Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
109Z3GB
TITLE
MULTIPLE SPINDLE ROTARY MOWER
INVENTOR
EARL H. KIDD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to rotary lawn mowers and
particularly to multi-blade rotary lawn mowers.
More specifically, the invention relates to grass
clipping discharge and catching arrangements for such multi-
blade rotary mowers.
Prior multi-blade or spindle rotary mowers have
experienced only limited or poor success with respect to
grass catching.
.'' ~
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a rotary lawn mower comprising
a blade housing supported for travel in adjacent relation to
the ground, a grass clipping discharge means, a first rotary
cutter blade, means for supporting the first cutter blade for
rotation within the blade housing and so as to directly
discharge clippings from the first cutter blade out the grass
clipping discharge means, a second rotary cutter blade, means
for supporting the second cutter blade for rotation within the
blade housing in laterally rearwardly offset relation from the
rotary axis of the first cutter blade and so as to guide
clipping discharge from the rotary path of the second cutter
blade into the rotary path of the first cutter blade, and
means associated with each of the cutter blades and operative
in response to cutter blade rotation for conveying grass
clippings for discharge from the respective paths of
cutter blade rotation, which conveying means associated with
--1--
D
.. . . ..
, ~ .. . . ,. . ; ~ . - - . ~
.. . . . . . .
1~ 9 ~ 3~;~
the first cutter blade has a greater capacity than the
conveying means associated with the second cutter blade.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention,
the blade housing includes a depending wall having a generally ~ -
straight portion, the first rotary cutter blade is supported
for rotation with the periphery of the rotary path of the
first cutter blade extending in tangentially adjacent relation
to the straight portion of the depending wall, and the second
rotary cutter blade is supported for rotation with the peri-
phery of the rotary path of the second cutter blade extending
in tangentially adjacent relation to the straight portion of
the depending wall, whereby grass clippings are discharged from
the rotary path of the second cutter blade into the rotary path
of the first cutter blade.
In one embodiment of the invention, the housing includes
a top deck and the grass clipping discharge means includes an
opening in the top deck and a side discharge opening in the' ~ :
depending wall. ~ s
In an embodiment of the invention, means removably
connectable to the housing are provided for closing one of the ~ :
openings, whîch means can include a discharge chute communicable ~
,
with the opening in the top deck, together with a baf1e b~ocking
the side dîscharge opening~
In an embodiment of the invention, the depending wall
further includes a first arcuate portion merging with the straight
portion and extending în the dlrection counter to the dîrection
of rotation of the second cutter blade and adjacent to and for
about 270 around the periphery of the rotary path of the second
cutter blade, together wîth a:second arcuate portion extending
in adjacent relation to the periphery of the path of the first
cutter blade and in the direction counter to the direction of
rotation of the first cutter blade from the first arcuate wall
portion~
`D -2-
.. . . , , , - . . . .
~ ~ Z3~;8
One of the principal features of the invention is the
provision of a multi-blade rotary mower wherein the cutter blades
are arranged in tandem and wherein one of the blades is provided
with a greater clipping discharge capacity than the other blade.
Another of the principal features of the invention is the
provision of a multi-blade or spindle rotary mower wherein the
clippings cut by one blade are directed to the other blade for
discharge from the housing.
Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the
invention will become known by reference to the following drawings,
general description and claims.
THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top view of a rotary lawn mower incorporating
various of the features of the invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the cutter blades
incorporated in the mower shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an end view of another of the cutter blades
incorporated in the mower shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the mower shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view, with parts omitted, taken
along line 5--5 of Fig. 4.
Before describing the embodiments of the invention in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited .
in its application to the details of construction and the arrange-
ments of the components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawing. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology
employed herein is for the purposes of description and should not
be regarded as limiting.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Shown in the drawings is a rotary lawn mower 11 which
incorporates various of the features of the invention
-3-
: ' . ' , ~ . . . . .
', ,, ,,' ;,, ' ' ; ~, ~
: ~ , . . ..
Z3~6i
and which is preferably self-propelled. However, the inven-
tion also extends to push-type mowers and to riding mowers.
The mower 11 includes a blade housing 13 which in-
cludes a top deck 15 and a depending side wall 16 and which
is suitably supported above the ground and for travel along
the ground. While various supporting arrangements can be
employed, in the illustrated construction, such means com-
prises a pair of rear wheels 17 and a pair of forward wheels 19.
