GB2089633A

GB2089633A - Mowers

Info

Publication number: GB2089633A
Application number: GB8040553A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MOW RITE ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Current assignee: MOW RITE ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Priority date: 1980-12-18
Filing date: 1980-12-18
Publication date: 1982-06-30
Also published as: GB2089633B

Abstract

A mower comprises a 4 stroke i.c. engine 2 mounted on a wheeled transporter 3 for driving a cutting head 11 connected to the transporter and spaced forward of the wheels 4 thereof. The cutting head uses a renewable supply of flexible flail material which provides four ends 12 which are rotated about an axis 10 substantially normal to the ground on which the mower is being used. The engine power is such that the ends may be relatively long and the transporter enables the mower to be easily manoeuvred. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mowers This invention relates to mowers, and more particularly to mowers for cutting grass in which a flexible flail is rotated about an axis substantially normal to the surface of the ground in which the grass is growing.

Such mowers in which the cutting head and drive motor are disposed at the end of a stick-like handle are known and are useful for cutting very small areas of grass. However, they are unsatisfactory for use on large areas of grass because the area they cut around the axis about which the flail is rotated is relatively small and the weight of the mower has to be supported by the operator duringuse.

We have devised a mower which avoids these disadvantages and which comprises a motor mounted on a transporter having ground engaging elements for supporting the weight of the motor on the ground and for allowing movement of the transporter over the ground, flail mounting means connected to said transporter and spaced from said ground engaging elements for mounting at least one flexible flail for rotation about an axis, which in use is substantially normal to the ground, and drive transmission means from the motor to the flail mounting means.

In orderthatthe invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa general perspective view of a mower; and Figure 2 is an underneath view of a portion of the same mower.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a push mower 1 for cutting grass which comprises a motor 2 in the form of a four-stroke i.c. engine mounted on a transporter 3. The transporter has ground engaging elements shown as wheels 4 for supporting the weight of the motor on the ground and for allowing movement of the transporter over the ground. The transporter 3 is provided with a pushing handle 5 pivotally mounted on a cross-piece 6 for movement between an operative position as shown and a non-illustrated storage position in which the side members 7 of the handle are disposed one on each side of the motor 2.Connected to the transporter by means of a telescopic strut 8 is means shown as a pulley 9 on which a renewable supply of flexible flail material, such as a nylon monofilament, is mounted for rotation therewith about axis I Oto provide a cutting head 11 for the mower. The supply is in reel form, with the free end being unwound a predetermined amount to provide a flexible flail which is rotated about the axis 10, which in use is substantially normal,to the ground, to cut a circular area of grass having a radius substantially equal to the distance between the tip of the free end of the flail material and the spindle. In the illustrated embodiment the supply of flail material comprises four reels thereof which provide four ends 12 for cutting.

The flail material supply and, thus, the ends are rotated about the axis 10 by a drive transmission from the motor which comprises an endless belt 13 having a path around pulley 9 and a pulley (not shown) driven by the motor. Tensioning of the belt 13 is adjusted by a threaded adjuster 14 by which the overall length of the telescopic strut 8 may be adjusted. An endless chain and gear drive transmission may be used to drive the cutting head 11 instead of the belt and pulley system illustrated. A guard 15 extends over the major portion of the belt path and is secured to the strut 8 by brackets 16.

The power of the motor is sufficient to operate the cutting head with the ends 12 of the flail material unwound so that they will cut a circular area about the axis 10 of a diameter greater than the track of the wheels. Thus, in use, the wheels 4 are pushed over ground which has been cut by the cutting head 11.

The axis 10 is spaced forward of the wheels 4 along the centre oftheirtrack by a limit distance equal to at least half their track so that the ends 12 will not foul on the wheels 4. In the illustrated embodiment the axis 10 is spaced forward of the wheels 4 by a distance substantially greater than this limit distance to increase the range of the head when cutting under bushes etc. under which the motor cannot be pushed.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the illustrated mower is particularly suited for cutting large areas of grass. The length of ends 12 unwound from the supply of flail material may be such as to cut a much larger circular area than the above mentioned mowers whose cutting area is restricted because of the relatively small power of the motor that can be used with them because of weight limitations. Further by mounting the motor 2 on a wheeled transporter3 the illustrated mower is easily manoeuvred and the weight of the motor 2 does not hinder prolonged use of the mower.

1. A mower comprising a motor mounted on a transporter having ground engaging elements for supporting the weight of the motor on the ground and for allowing movement of the transporter over the ground, flail mounting means connected to the transporter and spaced from the ground engaging elements for mounting at least one flexible flail for rotation about an axis which in use is substantially normal to the ground, and drive transmission means for transmitting drive from the motor to the flail mounting means.

