Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
'7~
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to lawn
maintenance equipment and relates more particularly to a
system for side discharge type lawn mowers for collecting,
transporting and dumping grass clippings and lawn debris
picked up by the mower and discharged through the mower dis-
charge duct.
A variety oE collection devices have been proposed
for lawn mowers to catch the grass clippings and other mater-
ials discharged by the mower blades during operation. Forthe most part, such collection devices have involved small
bags or containers requiring frequent emptying and have been
suited primarily for small mowers.
The mowing of large grass areas such as parks,
athletic fields, golf course fairways and large estates, pre-
sents major problems in collecting, transporting and dispos-
ing of a large volume of materials, and the grass clippings
have thus generally been allowed to remain on the grass sur-
face. Although large sized systems have been developed for
collecting clippings and other lawn debris, such systems are
generally expensive since they usually employ a blower to
produce the suction required to collect and convey the clip-
pings and lawn debris to a remote collection chamber or
trailer. Such systems are typically-complicated, expensive
to purchase and maintain, and furthermore require considerable
operator time and effort to empty bags or containers.
125~
SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTION
The present invention overcomes the shortcomings
of prior devices by providing a grass/lawn debris handling
system which employs the discharge air flow of the mower deck
to propel the grass and debris into a hopper disposed proximate
the grass discharge duct. The front end of the hopper prefer-
ably overlies the discharge duct, and a short substantially
vertical chute is employed to direct the grass and lawn debris
into the hopper without need for a supplemental blower. The
hopper is supported on the mower by a lift arm pivotally con-
nected to the mower frame at a point rearwardly spaced from
the hopper. A fluid actuated cylinder connected to the lift
arm is operable to rotate the hopper rearwardly through an
arc of at least 90, thereby serving to elevate and dump the
contents of the hopper. A door closing the top of the hopper
is pivotally mounted so as to open automatically when the
hopper is elevated into the dumping position.
The chute is attached to the mower deck which norm-
ally is articulated with respect to the mower frame to permit
the deck to conform with undulations in the ground. An over-
size opening in the hopper receives the upper end of the chute
and flexible seal means in the opening accommodates relative
movement between the chute upper end and the hopper. The
chute is preferably pivotally attached to the mower deck to
permit the pivotal movement thereof upon elevation of the
hopper to allow access to the discharge duct.
The present invention is particularly adapted to
mowers of the type characterized by a forwardly mounted mower
~zS~4~3
deck and wherein the mower is steered by one or more rear
wheels. Such mowers are highly maneuverable, usually havin~
a zero turning radius, and thus minimize the amount of trim-
ming required around trees, bushes and other obstacles. The
present system is compact, mounts along one side of the mower,
and does not significantly impede the maneuverability of the
mower. In addition, the system can be quickly dumped without
physical exertion by the operator, and without the operator
leaving his normal mower controlling position.
It is accordingly a Eirst object oE the present
invention to provide a grass/lawn debris handling system for
a lawn mower which utilizes the discharge air flow of the
mower deck to propel the grass/lawn debris into a hopper and
which does not require a blower for this function.
A further object of the invention is to provide
a handling system as described which can be quickly dumped
without operator effort and without the operator leaving his
normal station.
Another object of the invention is to provide a
handling system as described which elevates the grass/debris
collecting hopper to a substantial height before dumping,
thus permitting the dumping of the contents into a truck or
other elevated receptacle.
A still further object of the invention is to pro-
vide a handling system as described of a compact size which
does not significantly impede the maneuverability of the
mower.
~S~7'~3
Still another object of the invention is to
provide a handling system as described which provides
ready access to the mower discharge duct.
Another object of the invention is to provide
a handling system as described which is particularly
adapted to forwardly mounted mower decks which are arti-
culated with respect to the mower frame.
Additional objects of the invention will be
readily apparent from the following detailed description
of a preferred embodiment thereof.
