A mower deck including a shroud having a top, a discharge opening, first and second sides, the discharge opening located adjacent the second side and a peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a plurality of cutting blades mounted to the shroud, each blade on a corresponding vertical drive shaft so
A mower deck including a shroud having a top, a discharge opening, first and second sides, the discharge opening located adjacent the second side and a peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a plurality of cutting blades mounted to the shroud, each blade on a corresponding vertical drive shaft so as to cut plants and convey the clippings generated thereby from the first side to the second side and through the discharge opening, the drive shaft located closest to the discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade oriented at an angle to the corresponding cutting blade and adapted to direct the flow of cut plants toward the second side and through the discharge opening. The shroud also includes intake ports and a baffle which facilitates the flow of air and clippings from the first side to the second side.
대표청구항▼
1. A mower deck adapted to be propelled along the ground, comprising: a shroud having a top, a first side, a second side, a depending peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a discharge opening being associated with said second side and baffle means being configured to separate an air intake in
1. A mower deck adapted to be propelled along the ground, comprising: a shroud having a top, a first side, a second side, a depending peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a discharge opening being associated with said second side and baffle means being configured to separate an air intake interior area located on one side of said baffle means and a cutting chamber located on the other side of said baffle means, said air intake region having an intake port in said shroud and on said one side of said baffle means; cutter means located within said shroud and including at least two rotary cutter blades, each said blade mounted on a corresponding vertical drive shaft, one of said drive shafts being located adjacent to said discharge opening, said blades rotating axially in the same direction and forming a cutting path extending from said first side to said second side, each said blade adapted to cut plants within a portion of said path and to advance the clippings generated thereby downstream to the blade disposed next adjacent thereto and toward said second side; and said drive shaft disposed adjacent to said discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade being coaxial with, and oriented at an angle to, said respective cutter blade to draw the flow of plant clippings from said open bottom and generally from said first side to said second side of said shroud and to transmit said clippings through said discharge opening. 2. The mower deck as defined in claim 1 further including a baffle opening into said cutting chamber and in communication with said intake port and said intake port having a surface area opening greater than said baffle opening. 3. The mower deck as defined in claim 1 wherein said impeller blade is oriented at an approximate 90° angle to said respective cutter blade. 4. The mower deck as defined in claim 3 wherein said impeller blade is located above said respective cutter blade on said drive shaft. 5. The mower deck as defined in claim 3 wherein said impeller blade has a substantially planar central portion which is vertically offset from a generally horizontal portion at each end thereof. 6. The mower deck as defined in claim 5 wherein said impeller blade is provided with an upwardly projecting sail at each end thereof. 7. A mower deck adapted to be propelled along the ground, comprising: a shroud having a top, a first side, a second side, a depending peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, and a discharge opening being associated with said second side, at least one intake port and baffle means located within said shroud, said baffle means configured to define a cutting chamber having cutter blades and said baffle means circumscribing a cutting swath for each of said cutter blades; cutter means located within said shroud and including at least two of said cutter blades, each said blade mounted on a corresponding vertical drive shaft, one of said drive shafts being located adjacent to said discharge opening, said blades rotating axially in the same direction and forming a cutting path extending from said first side to said second side, each said blade adapted to cut plants within a portion of said path and to advance the clippings generated thereby downstream to the blade disposed next adjacent thereto and toward said second side; and said drive shaft disposed adjacent to said discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade being coaxial with, and oriented at an angle to, said respective cutter blade to draw the flow of plant clippings from said open bottom and generally from said first side to said second side of said shroud and to transmit said clippings through said discharge opening. 8. The mower deck as defined in claim 7 wherein said baffle means has an opening located near said first side of said shroud, said opening in said baffle being in communication with said intake port. 9. The mower deck as defined in claim 8 wherein said opening in said baffle means is provided with a guard which extends laterally into said cutting chamber. 10. A mower deck adapted to be propelled along the ground, comprising: a shroud having a top, a first side, a second side, a discharge opening in said top adjacent said second side, at least one intake port, and a skirt depending from a peripheral edge of said top and defining an open bottom; a plurality of vertical drive spindles depending from said top; at least two cutter blades, each said blade mounted on a corresponding one of said vertical spindles for axial rotation, said blades located within said shroud to form a cutting path extending from said first side to said second side, each said blade adapted to cut plants within a portion of said path and to advance clippings from said cut plants toward said second side and said discharge opening; said vertical spindle disposed in closest proximity to said discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade located above and coaxial with said respective cutter blade, and disposed at an angle thereto, said impeller blade adapted to direct the flow of said clippings upwardly into said discharge opening; and baffle means located within said shroud and configured to define a cutting chamber which encloses said cutter blades, said baffle means further including an opening in communication with said intake port. 11. The mower deck as defined in claim 10 wherein said impeller blade is disposed at an approximate 90 degree angle to said corresponding cutter blade. 12. The mower deck as defined in claim 10 wherein said baffle means has a guard disposed along a lower edge of said opening to project laterally into said cutting chamber. 13. A blade assembly for a mower deck adapted to be propelled along the ground, said mower deck having a shroud with a discharge opening and a top and at least one drive spindle depending vertically from said top, said assembly comprising: a generally planar rotary cutter blade having a pair of side edges, a center portion and two end portions, said center portion being vertically offset from each of said end portions by a pair of shoulders, said center portion also having an axial bore and a vertically projecting channel wall on each of said side edges, each of said end portions having cutting edge and a sail portion on an edge opposite said cutting edge; a generally cylindrical blade driver having a cylindrical sidewall, an upper end and a central bore, a pair of opposing flat spots in said sidewall configured to be engaged by said channel walls, and a flange projecting radially laterally from said upper end; a generally planar impeller blade having a pair of side edges, a center portion and two end portions, said center portion being vertically offset from each of said end portions by pair of shoulders, said center portion also having an axial bore being in register with said bore of said cutter blade and mounting means for engaging said flange on said driver so that said impeller blade is disposed on the spindle to be slightly above, and at an angle relative to, said rotary cutter blade, each of said end portions having a cutting edge on one of said side edges and a sail portion on said side edge opposite said cutting edge; and retaining means for retaining said rotary blade, said driver and said impeller blade coaxially and lockingly on the spindle. 14. The blade assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said respective shoulders of said cutter blade and said impeller blade each have a height, said height of said shoulders of said impeller blade being taller than said height of said shoulders of said cutter blade.
Ansbaugh ; Donald I. ; Heilman ; Glenn A., Terrain traversing device having impeller means for propelling grass clippings and leaves into a receptacle.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.