US3130531A - Underwater mower - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1964 A. WOLESLAGLE UNDERWATER MOWER Filed Nov. 4, 1965 E mw w W a mwmw .Am

3,13%,531 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 3,139,531 WDERWATER MGWER Arnold Woleslagle, Morris Road, Geneseo, NX. Filed Nov. 4, 1%3, Ser. No. 321,631 7 Claixns. (Cl. 56-3) This invention relates to mowing apparatus and particularly to apparatus for underwater operation in mowing weeds and other underwater growth which presents a very common problem in small boat operations.

The present invention provides mowing apparatus which may be quickly and easily attached to a conventional outboard motor in place of the usual propeller for mowing, generally at a depth somewhat below the normal depth of operation of the propeller.

Since the present mowing apparatus is by its nature an accessor] intended normally for occasional use as needed to clear underwater vegetation, the ability to assemble the mowing attachment with the drive portion of a conventional outboard motor with ease and facility and without any substantial disruption of the outboard motor apparatus is a prime requisite.

The economic advantage of providing a simple mowing attachment which utilizes the power plant of a conventional outboard motor is obvious since the cost of such a motor and the general mounting structure therefor is considerable and comprises a major portion of the cost of the usual and complete outboard motor installation.

According to the present invention, a drive casing is provided which includes a bevel gear drive mechanism at its upper end, a depending drive shaft extending therefrom, and a rotary mower blade at the lower end of the drive shaft. In applying this apparatus to a conventional outboard motor unit it is merely necessary to remove the usual propeller from its propeller shaft, assemble the present apparatus by placing the same with one of its bevel gears on the propeller shaft in place of the usual propeller and securing the same, then fixing the mowing apparatus casing with respect to adjacent portions of the outboard motor casing.

In the prior art it has been proposed to utilize the drive means afiorded by an outboard motor for Operating an underwater mower but such proposals have been impractical and virtually unusable on an interchangeable basis because of the elaborate mechanical alterations required in adapting the outboard motor for use with the mowing apparatus and in applying such mowing apparatus to the outboard motor mechanism.

Outboard motors normally include as a substantial element thereof a Vertical drive shaft which extends from the power plant in the upper end of the apparatus to a generally horizontal propeller shaft at the lower end. In the prior art it has been proposed to remove this lower horizontal propeller shaft and the bevel gear mechanism normally provided for connecting between the aforesaid vertical drive shaft and the propeller shaft.

In this prior art proposal it is contemplated that an extension be then aixed directly to the lower end of the depending shaft. This proposed construction overlooks the fact that outboard motor housings are very often unitary and integral and accordingly do not admit of removal of the lower portions thereof.

In some outboard motor housings the lower portions are bolted to the main Vertical housing portions and thus removal is possible. However, in such constructions the removable lower portions, which include the bevel gear mechanism connecting between the vertically depending drive shaft and the propeller shaft, contain gear oil or other lubricant and thus removal of such lower housing portion, where possible, requires removing the outboard motor apparatus from a boat to a shop or work bench or other place where the necessary major disassembly of the lower portion of the outboard motor apparatus may be accomplished.

In Contrast with this prior art arrangement, the underwater mower of the present invention may readily be applied to a conventional outboard motor apparatus without removing the latter from the boat, without entering the internal mechanism, and by a simple transition which requires the use of no special tools or special mechanical ability or knowledge of outboard motors or machinery generally.

While a single specific embodment of the principles of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the following specification, it is to be understood that such embodiment is set forth by way of example only and to illustrate the principles of the present invention, the scope of which is not limited to this embodiment nor otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of the underwater mower of the present invention shown applied to the lower portion of a conventional outboard motor;

PIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 with portions shown in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the mower apparatus of FIG. 1 shown attached to an outboard motor housing; and

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line IV-IV of FIG. 1.

Like characters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing and, referring particularly to FIG. 1, the numeral 11) designates a lower housing portion of a conventional outboard motor such as is commonly employed in the propulsion of small boats. As is well known, the lower housing portion contains a depending drive shaft 11, a horizontal propeller shaft 12, and bevel gears 13 and 14 for driving the propeller shaft 12 from the drive shaft 11, all of which is indicated in FIG. 2.

The rearwardly extending portion of propeller shaft 12 normally has a propeller detachably secured thereto, the same having been removed in the apparatus shown in the drawing for the Purpose of associating the present underwater mowing apparatus with the remainder of the outboard motor mechanism. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the numeral 15 designates the usual shroud portion of the outboard motor mechanism housing which normally overlies the propeller.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 the numeral 18 designates a main housing and support member for the apparatus of the present invention, the same comprising an upper chamber portion 19 and a depending column portion 20. A generally Vertical shaft 21 is supported for free rotation in the upper and lower ends of column 20 by anti-friction bearings 22 and 23. A bevel pinion 25 is fixed to the upper end of shaft 21 and a Companion bevel gear 26 is mounted in a wall portion of housing 18 by means of an anti-friction bearing 28. In FIG. 2 the numeral 29 designates a collar for retaining the bevel gear in assembled relation in the wall of housing 18.

At its lower end shaft 21 has secured thereto a mower blade 31 which comprises a pair of radiating blade portions. A guard for blade 31 comprises a pair of arms 33 which are fixed to flanges 34 on housing 18 and a shoe member comprising an angle iron 35 fixed at its opposite ends to arms 33 and curved to extend beneath the mower blade 31.