Provided in the housing are ~irst and second cutter ;
blades 21 and 23 respectively, together with respective shaft
and bearing means 31 and 33 on the housing for rotatably sup- ~ :
porting the first and second cutter blades 21 and 23 within
the blade housing 13 with the rotary axis 43 of the second
cutter blade 23 being located, with respect to the intended
direction of blade housing movement,in laterally and rearwardly ~ ;
offset relation to the rotary axis 41 of the first cutter blade
21. The effective cutting areas of the respective cutter blades
21 and 23 is indicated by the respective reference letters A and
B in the drawings.
Means are provided for rotating the cutter blades 21
and 23. While other constructions could be employed, in the ,
illustrated construction, such means comprises an engine 51
mounted on the blade housing 13 and a drive train 53 extending
from the engine 51 to the cutter blades 21 and 23. While
various drive trains can be employed, in the illustrated con-
struction, the engine 51 includes an output shaft carrying a
drive pulley 55 which is connected by a drive belt 57 to a ~ '
pulley 59 connected fixedly to the second cutter blade 23.
Also connected fixedly to the second cut~er blade 23 is another
pulley 61 which is connected through a drive belt 63 to apulley 65 fixedly cormected to the first cutter blade 21. A
suitable belt tightener such as a biased idler pulley 67 can
-- 4 --
- ~
~ ~ Z3 ~ ~
be employed between the first and second cutter blades 21 and
23. In the illustrated construction, the cutter blades 21
and 23 are both rotated at approximately the same speed and
ro~ate in the clockwise direction as seen from above.
I~ addition, it is preferred to employ, in connection
with the drive to the second cutter blade 23, a com~ination
brake and clu~ch mechanism 71 which can include a selectively
positionable idler pulley 73 operable selectively to remove
slack from the drive belt 57 and a brake shoe 75 engagably
with the drive belt 57 to brake movement thereof. `~
A suitable drive mechanism 77 is also preferably
employed to drive the rear wheels 17 from the engine 51,
which mechanism 77 can include means for selecting drive at
one or more speeds.
The cutter blades 21 and 23 are, except as explained
hereinafter, of generally conventional structure and comprise -
elongated~ bars having, at the outer leading ends thereof
respectiue cutting edges 81 and 83 and having, along the
outer trailing ends thereof, lift means in the form of respective
upstanding vanes 91 and 93 operative to propel a stream of air
and thereby to convey grass clippings from the paths of the
rotary cutting blades 21 and 23. Preferably, the vanes 91 on ;
the first cutter blade 21 have a vane area greater than the area :~
of the vanes 93 on the second cutter blade. Thus, in the
illustrated construction, the vanes 91 on the first c~tter
~ .
blade 21 have a height of about 11/16 of an inch, whereas the
vanes 93 on the second cutter blade 23 have a height of about
1/2 inch. Thus, for a given speed of rotation, the first
cutter blade 21 has a greater grass clipping conveying capacity
than the second cutter blade 23.
Means are provided for guiding grass clipping dis-
charge from the path of the second cutter blade 23 into the
. . . ~. , ~ ~ ., . :
., - - . . . , ::
~9~3G~
path of the ~irst cutter blade 21. While various arrange-
ments can be employed, in the illustrated construction, a
vertical wall 101 depends downwardly from the top deck 15
of the blade housing 13 and extends, in part, in closely
adjacent relation to the periphery of the rotary paths of
the first and second cutter blades 21 and 23. More specifi-
cally, the depending wall 101 includes a straight portion 103
extending in generally tangential relation to the rotary paths
of the first and second cutter blades 21 and 23, which
straight portion 103 is operative to cause grass clippings :.
to flow from the rotary path of the second cutter blade 23
into the rotary path of the first cutter blade 21 for subse-
quent discharge from the blade housing 13.
The depending wall 101 further includes an arcuate
portion 105 which extends in closely adjacent relation to
the path of the second cutter blade 23 from the area of tan-
gential relationship between the rotary path of the second
cutter blade 23 and the straight portion 103 of the wall 101,
in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the
second cutter blade 23, i.e., in the counter clockwise direction,
for a distance of about 2~0 and which terminates at a point 107 ~ :
located generally in the vicinity of a straight line connecting
the axes 41 and 43 of the first and second cutter blades 21 and
23.