The above objects are met by the present invention
which~provides a grass/lawn debris handling system for a
lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct. This sys-
tem comprises a hopper, a chute and means for pivotally
mounting the hopper onto a mower. The hopper is adapted
for mounting on the side of the mower proximate the mower
grass discharge duct and has a hopper opening near the
upper end of the hop~er. At least a portion of the hop-
per overlies the grass discharge duct. The chute com-
municates at its lower end with the mower grass discharge
duct, and at its upper end with the hopper opening when
the hopper is in a filling position. When in the filling
position, the hopper has an uppermost portion. The means
for pivotally mounting the hopper on the mower are pro-
vided for movement between the filling position and an
elevated dumping position. The lowermost portion of
the hopper when in the elevated dumping position is
spaced substantially above the position of the uppermost
~-5-
~,..
2~7~8
portion of the hopper when in the filling position.
Selectively operable means are further provided to
effect rotation of the hopper into the elevated dumping
position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a mower
equipped with a grass/lawn debris handing system in
accordance with the present invention with the hopper
door and deflecting hood shown in dot-dash lines;
Fiq. 2 is a plan view of the mower and hand-
ling system shown in Fig. 1 but with the hopper door
and deflecting hood removed;
Fi~. 3 is an enlarged view partly in section
taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l;
Fig 4. is an enlarged front elevational view
of the mower and handling system shown in Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing
the handling system in the dumping position and additionally
- -5a-
. ~, .,~ j
~l2S~7'~3
showing in broken and dot-dash lines the articulated mounting
of the mower deck;
Fig. 6 is is a reduced sectional view taken along
line 6-6 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view taken along line 7-
7 of Fig. 1 showing the flexible seal means at the hopper
opening with the chute removed;
Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along
line 8-8 of Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 is an enlarged view taken along line 9-9
of Fig. 5 showing the spring loaded pivotal mounting of the
chute to the mower deck; and
Fig. 10 is an enlarged view showing the details
of the hopper door opening rod assembly.
15 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and particularly Figs.
1, 2 and 4 thereof, a lawn mower generally designated 12 is
shown equipped with a grass/lawn debris system generally de-
signated 14 in accordance with the present invention. The
mower 12 is of a conventional, commercially available type
and will thus be described only in general terms.
The mower 1~ includes a mower frame assembly 16
which, although comprised of a number of structural elements,
~Z~74~
will be re~erred to hereinafter simply as the mower frame.
The mower frame is supported for movement on an opposed pair
of traction wheels 18 disposed at the front end of the mower,
and a single pivotally mounted wheel 20 at the rear end thereof.
A seat 22 is provided on the frame 16 for the operator and
a steering wheel 24 is mounted in front of the seat and opera-
tively connected with the wheel 20 to provide directional
control to the operator. An engine 26 mounted on the frame
16 supplies power to the traction wheels 18 by means of a
conventional transmission, difEerential and axle arrangement
(not shown). Engine controls, transmission controls and wheel
braking controls are provided at the operator station in a
conventional fashion, details of which have been omitted from
the drawings.
A mower deck 28 is pivotally connected to the mower
frame 16 at a pivot point 30 (Fig. 5). The mower deck may
articulate about the pivot point 30 with respect to the mower
frame as required during travel of the mower over undulating
terrain. A pair of caster type wheel assemblies 32 on the
front of the mower deck maintain the front of the deck at
a uniform height above the ground. Since the pivot point
30 is near the axis of the wheels 18, the deck will follow
the contour oE the ground as defined by the casteLs 32 and
the wheels 18. The employment of the single steerahle rear
wheel 20 and the castering wheels 32 permits extreme maneuver-
ability of this type of mower, usually resulting in a zero
turning radius.
As shown in Fig. 2, the mower deck 28 encloses a
plurality of grass cutting blades 34, each mounted on a
1~5~37~
spindle 36 for rotation, the spindles being driven by a drive
belt 38. The belt 38 is driven from a bevel gear box 40 con-
nected by power take-off shaft 42 to the engine 26. ~ spring
loaded idler ~4 maintains the proper tension of the belt 38.
