US3433002A - Motorized friction drive mower - Google Patents

Motorized friction drive mower Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3433002A
US3433002A US505859A US3433002DA US3433002A US 3433002 A US3433002 A US 3433002A US 505859 A US505859 A US 505859A US 3433002D A US3433002D A US 3433002DA US 3433002 A US3433002 A US 3433002A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ground wheels
mower
wheels
drive
handle
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 - Lifetime
Application number
US505859A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Raymond J Custance
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
RAYMOND J CUSTANCE
Original Assignee
RAYMOND J CUSTANCE
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by RAYMOND J CUSTANCE filed Critical RAYMOND J CUSTANCE
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3433002A publication Critical patent/US3433002A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/01—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
    • A01D34/412—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
    • A01D34/42—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders
    • A01D34/46—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders hand-guided by a walking operator
    • A01D34/47—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders hand-guided by a walking operator with motor driven cutters or wheels
    • A01D34/475—Driving mechanisms
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/01—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
    • A01D34/412—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
    • A01D34/42—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders
    • A01D34/46—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders hand-guided by a walking operator
    • A01D34/47—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a horizontal axis, e.g. cutting-cylinders hand-guided by a walking operator with motor driven cutters or wheels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D2101/00—Lawn-mowers

Definitions

  • This invention relates to motorized mowers of the kind having a body which is supported on ground wheels and carries both a rotating or reciprocating cutter and a motor, such as an electric motor or an internal combustion engine. The motor both propels the wheels and drives the cutter.
  • the body of a motorized mower of the kind described is supported on four ground wheels, one at the front and rear on each side, with the wheels on each side of the body being driven through a common friction roller which rests on and between the two wheels.
  • This arrangement calls for a short front to rear wheel base so that the friction roller on each side can rest in the V formed between the front and rear ground wheels.
  • the machine can therefore be made very compact and this results in easy maneuvering and storing.
  • the friction drive is cheap, positive, easily controlled and drives all four wheels at the same time. By having all the four wheels driven, the machine can be used in rough and wet conditions without appreciable slipping because there are always three wheels in contact with the ground and these are all capable of propelling the machine.
  • the friction roller on each side of the body may be rotatably mounted on a pivoted support member which can rock to bring the friction roller into and out of engagement with the ground wheels without affecting the drive to the friction roller, with the two support members being resiliently urged in directions to bring the friction rollers into engagement with the ground wheels but being arranged upon operation of a manual control member to move against the spring loading to disconnect the drive to the wheels.
  • This feature enables the positive drive to the ground wheels to be disconnected without affecting the drive to the cutter so that, if necessary, the machine can be inspected stationary with the cutter running or manipulated by hand to cut rough grass in inaccessible positions.
  • the handle When the mower is of the conventional design having a handle which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the body for gripping by a pedestrian operator walking behind the mower, the handle preferably forms the manual control member and includes two legs which pass and are movably mounted one on each side of the body and are connected to the pivoted support members in such a way that when the handle is pulled backwards or downwards the support members rock so that the friction States 1 atent Q rollers move out of engagement with the ground wheels and the drive to the ground wheels is disconnected, and when the outer end of the handle is pushed forwards or upwards, the drive is re-engaged.
  • the handle If the weight of the handle is incompletely counter-balanced by the spring loading on the support members, when the outer end of the handle is released by a pedestrian operator for any reason, the handle will fall backwards and downwards under its own weight and cause automatically the disengagement of the drive to the ground wheels. The handle then forms in effect a dead mans handle which prevents the mower from running away if it is released by an operator who for example stumbles.
  • the handle legs may be pivoted directly on the body and be connected to the support members by a pin and slot connection, but preferably the handle legs are pivoted to the support member and are loosely guided in guides on the body.
  • the pivoted support members on the two sides of the body may be rigidly interconnected so that they rock together and the two friction rollers may then be driven by a common axle on which they are mounted.
  • a pawl and ratchet mechanism may be interposed between each friction roller and the common axle.
  • the common axle When the common axle is provided, it may carry at one side of the body a sprocket wheel which is driven by a chain passing around a second sprocket wheel which is freely rotatable about an axis coincidental with the pivotal axis of the support members, with the second sprocket wheel being rigidly connected to a third sprocket wheel which is driven by a second chain through which the cutter is driven from the motor.
