing the rotating blade to create a vacuum effPct that lifts the grass within the housing so that it can be cut properly and evenly. The clippings ejected ~rom the discharge outlet are then blown on top of the mowed grass, or collected by use of a bagging attachment coupled to the discharge outlet. However, it may be desirable to mulch or chop the grass clippings into fine particles and direct these clippings downwardly into the growing grass. This allows the grass clippings to be hidden beneath the top sur~ace of a lawn. In addition, this allows the grass clippings to decompose on the soil where they are of nutritional value to growing vegetation.
In an attempt to meet the need ~or a mulching mower, mechanisms have been provided that entirely enclose the discharge outlet o~ the mower housing. The grass clippings are thereby prevented from exiting the housing and are re-cut by the mower blade. Nowever, since these mowers totally block the discharge of air through the outlet, the circulation of air i~ reduced. Therefore, the vacuum effact is reduced when tha discharge is blocked, and the grass is not li~ted properly for cutting by the blade.
Also, many prior art mulchin~ mowers having enclosed diæcharge outlets tend to plug up with grass clippings during mowing operations in heavy or long vegetation. Since there is no outlet for the clippings, they build up within the housing.
The clippings tend to wad together and fall out of the housing in unsightly clumps when heavy or long grass is mowed. These moweræ tend to deposit grass along the sides o~ the housing, 2 ~
thereby creating an unsightly "windrowing" of clippings.
Also, the relatively small vacuum effect created by the blade in a housing having an enclosed discharge outlet results in a low quality o~ cut during operation in heavy or long grass.
Other prior art mulching mechanisms provide a plate for covering the discharge outlet of the mower deck, and have slots or other openings formed therein. The slots are provided for allowing air to exit the housing to enhance the vacuum ef~ect within the housing while blocking clippings from exiting the housing. However, prior art mulch plates tend to quickly clog with grass clippings during operation, and therefore tend to act as a solid plate that totally covers the outlet. Therefore, slotted mulch plates that quickly become clogged with clippings have disadvantages similar to those associated wit~ mower decks having totally enclosed outlets.
Other prior art mulching mechanisms provide deflectors and/or plates within the housing for deflecting the clippings forwardly, downwardly and/or inwardly toward the center support for the blade. However, these mechanisms may not provide an assured direction to the deflected grass, and may not therefore always move the clippings into the blade for re-cutting. Typically, prior art mowers having deflector surfaces also have enclosed discharge openings and may therefore create the aforementioned problems of clogging, clumping and windrowiny associated with totally blocked discharge openings.
¦ Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a mulching mower that channels a large portion of the circulating air which carries the grass clippings inwardly and downwardly toward the mower blade. It would be desirable for such a mower to maintain a discharge outlet that is at lea~t partially open to enhance the lifting e~ect on the uncut grass. It would also be desirable to provide such a ~ower with an overflow feature such that operation in areas of dense vegetation does not cause the housing to become clsgged with ~lippings, or clippings to be deposited on the ground in clumps or windrows.
2 ~
Summary of the Invention ! The preferred embodiment of the present invention provides a guide mean~ for guiding vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly toward the blade ~or re-cutting of the clippings. The guide means of the preferred embodimen~ includes a ramp means for channeling the air and clippings downwardly and a slide member for channeling the air and clippings inwardly. Blocking means is provided ~y the preferred embodiment for partially covering the discharge outlet. The blo~king means includes a plate member and adjustable member that extend downwardly over the top p~rtion of the discharge outlet. The blocking means allows a portion of the air circulatiny within the housing to pass through the discharge outlet to thereby create a relatively large vacuum effect ~or lifting the vegetation to be cut. During operation in heavy or long vegetation a portion o~ the clippings can flow beneath the slide member and toward the discharge outlet such that an overload function is provided. Clogging of the housing and windrowing of clippings during operation in dense vegetation is therefore reduced.
Brief Description of the Drawinqs Figure 1 is a plan view of a mower deck housing including the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 is a partially exploded side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the plate member and adjustable member according to the preferred embodiment as viewed from section line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mulching blade for use with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figura 5 is a plan view o~ the ramp means, arm member, and slide member according to the preferred embodim2nt o~ the present invention.