2. A mower as claimed in claim 1, in which said transporter is provided with a handle for pushing it.

3. A mower as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said ground engaging elements comprise wheels.

4. A mower as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which said flail mounting means is connected to said transporter by means of a telescopic strut which extends away from said ground engaging elements. The drawing(s) originaily filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a laterfiledformal copy.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mowers This invention relates to mowers, and more particularly to mowers for cutting grass in which a flexible flail is rotated about an axis substantially normal to the surface of the ground in which the grass is growing. Such mowers in which the cutting head and drive motor are disposed at the end of a stick-like handle are known and are useful for cutting very small areas of grass. However, they are unsatisfactory for use on large areas of grass because the area they cut around the axis about which the flail is rotated is relatively small and the weight of the mower has to be supported by the operator duringuse. We have devised a mower which avoids these disadvantages and which comprises a motor mounted on a transporter having ground engaging elements for supporting the weight of the motor on the ground and for allowing movement of the transporter over the ground, flail mounting means connected to said transporter and spaced from said ground engaging elements for mounting at least one flexible flail for rotation about an axis, which in use is substantially normal to the ground, and drive transmission means from the motor to the flail mounting means. In orderthatthe invention may be well understood, an embodiment thereof, which is given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa general perspective view of a mower; and Figure 2 is an underneath view of a portion of the same mower. Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a push mower 1 for cutting grass which comprises a motor 2 in the form of a four-stroke i.c. engine mounted on a transporter 3. The transporter has ground engaging elements shown as wheels 4 for supporting the weight of the motor on the ground and for allowing movement of the transporter over the ground. The transporter 3 is provided with a pushing handle 5 pivotally mounted on a cross-piece 6 for movement between an operative position as shown and a non-illustrated storage position in which the side members 7 of the handle are disposed one on each side of the motor 2.Connected to the transporter by means of a telescopic strut 8 is means shown as a pulley 9 on which a renewable supply of flexible flail material, such as a nylon monofilament, is mounted for rotation therewith about axis I Oto provide a cutting head 11 for the mower. The supply is in reel form, with the free end being unwound a predetermined amount to provide a flexible flail which is rotated about the axis 10, which in use is substantially normal,to the ground, to cut a circular area of grass having a radius substantially equal to the distance between the tip of the free end of the flail material and the spindle. In the illustrated embodiment the supply of flail material comprises four reels thereof which provide four ends 12 for cutting. The flail material supply and, thus, the ends are rotated about the axis 10 by a drive transmission from the motor which comprises an endless belt 13 having a path around pulley 9 and a pulley (not shown) driven by the motor. Tensioning of the belt 13 is adjusted by a threaded adjuster 14 by which the overall length of the telescopic strut 8 may be adjusted. An endless chain and gear drive transmission may be used to drive the cutting head 11 instead of the belt and pulley system illustrated. A guard 15 extends over the major portion of the belt path and is secured to the strut 8 by brackets 16. The power of the motor is sufficient to operate the cutting head with the ends 12 of the flail material unwound so that they will cut a circular area about the axis 10 of a diameter greater than the track of the wheels. Thus, in use, the wheels 4 are pushed over ground which has been cut by the cutting head 11. The axis 10 is spaced forward of the wheels 4 along the centre oftheirtrack by a limit distance equal to at least half their track so that the ends 12 will not foul on the wheels 4. In the illustrated embodiment the axis 10 is spaced forward of the wheels 4 by a distance substantially greater than this limit distance to increase the range of the head when cutting under bushes etc. under which the motor cannot be pushed. From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the illustrated mower is particularly suited for cutting large areas of grass. The length of ends 12 unwound from the supply of flail material may be such as to cut a much larger circular area than the above mentioned mowers whose cutting area is restricted because of the relatively small power of the motor that can be used with them because of weight limitations. Further by mounting the motor 2 on a wheeled transporter3 the illustrated mower is easily manoeuvred and the weight of the motor 2 does not hinder prolonged use of the mower. CLAIMS

5. A mower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ground engaging elements define a track and the flail mounting means are connected to the transporter such that said axis is spaced from said ground engaging elements along the centre of said track by a distance equal to at least half said track.

6. A mower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said transmission means comprises an endless belt or chain.

7. A mower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which said motor is a four-stroke i.c.

engine.

8. A mower as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a renewable supply of flexible flail material mounted on said flail mounting means.

9. A mower as claimed in claim 8, in which said supply of flail material provides more than one flail for rotation about said axis.

10. A mower substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.