  • the friction rollers may be provided with peripheral teeth which mesh with similar teeth on at least one of the ground wheels on each side of the body.
  • the teeth on the ground wheels may be formed by part of the tread of the tires and when only one of the front and rear ground wheels are provided with teeth, it is preferably the front wheels which are so provided.
  • the invention is particularly appliacble to a mover of the kind in which the cutter is a cylindrical reel fitted with a number of axially extending helical blades which co-operate with a fixed ledger blade at the bottom of the body.
  • the reel may then be rotatably mounted on a transverse axis extending between the front ground wheels of the machine.
  • a grass catcher may be fitted in this space so that the grass cuttings are thrown upwardly and rearwardly by the cutter reel into the grass catcher. Since the grass catcher starts from within the wheel base of the mower, the arrangement is particularly compact and there is little danger of the catcher getting in the Way of the pedestrian operators feet as he walks behind the mower.
  • the two ground wheels on each side of the body may be freely rotatable on the stub axles projecting laterally from a bar which extends along the side of the body, with the rear end of the bar being pivoted to the body and the front end of the bar being selectively secured to the body in any one of a number of positions at different heights relatively to the body.
  • FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the mower without its grass catcher
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the body of the mower
  • FIGURE 3 is a front elevation of the body of the mower
  • FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the left hand side of the mower body with parts broken away;
  • FIGURE 5 is an elevation of the right hand side of the body with other parts broken away.
  • the mower has a body with a chassis formed by a deck plate 6 to which side plates 7 and 8 are welded.
  • An internal combustion engine 9 of conventional design is mounted on top of the deck plate 6 and is arranged to drive a cutter reel 10 and front and rear ground wheels 11 and 12 through a centrifugal clutch 13.
  • a throttle control 14 for the motor is adjacent to the free end of a handle 15 having a pair of legs 16 which extend one on each side of the body of the mower.
  • the cutter reel 10 has a central axle 17 and the ends thereof are rotatable in bearings 18 carried on the inner surfaces of the side plates 7 and 8.
  • the axle 17 extends right through the bearing 18 carried by the plate 8 and has rigidly fixed on its end a sprocket wheel 19.
  • the sprocket wheel 19 and hence the cutter reel 10 are driven from a sprocket wheel 20 on the output shaft of the centrifugal clutch 13 by a chain 21 housed within a guard 22.
  • the helical blades of the cutter reel 10 co-operate with a stationary ledger plate 23 which extends between the bottom edge of the side plates 7 and 8.
  • the ledger plate 23 carries a bracket 24 which is bolted to the side plates 7 and 8 by bolts 25 and 26.
  • the bolts 25 each extend through an off center hole in a block 27 which is rotatable in the corresponding side plates 7 and 8 and the height of the ledger palte 23 relatively to the cutter reel 10 can be adjusted by loosening the bolts 25 and 26 and rotating the blocks 27 to the necessary extent.
  • the bolts 26 pass through elongated slots 28 in the side plates 7 and 8 to allow for any longitudinal movement of the ledger plate 23 consequent upon rotation of the blocks 27. When the adjustment has been made, the bolts 25 and 26 are retightened again.
  • the ground wheels 11 and 12 on each side of the mower body are freely rotatable on stub axles 29 and 30 respectively which are fixed to a bar 31 the rear end of which is pivotally mounted by means of a bolt 32 to the corresponding side plate 7 or '8 and the front end of which is secured by means of a bolt 33 to the corresponding side plate.
  • the bolts 33 are arranged to extend through any one of a number of part circular holes 34 at the front ends of the side plates and this enables an adjustment in the height of the front end of the bar 31 relatively to the body of the mower, and hence an adjustment in the height of the cutter reel 10 and ledger plate 23 above the ground, to be made.
  • the bars 31 on each side of the mower body are similar although the bar on the left hand side of the machine has wider return portions 35 and the corresponding bolt 33 requires a spacer 36, in order to accommodate the driving mechanism which is positioned on the left hand side of the body.
  • the drive to the ground wheels 11 and 12 is also transmitted through the chain 21 which, as well as passing around the sprocket wheels 19 and 20 also passes with its outer surface in engagement with a further sprocket wheel 37.
  • the sprocket wheel 37 is rigidly fixed on a sleeve 38 that is freely rotatable on a bearing carried by a bolt 39 extending through the guard 22 and through the side plate 8.
  • a supporting arm 40' is pivotally mounted on the bolt 39 and immediately within the side plate 7 is a further identical arm 40 having an end which is pivotally mounted on a bolt 41 which extends through the side plate 7 coaxially with the bolt 39.
  • Rigidly interconnecting the two arms 40 is a bearing tube 41a through which a shaft 42 extends, and the ends of the shaft 42 extend through openings 43 in the side plates 7 and 8 and carry toothed friction rollers 44 in the V formed between and above .4 the ground wheels 11 and 12 on each side of the body.
  • the shaft 42 has keyed thereon another sprocket wheel 45 which is driven from a further sprocket wheel 46 fixed on the sleeve 38 through a chain 47 within a guard 48.