Figure 6 is a ~ide ~iew of the ramp means, arm ~ember and slide member as viewed from the left side o~ the housing as shown in Figure 1~
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Figure 7 is a side view of the ramp means, arm member and slide member as viewed from the rear of the housing shown in Figur~ 1.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring now to Figures 1 - 7, there is shown the preferred embodiment of ~he present invention. A mower d~ck housing 10 is shown in Figure 1 as used with the preferred embodiment of the pr~sent inventionO The housing lQ may be coupled to the front or undersid~ of a vehicle (not shown) such as a lawn and garden tractor for mowing an area of grass or vegetation. A power ~ource (not shown) such as an engine carried by the vehicle rotatably drives cutter blades 12, 14 in a generally horizontal plane and in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 1. As best shown in Figure 4, the blades 12, 14 have a conventional end portion 16 having a leading cutting edge 18 and a trailing upturned wing portion 20 for creating an up-draft. The blades 12, 14 also include an inner portion 22 having a leading cutting edge 24 and a trailing downturned wing portion 26 for creating a down-draft. The housing 10 includes a generally horizontally extending top wall 28 and a vertical side wall 30 for enclosing the cutter blades 12, 14. A discharge outlet 32 is provided in the side of the housing 10 for allowing air and grass clippings to be ejected sidewardly from the housing 10 during operation. A
chute 34 i~ formed in the front portion 36 of the housing 10 to channel the flow of air and clippings from left to right within the housing 10 and out the discharge outlet 3~. The chute 34 i5 defined by the ~ront vertical side wall 38 of the housing 10, a ~ront portion 40 o~ the housing's top wall 28 and a vertical chute wall 42 formed integral with tAe housing's top wall 28.
Means is provided in the pre~erred embodiment for guiding or directing clippings downwardly within the housing 10 and toward the blade 14. A ramp means 44 slopes downwardly in the direçtion o~ blade rotation and is coupled to the housing 10 for deflecting air and clippings downwardly toward the blade 14. An arm memher 46 extends outwardly from the ramp means 44 ~ ~ $ ~
for securing the ramp means 44 to the housing 10 via a bolt 48. A clip 50 bolted to the housing 10 acts to secure the front portion of the ramp means ~4 against the top wall 28 of the housing 10.
Means is provided for guiding or directing ¢lippings radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade 14.
The ramp means 44 includes an outer radial edge portion 52. A
slide member 54 extends vertically downwardly from the outer radial edge portion 52 of the ramp means 44. The slide m mber 54 acts to channel or guide air and clippings away from the discharge outlet 32 and inwardly toward the inner porkion 22 of the blade 14 where the clippings can be re-cut by the inner portions leading cutting edge 24 and blown downwardly by the trai.ling downturned wing portion 26.
A blocking means is provided for partially closing the discharge outlet 32. A plate member 56 is coupled via bolts 48, 58 to the housing 10 and extends downwardly to cover a portion of the discharge outlet 32. The preferred embodiment provides an adjustable member 60 having a plurality n~
openings 62 formed therein that is adjustably coupled to the plate member 56 via attachment bolts 64. The adjustable member 60 can be adjusted vertically to vary the restriction o~ the outlet 32 to accommodate dif~erent operating conditions.
Next, the assQmbly of the preferred embodiment will be discussed. Once the clip 50 has been fixed in place the ramp . means 44 may be inserted beneath the housing 10. An operator : can slide the ramp means 44 into the discharge outlet 32 and position the ramp means 44 within and against the clip 50, which h~as been previously mounted to the top wall 28 of the housing 10, without having to remove the housing 10 from the vehicle, The opexator can then bolt the plate member 56 to the housing 10 while using one of the attachment bolts 48 to also secure the arm member 46 to the housing 10.