The arrangement is such that the mowing attachment of the present invention is mounted in driven relationship With respect tothe propeller shaft of the outboard motor and is supported primar'ily by such propeller shaft, whereby a proper positional driVing relationship is automatically assured and an extremely sirnple and effective driving engagement is achieved. However, means are preferably provided for preventing turning of the mower assembly on the propeller shaft.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, upper and lower pairs of arms 37 and 38 extend longitudinally from housing 13 and embrace the outboard motor housing 10, being readily clamped thereto by bolts 39. Various adaptors may be provided so that housing 18 may be fixed with respect to outboard motor housings of various configurations.

In converting an outboard motor for underwater mowing by use of the present apparatus the usual propeller retaining nut 40 is remoVed, the propeller is removed from the propeller shaft 12, bevel pinion 26 is slipped onto propeller shaft 12 together with a spacing or adapter collar 41, nut 40 is replaced, and a cover member 42 of housing 18 is secured to the rear open wall of the housing by screws 43. The apparatus is now ready for underwater power mowing in an obvious manner.

I claim:

1. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion supported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upper portion of said housing, an opening in the front wall of said housing whereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by assembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, and releasable means engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter When said first pinion is assembled for rotation with said propeller shaft.

2. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion having a bore portion, means for supporting said pinion for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upper portion of said housing independently of said bore portion, an opening in the front wall of said housing exposing said bore portion whereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by disposing said bore portion of said pinion on said shaft, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft.

3. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion supported for rotation on a generally horizontally axis by said housing adjacent to a wall thereof, an opening in said wall whereby the bore of said bevel pinion is accessible from the exterior of said housing and said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by assembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, and releasable means engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter when said first pinion is assembled for rotation with said propeller shaft.

4. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion having a bore portion, means for supporting said pinion for rotation on a generally horizontal axis by said housing adjacent to a wall thereof independently of said bore portion, an opening in said wall exposing said bore portion whereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by disposing said bore portion of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft.

5. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion supported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis by said housing adjacent to a wall thereof, an opening in said wall whereby the bore of said bevel pinion is accessible from the exterior of said housing and said mower may bsupported from said propeller shaft by assembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, releasable means engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor to prevent lotation of the former with respect to the latter when said first pinion is assembled for rotation with said propeller shaft, and guard means for said mower blade means comprising a loop member disposed in a Vertical fore andV aft plane to extend about said mower blade means, said guard means being secured at its upper central portion to the lower portion of said mower housing.

6. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower' shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pinion supported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upper portion of said housing, an opening in the front wallof said housing whereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by assembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, releasable means engaging between said mower housing and said outboard motor to prevent rotation of the former with respect to the latter when said first pinion is assembled for rotation With said propeller shaft, and guard means for said mower blade means comprising a loop member disposed in a Vertical fore and aft plane to eX- tend about said mower blade means, said guard meansVV being secured at its upper central portion to the lower portion of said mower housing.

7. An underwater mower for attachment to and operation by an outboard motor propeller shaft, said mower comprising a housing and a generally Vertical mower shaft rotatably supported therein, a bevel pin-ion supported for rotation on a generally horizontal axis in the upper portion of said housing, an opening in the front wall of said housing whereby said mower may be supported from said propeller shaft by assembly of said pinion thereon, means for detachably retaining said bevel pinion on said propeller shaft for rotation therewith, a mating bevel pinion fixed to the upper end of said mower shaft, and horizontally disposed rotary mower blade means fixed to the lower end of said mower shaft, and

6 guard means for said mower blade means comprisng a References Cited in the file of this patent loop member disposed in a Vertical fore and aft plane UNITED STATES PATENTS to extend about said mower blade means said guard 2,677,926 Washbourne et al. May 11, 1954 means bemg secured at lts upper central portlon to the 2739 435 Wiser Mar. 27, 1956 lower portion of said mower housing. 5 3 085 543 Falkner Apr 16 1963

Claims (1)

1. AN UNDERWATER MOWER FOR ATTACHMENT TO AND OPERATION BY AN OUTBOARD MOTOR PROPELLER SHAFT, SAID MOWER COMPRISING A HOUSING AND A GENERALLY VERTICAL MOWER SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED THEREIN, A BEVEL PINION SUPPORTED FOR ROTATION ON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID HOUSING, AN OPENING IN THE FRONT WALL OF SAID HOUSING WHEREBY SAID MOWER MAY BE SUPPORTED FROM SAID PROPELLER SHAFT BY ASSEMBLY OF SAID PINION THEREON, MEANS FOR DETACHABLY RETAINING SAID BEVEL PINION ON SAID PROPELLER SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, A MATING BEVEL PINION FIXED TO THE UPPER END OF SAID MOWER SHAFT, HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED ROTARY MOWER BLADE MEANS FIXED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID MOWER SHAFT, AND RELEASABLE MEANS ENGAGING BETWEEN SAID MOWER HOUSING AND SAID OUTBOARD MOTOR TO PREVENT ROTATION OF THE FORMER WITH RESPECT TO THE LATTER WHEN SAID FIRST PINION IS ASSEMBLED FOR ROTATION WITH SAID PROPELLER SHAFT.

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