  • the assembly of two supporting arms 44), the transverse tube 41a, and the shaft 42, are urged to pivot about the bolts 39 and 41 backwards and downwards under the action of hairpin tension springs 49 which are spaced at intervals across the body and are interposed between a shield plate 50 for the cutter reel 10, the deck plate 6, and the top of the tube 410.
  • the extreme lower ends of the legs 16 of the handles 15 are formed by flat bars 51 one of which extends loosely through a guide channel 52 carried by the right hand bar 31 and which are sprung over and pivotally connected to studs 53 projecting outwards through the corresponding openings 43 from lugs 54 on the corresponding supporting arms 40.
  • the handle 15 When the handle 15 is pulled backwards or downwards, its legs slide backwards through the channel 52 and this causes the assembly of supporting arms 40, tube 41a, shaft 42, and friction rollers 44 to swing upwards about the axis of the bolts 39 and 41 to the position shown in FIGURE 5 in which the friction rollers 44 are clear of the ground wheels 11 and 12.
  • the weight of the handle 15 is such that if it is released its weight is sufiicient to overcome the reaction of the springs 49 and to cause the assembly to swing upwards to this inoperative position.
  • the handle 15 In order to engage the drive to the ground wheels, the handle 15 is pushed forward or at least lifted sufficiently for the reaction of the springs 49 to pivot the assembly downwards and backwards so that the friction rollers 44 engage both the ground wheels 11 and 12 on each side of the body.
  • the solid rubber tires on the front ground wheels 11 are provided with a toothed tread of the same pitch as the teeth on the friction rollers 44 to assist in transmitting the drive to the ground wheels 11 at least.
  • Pawl and ratchet mechanisms are fitted between the friction rollers 44 and the shaft 41 in such a way that a forward drive is transmitted by the pawl and ratchet mechanisms from the engine 9 to the ground wheels but the ground wheels can overrun the drive, for example, the outer pair of ground wheels when turning.
  • the cutter reel 10 is driven in the same direction as the ground wheels 11 and 12 because there are two reversals in the direction of the drive between the sprocket wheel 20 and the ground wheels.
  • One reversal is caused by the engagement of the back of the chain 21 with the sprocket wheel 37 and the other is provided by the interposition of the friction rollers 44 themselves.
  • the positions of the axis of the shaft 41a and the pivotal axis of the supporting arm assembly relatively to the axis of the axles 29 and 30 and the center of pivoting of the bolt 32 is such that the adjustment to the bars 31 provided by the bolts 33 and holes 34 has negligible effect on the even engagement between the friction rollers 44 and the front and rear ground wheels 11 and 12.
  • the cutter reel 10 extends between the front ground wheels 11 and as suggested in FIGURES 2 and 4, the space behind the cutter reel between the rear ground wheels 12 can be fitted with a grass catcher 56 into which the grass is thrown by the reel 10 and which can be removed for emptying.
  • the grass catcher 56 is fitted to the mower body by means of lugs 57 which lip under flanges on the brackets 24 while central bottom portions of the sides of the catcher rest on spacer 58 carried on the bolts 32.
  • a motorized mower comprising a body having sides and four ground wheels, one at the front and rear of each side, cutter means carried by the body, a pivoted support member on each side, a driving friction roller rotatably mounted on the support member, biasing means for urging the support member in a direction to move the friction roller into joint contact with the two wheels on that side of the body, drive means for the friction roller, and means for moving the support member in another direction to remove the friction roller from said contact, with the drive to said friction roller being un ffected by the movement of said support member.
  • said means for moving said support member is a handle which extends upwardly and rearwardly from the body for gripping by a pedestrian operator walking behind the mower, the handle including two legs which pass and are movably mounted one on each side of the body and are connected to the pivoted support members in such a way that when the handle is pulled backwards or downwards, the support members rock so that the friction rollers move out of engagement with the ground wheels and the drive to the ground wheels is disconnected, and when the outer end of the handle is pushed forwards or upwards, the drive is re-engaged.
  • the common axle carries at one side of the body a sprocket wheel which is driven by a chain passing around a second sprocket wheel which is freely rotatable about an axis coincidental with the pivotal axis of the support members, and the second sprocket wheel being rigidly connected to a third sprocket wheel which is driven by a second chain through which a cutter is driven from the motor.
  • the mower according to claim 1 including a cutter defined by a cylindrical reel fitted with a number of axially extending helical blades and a fixed ledger blade at the bottom of the body with which said blades cooperate, the reel being rotatably mounted on a transverse axis extending between the front ground wheels.
  • the mower according to claim 9 including a bar extending along each side of the body, stub axles projecting laterally from each bar, the ground wheels on each side being freely rotatable on the stub axles, the rear end of the bar being pivoted to the body and the front end of the bar being selectively secured to the body in any one of a number of positions at different heights relatively to the body whereby the height of the cutter above the ground can be set.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)
US505859A 1964-11-10 1965-11-01 Motorized friction drive mower Expired - Lifetime US3433002A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE13537/64A SE305095B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1964-11-10 1964-11-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3433002A true US3433002A (en) 1969-03-18