Next, the operation o~ the preferred embodiment will be discussed. When mowing an area of grass with the mulching attachment according to the present invention installed, the blades 12, 14 rotate clockwi~e within the housing 10, as shown in Figure 1. The leading cutting edge 18 on the end portion 16 of the blades 1~, 14 will cut grass as the housing 10 moves forwardly, and the upturned wing portion 20 will act to force air and clippings upwardly within the housing 10. Clippings cut by the left blade 12 flow to the right within the rhute 34 formed in the ~ront o~ the housing 10. As the clippings flow to the right in the chute 34 they encounter the ramp means 44.
The ramp means 4~ directs or channels the air and clippings downwardly toward the right blade 14. As the clippings continue flowing to the right beneath the ramp means 44 they will strike the vertically extending slide member 54 and be directed or channeled radially inwardly toward the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. The slide member 54 redirects the flow of air away from the discharge outlet 3~
and toward the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 form a channel that ends proximate the inner portion 22 of the right blade 14. As the clippings leave the ramp means 44 the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 re-cuts them, and the trailing downturned wing portion 26 directs the clippings downwardly toward the soil.
During mowing operation in areas of relatively short grass, the clippings will tend to flow within the housing 10 near the top wall 28 of the housing 10 due to the lifting force imparted by the upturned wing portion 20. As the clippings encounter the ramp means 44 and slide member 54 they remain pressed upwardly against the ramp means 44. Air flowing within the housing 10 will be intermingled with the clippings and will also be flowing beneath the clippings. 30 Therefore, as the air and clippings are forced downwardly by the ramp means 44, the majority of the clippings are directed inwardly by the slide member 54. However, a portion of the air beneath the flowing clippings is allowed to flow rightwardly beneath the slide member 54 and out the discharge outlet 32. Since a portion of the air flows beneath the slide member 54, the oirculation of air within the housing 10 is improved and the vacuum effect for lifting grass to be cut is enhanced. The partially opened discharge outlet 32 therefore improves the quality of cut during cutting operations in normal length grass.
The partially opened discharge outlet 32 also improves the quality of cut when operating in areas of thick or dense vegetation. When mulching in relatively long or thick gras~
the housing 10 will contain a larger amount of flowing clippings. However, the housing 10 will tend not to clog or deposit clumps of grass in windrows, as does the prior art devices. In the preferred embodiment, the partially opened discharge outlet 32 allow~ air to continually flow within the housing to provide a steady stream for moving the clipping~.
The preferred embodiment therefore reduces the amount of clumped grass that falls to the ground. Also, as the amount of flowing clippings increases, the ability of the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 to mulch the clippings decreases.
Therefore, when operating in relatively long or dense grass the preferred embodiment provides an overflow function by allowing a portion of the clippings to flow rightwardly beneath the slide member 54. The inner portion 22 of the blade 14 is thereby prevented from receiving an excessive amount of clippings to mulch. A portion of the clippings that have flvwed beneath the slide member 54 will contact the plate member 56 or adjustable member 60 and will bP blocked ~rom passing through the discharge outlet 32. These clippings continue to circulate within the housing 10 and will be guided toward the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 when they again - encounter the ramp means ~4 and slide me~ber 54. The ~ remainder of the clippings that flow beneath the slide member - 30 54 will be discharged through the outlet 32 and onto the surface of the lawn. Only a small portion of the clippings are ejected from the discharge outlet 32 due to the overflow function of the preferred embodiment such that the appearance of the clippings on the top surface of the lawn will not be objectionable. The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 continue to direct a large portlon of the air toward the inner portion 22 of the blade 14 to b~ chopped and deposited beneath the top surface of the lawn.
The adju~table member 60 provides a plurality of orifices or openings 62 that serve to allow air to pass ther~through during mulching operation. The openings 62 tend to become covered or plugyed with grass during operation in grassy areas. When the openings 62 are covered or plugged with grass, the only path the air and clippings can take through the discharge outlet 32 is beneath the adjustable member 60.
Therefore, the adjustable member ~0 tends to act as a continuous solid surface w~en the openings 62 are covered with grass during operation in grassy areas. However, the openings 62 are particularly useful when mulching leaves, since dry leaves will shatter and crumble as they are forced through the openings 62. Therefore, the operator can fix the adjustable member 60 in a lowered position to accommodate the mulching of leaves or the cutting and mulching of relatively short gra~s.