The mower deck is internally configured and the
direction of rotation of the blades coordinated so as to
direct a discharge flow of grass and lawn debris toward the
right hand side thereof which is provided with an opening
forming a discharge duct 46 through which the materials cut
by the blades are expelled within a relatively high velocity
air flow. Rotary lawn mowers characteristically produce a
substantial air flow through the discharge duct for several
purposes. A primary consideration is the clearing of the
cut grass and lawn debris from the mower deck to prevent
clogging of the region in which the blades are rotating and
the adhering of materials to the sides of the housing. Of
additional importance is the lifting of the grass into a
vertical attitude to permit the blades to engage and cut the
individual grass elements to a uniform height. Some types
of lawn grasses and many types of weeds, such as crabgrass,
are apt to assume a horizontal rather than a vertical dis-
position and the suction effect produced by the whirling mower
blades is quite important in producing a satisfactory cutting
action. Although good results can be obtained with a con-
ventional mower deck utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention, for the most effective resultsl the invention is
preferably used with a deck designed to produce a high degree
of lift of the grass and a consequent high discharge rate
of the cut grass and debris through the discharge duct.
--8
~LZ51~ 8
The handling system 14 in accordance with the in-
vention generally comprises a chute 50 mounted on the mower
deck and communicating with a hopper 52 supported on the mower
frame and pivotable into an elevated dumping position by means
of a lift arm 54 pivotally mounted to the rear of the mower
frame. The pivotal movement o~ the li~t arm 54 is effected
by a hydraulic cylinder 56 controlled by the operator from
the seated operating position. With this general summary
of the system components in mind, the details o~ the system
will now be considered.
The chute 50 as seen most readily in Figs. 1-4 and
5, comprises an upstanding substantially vertical hollow mem-
ber which is preferably formed oE a durable molded plastic
having non-stick characteristics such as a cross-linked poly-
olefin. The chute, although predominently vertically oriented,at its lower end includes a smoothly curved transition por-
tion 50a directed toward and communicating with the discharge
duct 46 of the mower deck 28. As shown in Figs~ 4 and 9,
the chute 50 is bolted to angle member 58 along the upper
side of its lower end, which angle member also serves as a
lower attachment point for chute support struts 60 bolted
at their upper ends to the upper side of the chute. The chute
is pivoted about a pair of spaced pivot screws 62 passing
through spaced U-shaped bracket 64 on the mower deck. U-shaped
brackets 66 secured to the angle member 58 are pivotally dis-
posed within the bracket 64 on the pivot screws 62 and permit
the inward tilting movement of the chute to the position 68
shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. Torsion springs 70 disposed
around the pivot screws 62 and acting against the brackets
64 and 66 spring load the chute toward its normal substan-
tially vertical operating position.
_g_
~2S~74B
As shown in Fig. l, the chute 50 flairs slightly
rearwardly at its upper end to initiate a rearward movement
to the materials passing therethrough. The height of the
chute 50 is more than sufficient to pass through the hopper
front wall for reasons described below.
The hopper 52 comprises a rigid structure which
is preferably formed of molded plastic of a durable, non-stick
type such as a cross-linked polyolefin. The hopper in the
preferred embodiment is characterized by an outwardly inclined
10 rear wall 70, and a front wall 72, the upper portion of which
is also outwardly inclined. The inclined front and rear walls
produce a hopper having a relatively small bottom 74 and a
relatively large top opening 76. As shown in Fig. 2, the
inner sidewall 78 of the hopper includes steps 78a and 78b
15 which allow the hopper to nest compactly over the adjacent
elements of the mower, including the adjacent wheel 18 and
the mower frame 16.