Family

ID=20297559

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US505859A Expired - Lifetime US3433002A (en) 1964-11-10 1965-11-01 Motorized friction drive mower

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3433002A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1097840A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE305095B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3527034A (en) * 1967-06-20 1970-09-08 Stig Gunner Hielmquist Power transmissions for lawnmowers
US4016946A (en) * 1974-10-17 1977-04-12 FORATRAC "Societe Civile" Method and device for driving the driving wheels of a vehicle
EP1597956A1 (en) * 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 Textron Inc. Walk behind mower with clutch
US20110302894A1 (en) * 2010-06-09 2011-12-15 Chervon (Hk) Limited Lawn care apparatus
US20120146386A1 (en) * 2009-08-25 2012-06-14 Terry Charles Rowlands Motorised wheelbarrow
US20160325869A1 (en) * 2015-05-04 2016-11-10 Src Innovations Llc System and method for towing a mobile bagging machine
US9622407B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2017-04-18 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US9677648B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2017-06-13 The Toro Company Walk-behind power equipment unit having all-wheel drive control system

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2380181A (en) * 1944-04-11 1945-07-10 Alvin T Krenzien Front wheel drive for vehicles
US2474085A (en) * 1946-02-13 1949-06-21 Albright Glenn Tractor drive mechanism
US2623603A (en) * 1948-02-19 1952-12-30 Roland S Cutlan Lawn mower power unit
US2645300A (en) * 1948-03-15 1953-07-14 John J Watts Lawn mower drive
US2742973A (en) * 1952-02-01 1956-04-24 Johannesen Hans Arne Ingolf Powered invalid chair and handle control therefor
US2823507A (en) * 1956-02-06 1958-02-18 Allyn R Cooper Power rotary lawn mower
US2824415A (en) * 1956-04-23 1958-02-25 Pearl G Frazier Self-propelling rotary mower
US3003300A (en) * 1954-10-22 1961-10-10 Sunbeam Corp Power lawn mower
US3035385A (en) * 1959-08-24 1962-05-22 Sunbeam Corp Self-propelled lawn mower
US3068632A (en) * 1960-06-29 1962-12-18 James H Postlewait Lawn mower
US3343621A (en) * 1963-12-31 1967-09-26 Hubertus J Van Doorne Means for driving tandem wheels on each side of a vehicle