The depending wall 101 further includes another
arcuate portion 109 which extends, from the point 107, in the
counter clockwïse direction around and in closely adjacent .
relation to the periphery of the path of the first cutter
blade 21 to adjacent a side discharge grass clipping chute 111.
If a side discharge chute 111 is not employed, the arcuate
wall portion 109 can extend continuously to the area of
-- 6 --
.
. .
..
23~;8
tantential relationship between the straight wall portion 103
and the periphery of the rotary path of the first cutter blade
21.
As shown in Fig. 4, a short vertical wall 108 extends
between the end of the arcuate wall portion 109 and a portion
llO of the blade housing side wal.l 16.
As already indicated, the mower blade housing 13
includes grass clipping discharge means arranged for delivery
from the housing of grass clippings solely from the path of the
first cutter blade 21. Whilé-various arrangements can be
employed, it is preferred to employ an opportunity for
selectively discharging the grass clippings through either a
top deck discharge opening 121 or through a side discharge
opening 123 (indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 4) located
in the depending wall 101 and communicating with the laterally
extending side discharge chute 111 already referred to.
While other arrangements are possible, in the illus-
trated construction, the side discharge chute 111 inc`ludes
forwardly and rearwardly spaced vertical walls 112 and 114,
respectively, and extends arcuately from the area of tangential
relationship between the straight portion 103 of the depending ;
wall 101 and the periphery of the rotary path of the first
cutter blade 21. If desired, the depending wall 101 can also
include a short arcuate portion between the straight portion
103 and the side discharge chute 111. As indicate~, the side
discharge opening 123 constitutes an interruption in the
depending wall 101 between the straight portion 103 and the
arcuate portion 109.
The top discharge opening 121 extends in the top
deck 15 in generally adjacent relation to the side discharge
opening 123 and partially above the ro.tary path of the first
-7
~ 3~i8
cutter blade 21. When the mower :is used for side discharge
o~ grass clipplngs, the top deck discharge opening 121 is
closed by a removable cover (not shown). When it is desired
to catch or collect the grass clippings, the cover is removed
and replaced with a top deck discharge chute 125 which can
extend rearwardly for application thereto of a grass clipping
bag, as shown in the United States Shaw Patent No. 3,118,267,
issued January 21, 196~, or for discharge of clippings to a
recepticle carried rearwardly of the blade housing as disclosed
in Canadian Application Serial No. 227,304, filed May 20,
1975. .
The side discharge opening 123 is closed when using
the top discharge opening 121 and accordingly, the top dis-
charge chute 125 preferably includes an arcuate baffle (not
shown) which is operative to~close the side discharge opening
123 and in effect, becomes part of the depending wall 101. If .
desired, a baffle element (not shown) separate from the top :~
discharge chute 125 can be attached to the housing 13 to
close the side discharge opening 123 when using the top dis-
charge chute 125.
Because the grass clippings from the second cutter
blade 23 are delivered to the rotary path of the first cutter
blade 21 for discharge from the blade housing 13, it is
preferred that the first cutter blade 21 be capable of conveying
a greater quant:ity of grass clippings than the second cutter
blade 23. Various means can be employed for incre~sing the
grass clipping conveying capacity of the first cutter blade 21
as compared to the second cutter blade 23. For instance, the -:
drive train 53 could be arranged by suitable means to rotate
the first cutter blade 21 at a faster speed that the second
cutter blade 23. In the illustrated construction, the first
--8--
.. . . :. ., . . - .- , . .
1~9 ~3~i~
cutter blade 21 is provided with increased grass clipping
delivery capacity as compared to the second cutter blade 23
by employing larger vanes 91 with greater vertical height
and lift area on the first cutter blade 21 as compared to
the vanes 93 on the second cutter blade 23.
In operation, grass clippings cut by the second
cutter blade 23 are delivered through the space between the
point 107 and the depending wall straight portion 103 into
the rotating path of the first cutter blade 21 for discharge
with the grass clippings cut by the first cutter blade 21
from the housing through either the side discharge chute 111
or through the top discharge chute 125 and into a collection ;
bag. Thus, there is provided a multi-spindle rotary mower .
capable of effectively collecting grass clippings cut by both
the first and second cutter blades.
Various of the features of t~e invention are set
forth in the following claims.
:- -9- :