As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the inclined por-
tion of the front wall 72 of the hopper is provided with an
opening 80 to receive the upper end of the chute 50~ The
opening 80 is oversized to permit relative movement of the
chute and hopper as may be expected to occur in view of the
articulated connection of the mower deck to the mower frame,
and the mounting of the chute on the mower deck. To provide
a sealing of the gap between the upper end of the chute and
the hopper opening 80, a plurality of brushes 82 are mounted
within the hopper extending into the opening as shown most
clearly in Fig. 7O The brushes are secured to the hopper
by mounting brackets 84 which are bolted to the hopper by
--10--
~S~'74~
bolts 86. The bristles of the brushes, as shown in Fig.
7, in the absence of the chute upper end, define an aperture
somewhat smaller than the size of the chute. With the chute
extending through the opening as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the
bristles of the brushes 82 are displaced to some extent to
permit entrance of the chute and form a flexible seal which
effectively prevents leakage of grass clippings, dust or debris
from the hopper~
A deflecting hood 88 having a rearwardly inclined
lO surface 90 is mounted over the top of the hopper at the for-
ward end thereof opposite the upper end of the chute 50.
The deElecting hood 88, which may be made of a molded plastic,
serves to deflect upwardly directed grass and lawn debris
rearwardly and downwardly into the hopper.
A hopper door 92 pivotally connected to the rear
upper edge of the deflecting hood 88 by hinge 94, closes the
top of the hopper. The door 92 is preferably formed of a
metal frame covered with air-permeable material such as a
loosely woven cloth which will allow the air passing through
20`the chute 50 into the hopper to escape while trapping the grass
clippings, lawn debris and dust within the hopper. As shown
in Fig. 6, a window 96 preferably made of a plastic material
is provided in the side of the door 92 to permit the operator
to observe the fill level of the hopper.
The hopper 52 is mounted on the forward end 54a
of the lift arm 54 as can be seen most readily in the elevated
hopper position shown in Fig. 5. The forward portion of the
lift arm includes transverse support members 98 and lO0 ex-
tending respectively at the rear and front of the hopper and
--11--
~L25~
bolted to the hopper rear and front walls by bolts 102 as
shown in Fig. 8. As may be seen in Fig. 4, the step 78b of
the hopper sidewall 78 rests on the forward portion 54a of
the lift arm. Resilient bumpers 103 are provided on the under-
side of the lift arm front portion 54a as shown in Fig. 6 andseat against the mower frame to support the lift arm and
hopper in the normal grass collecting position of the hopper.
The lift arm 54 is pivotally mounted to the mower
frame 16 at the rear thereof as shown in Figs. 1-3, and parti-
10 cularly Fig. 3~ A transverse tubular member 104 mounted onthe rear of the mower frame by brackets 106 extends outwardly
and supports a pair of spaced pivot plates 108. A pivot pin
110 passing rotatably through apertures in the plates 108
is attached to the rear end of the lift arm 54.
The hydraulic cylinder 56 is pivotally connected
at 112 to a pair of spaced plates 114 attached to the trans-
verse tube 104. The outer end of piston rod 116 of the cy-
linder 56 is pivotally connected at 118 to a spaced pair of
plates 120 attached to the lift arm 54. The cylinder 56 is
20 connected with a hydraulic fluid pump driven by the engine
26 and is controlled by the operator from the driving station
by means of conventional control valves.
Although the hopper door 92 should swing open by
gravity force when the lift arm and hopper are pivoted to
the dumping position shown in Fig. 5, in the preferred em-
bodiment a door opening rod 122 is provided which is pivotally
connected at its forward end to an arm 124 attached to the
door frame. As shown in detail in Fig. 10, the rod 122
-12-
~2S~74~3
passes slidably through a transverse bore 126 in pin 128
which is pivotally mounted on an upstanding bracket 130.
A stop nut 132 on the threaded end 134 of the rod 122
engages the pin 128 as the hopper approaches its dumping
position as shown in Fig. 5. This creates a downward force
on the arm 124, causing the door 92 to open in a predictable
manner. The door opening action of the rod 122 occurs only
during hopper movement through angle A of Fig. 5, and pre-
mature opening and spillage of the hopper contents is thus
10 avoided. Upon return of the hopper to its normal collecting
position, the weight oE the door provides an automatic door
closing action and slides the rod 122 back through the bore
126 in pin 128.
