GB2267809A

GB2267809A - Lawn mower.

Info

Publication number: GB2267809A
Application number: GB9212512A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Edward Howells
Original assignee: Electrolux Northern Ltd
Current assignee: Electrolux Northern Ltd
Priority date: 1992-06-12
Filing date: 1992-06-12
Publication date: 1993-12-22
Also published as: GB9212512D0

Abstract

A lawn mower comprises a hood enclosing a cutting chamber, a cutting member 4 mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane within the cutting chamber, a handle for controlling directional movement of the mower during a cutting operation, a power source 2, a drive line for drivingly connecting the power source and the cutting member, at least one rolling support member R for supporting the mower, means for mounting the said at least one rolling member about a substantially horizontal axis relative to ground datum and disposed externally of that area ascribed during rotation of the cutting member and serving to assist control of directional movement. <IMAGE>

Description

LAWN MOWERS This invention relates to grass cutting appliances. In particular the invention relates to rotary lawn mowers having one or more cutting blades mounted for rotation during operation about a generally vertical axis. Generally speaking, there are two main categories of rotary lawn mower, namely (1) a hover-type rotary lawn mower which, when operative is supported by a cushion of air, and (2) a rotary mower which is supported on wheels and which may include a rear roller for producing a striped effect on a mown lawn.

Mowers falling under category (1) are manually propelled by a user whereas mowers falling under category (2) may be either manually propelled by a user or propelled by a drive-line taken from a power unit connectable via a clutch to one or more wheels or a roller system. In the latter case the power unit combines the functions of driving the rotatable cutting blade (s) and the mower per se.

Mowers falling within either category may be driven directly or indirectly by either an i/c engine or an electric motor.

It is an object of the present invention to improve the type (1) and type (2) mowers as defined above including, for example, improving the balance of a mower during use where the weight of collected grass and debris tends to adversely affect the attitude of the mower and, consequently, the nature of the cut and the attendant finish of a mown lawn.

According to one aspect of the present invention a lawn mower comprises a hood enclosing a cutting chamber, a cutting member mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane within the cutting chamber, a handle for controlling directional movement of the mower during a cutting operation, a power source, a drive line for drivingly connecting the power source and the cutting member, at least one rolling support member for supporting the mower, means for mounting one rolling support member about a substantially horizontal axis relative to ground datum and disposed externally of that area ascribed during rotation of the cutting member and serving to assist control of directional movement of the mower during operation.

The handle for controlling directional movement of the mower during a cutting operation may be pivotally connectable to the hood at a position substantially centrally considered in a fore/aft direction of the hood.

Conveniently the handle is pivotally connected to the hood at a position which is in substantial alignment with the rotational axis of the cutting member.

Preferably, the mower according to the invention includes a removable collection container for collecting cut grass and other debris. Use of a roller in conjunction with a hover-type mower produces a desirable striped effect on a mown lawn. In our prior European Patent Application No. 91303229.8 (which is herein incorporated in its entirety of reference) we have disclosed mounting a roller abaft the hood between a pair of laterally displaced booms. In Figure 2 of 91303229.8, the booms are pivotally mounted at positions in substantial athwartship alignment with the drive axis of the cutting member. Furthermore, there is disclosed in 91303229.8 means for attaching the handle to the booms in such a manner that angular displacement of the handle tilts the mower about the axis of rotation of the roller to vary the height of cut. Since such a tilting action necessarily inclines the cutting plane of the cutting member at an angle relative to ground datum, cutting is not of uniform height. In addition, 91303229.8 discloses supporting the grass collector box at least partially on the booms and, consequently, at least part of the weight of the grass box and contents is transmitted to the hood thereby reducing the height of cut.

According to one specific form of the present invention, the roller is directly or indirectly supported from the grass collector. Conveniently the roller is supported abaft the grass collector when considered in the direction of cut or at a position so that substantially all the weight of the grass collector and contents is supported by the roller. In such a form of the present invention, the grass collector may include a handle whereby a user may wheel a filled collector to a disposal site thereby avoiding lifting and carrying the same to a disposal site. At least a proportion of the weight of the grass collector and the contents may also be supported by the roller using a boom system similar to the construction of Figure 4 of 9103229.8 and modified so that the handle is pivotally mounted on the hood in transverse alignment with the axis of the cutting member.

An advantage of a mower according to the present invention is that, in use, a consistent height of entry of the grass box entry mouth above ground datum is achieved so that entry of air and entrained grass cuttings into the grass collector is not substantially inhibited.

Additional advantages of a mower according to the present invention include i) a saving of power since the load of grass collector and contents is carried, at least to a substantial degree by the roller. The power saved would normally be used to generate increased air for supporting a hover mower under load; ii) the roller forms the stripes desired by gardeners; iii) a means of maintaining the balance of the machine to prevent air escaping from beneath the hood. If the roller support is not present, a user is limited to the weight of grass box pulling the back of the mower down making the front lift and thereby allowing the air to escape; iv) providing unlimited load of grass capacity without influencing cutting head flotation.

In certain cases, a user may not wish to collect grass, for example, when cutting uneven terrain or under overhanging shrubs, a user may remove the collector box/roller unit and operate the mower in a conventional way.

The underlying concept of a mower according to the present invention including a removable collector box/roller unit may also be fitted to wheeled rotary and so-called cylinder mowers which may be manually controlled using a handle or of the ride-on type.

Two forms of manually controlled hover-type rotary mowers are illustrated by way of example in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. Although the forms of mower illustrated show a direct drive from prime mower 2 to cutting member 4, an indirect drive may also be used. Further, if desired, a drive line may be established from the prime mower 2 to a roller R, in which case the drive line includes a readily connectable/disconnectable clutch mechanism.

Claims

1. A lawn mower comprising a hood enclosing a cutting chamber, a cutting member mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane within the cutting chamber, a handle for controlling directional movement of the mower during a cutting operation, a power source, a drive line for drivingly connecting the power source and the cutting member, at least one rolling support member for supporting the mower, means for mounting the said at least one rolling member about a substantially horizontal axis relative to ground datum and disposed externally of that area ascribed during rotation of the cutting member and serving to assist control of directional movement.

2. A lawn mower according to claim 1 including a removable collection container for collecting cut grass wherein the said at least one rolling member is directly or indirectly supported from the grass collector.

3. A lawn mower according to claim 2 wherein the roller is supported abaft the grass collector when considered in the direction of cut or at a position so that substantially all the weight of the grass collector and contents is supported by the roller.

4. A lawn mower according to claim 3 wherein the grass collector includes a handle for controlling wheeled motor of the collector when removed from the mower.