GB2284736A

GB2284736A - Cut grass collecting hover mower

Info

Publication number: GB2284736A
Application number: GB9325889A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Miles Roland William Bozeat
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-12-17
Filing date: 1993-12-17
Publication date: 1995-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-17
Also published as: GB9325889D0; GB2284736B

Abstract

A cutgrass collecting hover mower has airtight body 1 within and beneath which are housed a radial compressor fan 6 (to provide a pressurizing airflow) and cutter blades 18 both mounted on a drive shaft 8 which is driven by an electric or internal combustion engine. A combined cowl and duct 7 divides and manages the pressurizing airflow to reinforce the cut grass collecting airflow created by the rotating cutter blades prior to providing air support. The grass collecting box has a mesh wall 25 to catch grass whilst allowing air to flow through. The grass collecting box is removable through an access door 3 for emptying. <IMAGE>

Description

CUT GRASS COLLECTING HOVER MOWER- TYPE C This invention relates to a cut grass collecting hover mower.

Hover mowers are well known devices which comprise a body designed to resist the escape of air pressure except between the perimeter base and the ground. Housed within and about the body are a fan system inducting air from outside the body and a rotating blade to cut the grass.

Some hover mowers have a system for gathering up the cut grass prior to disposal.

Existing hover mower cut grass collecting systems are generally deficient in one or more areas, for instance: A large percentage of cut grass is not gathered.

Some cut grass is scattered beyond the perimeter of the machine.

Existing systems only collect cut grass (which is deposited in the machines wake) when the machine is driven in straight lines.

The systems are heavy and cumbersome.

According to the present invention there is provided a cut grass collecting hover mower comprising an airtight body (above its interface with the ground) save for an access cover to the grass box and the air intake orifice. The said body houses a grass box, radial flow compressor fan above a combined cowl and duct beneath which are grass cutting blades. The radial flow compressor fan and grass cutting blades are both driven, on the same shaft, by an electric or internal combustion engine.

The arrangement and shapes of the components described above are such that the airflow generated by the radial flow compressor fan is managed, separated and directed to provide air lubrication (the hover) to the entire machine whilst simultaneously reinforcing the grass collecting air flow created by the grass cutting blades.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1. is an illustrative cutaway plan.

Figure 2. is an illustrative cutaway side elevation.

Figure 3 is an illustrative cutaway perspective.

In all drawings only those elements essential to the operation of the present invention are illustrated. Handles, wiring, power sources and control gear have been deleted for clarity.

Referring to the drawings the cut grass hover mower comprises an airtight. body 1 (above its interface 10 with the ground 2) save for an access cover 3 demountably secured to the airtight body 1 (with an airtight seal at the interface 4) by, for example, toggles, catches or similar and an orifice 5 for the air intake.

The radial flow compressorlfan 6 is positioned between the airtight body 1 and the combined cowl and duct 7, which when rotated, anti-clockwise in this example, by means of rotational power applied to shaft 8 will draw air at atmospheric pressure from outside (area 9) the airtight body 1 through the air intake orifice 5, accelerate, compress and expell the same air continuously around the outer circumference of the radial flow compressor fan 6.

Most of the compressed air leaving the outer circumference of the radial flow compressor fan 6 will travel down, and pressurize the cavity 13 formed between the airtight body 1 and the combined cowl and duct 7 then escape back into the area 16 outside the airtight body 1 having passed between the ground 2 and the perimeter interface 10 of the air tight body 1 so providing air lubrication to the front of the machine (the hover).

The air so leaving is limited to the partial circumference forward of airsealing walls (integral with airtight body 1) 11 and 12.

Some of the compressed air leaving the outer circumference of the radial flow compressor fan 6 will enter the cavity 14 formed beneath the combined cowl and duct 7 through an opening 15 in the combined cowl and duct 7 and produce an airflow 17. The airflow 17 joins with the airflow and updraught 19 created by the cutter blades 18 (which are aerodynamically shaped to produce such an airflow). The resultant pressurized combined airflow 20 (which carries the cut grass in suspension) enters the grass collecting box 21 having passed through an orifice 22 at the combined cowl and duct 7 interface with the grass box 21.

The grass box 21 is equipped with a solid vertical wall 23 (except for orifice 22), floor 24 and a mesh wall 25 designed to resist the flow of grass.

The pressurized combined airflow 20 passes through the mesh wall 25 (leaving the cut grass in the grass collecting box 21) and then escapes back into the area 26 outside the airtight body 1 having passed between the ground 2 and the perimeter interface 10 of the airtight body 1 so providing air lubrication to the rear of the whole machine (the hover) The air so leaving is limited to the partial circumference rearward of air sealing walls 11 and 12.

The grass collecting box 21 may be removed vertically for emptying from the machine by the temporary removal of access cover 3.

Claims

1. A cutgrass collecting hover mower wherein all the grass cutting and collecting functions are carried out within and beneath the pressurized cavity formed by the air lubricated (hovering) body by machinery integral with or mounted on or about the said body.

2. A cutgrass collecting hover mower as claimed in Claim 1 wherein means are provided to divide and manage the pressurizing airflow so to reinforce the grass collecting airflow and updraught produced by the rotating cutter blades.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIM 1 A cut grass collecting machine of the air lubricated hover mower type wherein the grass collecting box is located wholly within the pressurised cavity enclosed by the airtight body forming the air lubricated and hovering cowling of the said machine.

CLAIM 2 A cut grass collecting machine according to Claim 1 where into the grass collecting box is directed an airstream carrying cut grass which airstream is derived from within the pressurised cavity and which airstream passes through an aperture formed in a wall of said grass collecting box which said grass collecting box is equipped with at least one semi permeable mesh wall configured so as to allow the passage of the said airflow out of the said grass collecting box and so to return to the said pressurised cavity enclosed by said airtight body said mesh wall also being configured to as to deny the flow of cut grass said cut grass thereby being collected and retained in said grass collecting box prior to disposal.

CLAIM 3 A cut grass collecting machine according to claims 1 and 2 where is provided a demountable section of the airtight body so as to provide access to the grass collecting box which said demountable section is releasably secured by means of toggles, catches or similar and which said means renders the said demountable section to be effectively and airtightly retained upon the said airtight body when the said machine is in operation.

CLAIM 4 A cut grass collecting machine according to claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the cut grass and the cut grass carrying airflow are produced by means of a rotating knife located and housed wholly beneath the airtight body and within the pressurised cavity enclosed by the said airtight body.