In operation, the mower operator carries out his
15 mowing duties in the usual manner, checking occasionally on
the level of the hopper contents through the window 96. The
grass and lawn debris discharged by the blades from the mower
deck pass through the chute into the hopper, the air passing
on through the door cover. When the hopper is full, the mower
20 is backed up to the grass/lawn debris receptacle, which mi~ht
for example be a truck as partially shown for example at 123
in Fig. 5. The cylinder 56 is then actuated, elevating the
lift arm 54 and hopper 52 into the dumping position shown
in Fig. 5. The rod 122 opens the hopper door 92 just prior
25 to the hopper reaching its elevated dumping position. In
the preferred embodiment, the lift arm swings through an
arc of slightly more than 90 so that the hopper contents
can be discharged cleanly into an elevated receptacle, such
as a truck. Bumpers 134 of a resilient material are attached
30 to tube 104 at the rear of the mower to permit the driver
-13-
lZ~48
to closely approach and engage the receptacle into which the
hopper is to be dumped without damaging either the mower or
the receptacle.
Because of the inclined rear wall 70 of the hopper
52, the contents of the hopper are quickly discharged from
the elevated hopper and the trajectory of the discharge is
rearwardly away from the mower. The use of a non-stick plas-
tic to form the hopper further facilitates the clean and rapid
discharge of the hopper contents.
Upon completion of the dumping operation, the opera-
tor reverses the direction of movement of the cylinder 56,
returning the hopper to its normal collecting position to
permit resumption of the mowing operation. The hopper re-
connects readily with the upstanding chute 50 by virtue of
15 the oversized opening 80 therein and the flexible seal pro-
vided by the brushes 82. The door 92, as indicated above,
closes under its own weight as the hopper is returned to its
normal position.
As shown in Fig. 5, the mower deck may articulate
20 with respect to the mower frame, thus changing the degree
to which the upper end of the chute extends into the hopper~
The rearwardly curving shape of the upper end of the chute
minimi~es the dislocation of the chute with respect to the
hopper opening during such movement. The chute should be
25 sufficiently high to accommodate such articulating movement
of the mower and also any permissible height adjustments of
the mower without disconnection of the chute from the hopper.
-14-
~l2Sq~74~
Should access to the mower deck discharge duct be
desired at any time, such as to clear clogged grass or debris
which might accumulate in the duct, the chute 50, following
a slight raising of the hopper, can be pivoted inwardly as
shown at 68 in Fig. ~. Upon release of the chute, the springs
70 will automatically return the chute to its normal operating
position and the hopper can then be lowered to reconnect the
chute with the interior thereof.
The proximity of the hopper to the mower deck allows
10 the use of a very short chute to connect the deck discharge
duct with the hopper. This arrangement eliminates the need
for the usual blower for transporting materials to a remotely
located bag or container. Furthermore, this arrangement does
not add to the length of the mower and hence does not affect
15 it5 maneuverability as would a rear mounted hopper. Although
the width of the mower is slightly increased with the addition
of the present handling system, it has been found that a large
sixteen bushel hopper increases the overall width of the mower
by only seven inches which is not functionally significant.
20` The additional weight of the system at one side
of the mower can be readily compensated for by adding a wheel
weight to the opposite traction wheel 18. The weight of the
hopper and its contents is substantially centered over the
axis of the traction wheels and hence makes such compensa-
25 tion a relatively simple matter.
Although the means for effecting rotation of thehopper in the illustrated preferred embodiment comprises a
~ZS~
fluid actuated cylinder, other actuating means could be em-
ployed, such as an electric linear actuator.
Manifestly, changes in details of construction can
be effected by those skilled in the art without departing
from the invention.
-16-