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2380181A (en) * 1944-04-11 1945-07-10 Alvin T Krenzien Front wheel drive for vehicles
US2474085A (en) * 1946-02-13 1949-06-21 Albright Glenn Tractor drive mechanism
US2623603A (en) * 1948-02-19 1952-12-30 Roland S Cutlan Lawn mower power unit
US2645300A (en) * 1948-03-15 1953-07-14 John J Watts Lawn mower drive
US2742973A (en) * 1952-02-01 1956-04-24 Johannesen Hans Arne Ingolf Powered invalid chair and handle control therefor
US3003300A (en) * 1954-10-22 1961-10-10 Sunbeam Corp Power lawn mower
US2823507A (en) * 1956-02-06 1958-02-18 Allyn R Cooper Power rotary lawn mower
US2824415A (en) * 1956-04-23 1958-02-25 Pearl G Frazier Self-propelling rotary mower
US3035385A (en) * 1959-08-24 1962-05-22 Sunbeam Corp Self-propelled lawn mower
US3068632A (en) * 1960-06-29 1962-12-18 James H Postlewait Lawn mower
US3343621A (en) * 1963-12-31 1967-09-26 Hubertus J Van Doorne Means for driving tandem wheels on each side of a vehicle

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3527034A (en) * 1967-06-20 1970-09-08 Stig Gunner Hielmquist Power transmissions for lawnmowers
US4016946A (en) * 1974-10-17 1977-04-12 FORATRAC "Societe Civile" Method and device for driving the driving wheels of a vehicle
EP1597956A1 (en) * 2004-05-21 2005-11-23 Textron Inc. Walk behind mower with clutch
US20120146386A1 (en) * 2009-08-25 2012-06-14 Terry Charles Rowlands Motorised wheelbarrow
US9108690B2 (en) * 2009-08-25 2015-08-18 Terry Charles Rowlands Motorised wheelbarrow
US20110302894A1 (en) * 2010-06-09 2011-12-15 Chervon (Hk) Limited Lawn care apparatus
US9622407B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2017-04-18 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US10080327B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2018-09-25 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US11102925B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2021-08-31 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US9677648B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2017-06-13 The Toro Company Walk-behind power equipment unit having all-wheel drive control system
US20160325869A1 (en) * 2015-05-04 2016-11-10 Src Innovations Llc System and method for towing a mobile bagging machine
US10518920B2 (en) * 2015-05-04 2019-12-31 Src Innovations Llc System and method for towing a mobile bagging machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE305095B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1968-10-14
GB1097840A (en) 1968-01-03

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3757500A (en) Multiple unit lawnmower construction
US5226284A (en) Engine-driven lawn mower system with a retractable belt-driven rotary grass trimming flail unit, and methods of mounting the unit on lawn mowers
US3410063A (en) Mowing apparatus
US2017524A (en) Power operated mower
US2194297A (en) Power driven work device
US2708484A (en) Power drive attachment for a rotary grass cutter
US2899793A (en) Self-propelled riding lawn mower
US3433002A (en) Motorized friction drive mower
US2736389A (en) Drive mechanism for a power mower
US3706188A (en) Elevating apparatus for tractor attachments
US2166450A (en) Adaptable mounting for prime movers to act on ground wheels
US2659445A (en) Steering mechanism for rotary mowers
US2879859A (en) Self-propelled riding vehicle
US2771959A (en) Sharp-toothed tire engaging members for driving vehicle wheels
US2468839A (en) Power lawn mower
US4146105A (en) Lawn mower
US2514861A (en) Power lawn mower
US2151659A (en) Power lawn mower
US2765861A (en) Power mower with steerable and driven rear wheel
US1944584A (en) Power-driven lawn mower
US1957079A (en) Power driven mowing machine
US3304700A (en) Combined lawn mower and edger
US2909882A (en) Reel-type gang mower
US2630185A (en) Power unit for lawn mowers
EP0185513A1 (en) Mowers