When the adjustable member 62 is in a raised position, the passage of air through the discharge outlet 32 is increased and the uplifting and circulation of clippings is improved.
Accordingly, the operator can raise the adjustable member 60 when relatively great circulation and uplifting are desirable, such as when relatively long, heavy or wet grass is to be cut and mulched.
The ramp means 44 as illustrated in Figures 2, 5, 6 and 7 discloses an inclined surface that receives the air ~low and clippings and directs them into the slide member 54. The ramp means 44 could also be constructed to include a sur~ace that would be inclined inwardly such that it would assist the slide - 30 member 54 in directing air and clippings toward the blade's axis of rotation.
The preferred embodiment o~ the present invention is described herein for use with a mower deck having a plurality of cutter blades. However, the present invention may also be utilized with a variety of sizes of mower decks having single o~ multipl~ cutter blades. In addition, the pre~erred embodiment describes the ramp means 44 and slide member 54 as 2 ~
positioned between the discharge outlet 32 and the blade 14.
The ramp means 44 and slide member 54 may be positioned at a location within the housing 10 other than between the discharge outlet 32 and a blade 14. However, the ef~i.ciency of the mulching operation and the quality of cut may be hindered when the ramp means 44 and slide me~ber 54 are not positioned between the discharge outlet 32 and the blade 14.
Claims (8)
1. A mulching apparatus for use in a mower having a housing including a discharge outlet and a horizontally extending top wall and a blade rotatable in a generally horizontal plane within the housing for cutting vegetation and for creating a circular path of air within the housing, said apparatus comprising:
a guide means coupled with the housing for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting of the vegetation; and blocking means coupled with the housing for partially blocking a portion of the air and clippings from being discharged through the discharge outlet.
a guide means coupled with the housing for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting of the vegetation; and blocking means coupled with the housing for partially blocking a portion of the air and clippings from being discharged through the discharge outlet.
2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the blocking means partially blocks a portion of the air and clippings from being discharged through the discharge outlet, and also allows a portion of the air to be discharged through the outlet, whereby the air within the housing circulates sufficiently to guide vegetation clippings into the guide means and inwardly and downwardly toward the blade.
3. The invention of claim 1, wherein the blocking means further comprises a plate member that extends downwardly over the top portion of the discharge outlet for preventing air and clippings from passing through the top portion of the discharge outlet, said plate having a lower edge beneath which a portion of the clippings and air within the housing may pass through the discharge outlet.
4. A mulching apparatus for use in a mower having a housing including a discharge outlet and a horizontally extending top wall and a blade rotatable in a generally horizontal plane within the housing for cutting vegetation and for creating a circular path of air within the housing, said apparatus comprising:
an arcuate ramp means coupled with the housing and positioned between the top wall of the housing and the blade, said ramp means being positioned generally between the axis of rotation of the blade and the discharge outlet, said ramp means sloping downwardly toward the blade in the direction of blade rotation for channeling the air and vegetation clippings within the housing downwardly towards the rotating blade, said ramp means having an outer radial edge portion extending in an arc, said outer radial edge portion being curved radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade in the direction of blade rotation;
a generally vertically extending slide member coupled to the outer radial edge of the ramp means for channeling air and clippings within the housing away from the discharge outlet and inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade; and blocking means for partially blocking the discharge of air and clippings through the discharge opening.
an arcuate ramp means coupled with the housing and positioned between the top wall of the housing and the blade, said ramp means being positioned generally between the axis of rotation of the blade and the discharge outlet, said ramp means sloping downwardly toward the blade in the direction of blade rotation for channeling the air and vegetation clippings within the housing downwardly towards the rotating blade, said ramp means having an outer radial edge portion extending in an arc, said outer radial edge portion being curved radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade in the direction of blade rotation;
a generally vertically extending slide member coupled to the outer radial edge of the ramp means for channeling air and clippings within the housing away from the discharge outlet and inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade; and blocking means for partially blocking the discharge of air and clippings through the discharge opening.
5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the slide member extends downwardly from the outer radial edge of the ramp means a decreasing amount in the direction of rotation of the blade.
6. The invention of claim 4, wherein the vertical slide member extends downwardly from the ramp means to channel vegetation clippings inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the blade, and to allow grass clippings to pass over the vertical slide member and be discharged through the discharge outlet when the density of the clippings within the housing increases.
7. The invention of claim 4, wherein the blocking means further comprises a plate extending over a portion of the discharge opening.
8. The invention of claim 4, wherein the blocking means further comprises:
a plate extending over a portion of the discharge opening; and a member coupled with the plate and having a plurality of openings through which air may pass to exit the discharge opening, said member being adjustable to a plurality of positions for varying blockage of the discharge opening.
a plate extending over a portion of the discharge opening; and a member coupled with the plate and having a plurality of openings through which air may pass to exit the discharge opening, said member being adjustable to a plurality of positions for varying blockage of the discharge opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US65185191A | 1991-02-04 | 1991-02-04 | |
| US07/651,851 | 1991-02-04 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2060465A1 CA2060465A1 (en) | 1992-08-05 |
| CA2060465C true CA2060465C (en) | 1994-11-15 |
Family
ID=24614471
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2060465 Expired - Fee Related CA2060465C (en) | 1991-02-04 | 1992-01-31 | Mulching mower apparatus |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0498294B1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2060465C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE59200573D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5267429A (en) * | 1992-07-21 | 1993-12-07 | Deere & Company | Rear discharge mulching apparatus |
| US5526633A (en) * | 1994-08-12 | 1996-06-18 | Black & Decker Inc. | Lawn mower having improved deck height adjustment mechanism |
| CA2141151C (en) * | 1995-01-26 | 1999-12-21 | Michael T. Puszkar | Mulcher attachment for lawn mower |
| DE19528832C2 (en) * | 1995-08-05 | 1998-11-26 | Alfred Tutschka | Knife for a sickle mower and sickle mower as well as retrofit kit for a sickle mower |
| US5711141A (en) * | 1996-09-13 | 1998-01-27 | Murray, Inc. | Reversible mower blade |
| DE10357465B3 (en) * | 2003-12-09 | 2005-07-07 | ESM Ennepetaler Schneid- und Mähtechnik GmbH & Co KG | Method and device for cutting and cutting particularly high-growth clippings |
| CN110741800A (en) * | 2019-11-26 | 2020-02-04 | 重庆华世丹机械制造有限公司 | agricultural lawn mower |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE1482005A1 (en) * | 1964-04-01 | 1969-01-30 | Gutbrod Walter | Combined swath, deflector and mulch plate |
| FR2347869A2 (en) * | 1975-06-03 | 1977-11-10 | Habar Gerard | ROTATING BLADE EQUIPMENT ALLOWING TO MOW A LAWN AND SIMULTANEOUSLY CHOP CUT GRASS |
| GB1584495A (en) * | 1978-05-25 | 1981-02-11 | Suffolk Lawn Mowers Ltd | Rotary lawnmowers |
| US4189903A (en) * | 1978-06-23 | 1980-02-26 | Mcdonough Power Equipment, Division Of Fuqua Industries, Inc. | Rotary lawn mower with removable mulching attachment |
| US4312174A (en) * | 1980-06-18 | 1982-01-26 | Canadiana Garden Products Inc. | Rotary lawn mower |
| DE3542276A1 (en) * | 1984-11-30 | 1986-06-05 | Honda Giken Kogyo K.K., Tokio/Tokyo | KNIFE HOUSING FOR A MOTOR DRIVEN LAWN MOWER |
| US4864808A (en) * | 1989-01-27 | 1989-09-12 | Weber John H | Leaf and grass mulching attachment for lawn mowers |
-
1992
- 1992-01-30 EP EP19920101497 patent/EP0498294B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-01-30 DE DE59200573T patent/DE59200573D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-01-31 CA CA 2060465 patent/CA2060465C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE59200573D1 (en) | 1994-11-10 |
| CA2060465A1 (en) | 1992-08-05 |
| EP0498294A1 (en) | 1992-08-12 |
| EP0498294B1 (en) | 1994-10-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |