초록 ▼

Novel lawn mowers and tree shredders or "chippers" designed to prevent the spread of agricultural pathogens, such as citrus canker, for example, are described and claimed herein. Exemplary embodiments of the mower comprise a storage tank containing chemical agent useful in eradicating agricultural p

Novel lawn mowers and tree shredders or "chippers" designed to prevent the spread of agricultural pathogens, such as citrus canker, for example, are described and claimed herein. Exemplary embodiments of the mower comprise a storage tank containing chemical agent useful in eradicating agricultural pathogen, the tank connected to a series of nozzles arranged on the mower such that the mowing blades, lower frame of the mower, and housing guard, for example, are sprayed with the chemical agent. Embodiments of the "chipper" include one or more nozzles arranged within the hopper and/or the exit chute through which chemical agent may be sprayed onto foliage entering into the chipper and processed foliage exiting the chipper, respectively.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A motorized lawn mower comprising: a. a chassis having a lower frame, a rear end, and a front end; b. a first set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said front end and a second set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said rear end of said chassis;

I claim: 1. A motorized lawn mower comprising: a. a chassis having a lower frame, a rear end, and a front end; b. a first set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said front end and a second set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said rear end of said chassis; c. a storage tank for storing a chemical agent, said tank mounted onto said chassis, wherein said chemical agent is selected from the group of bactericides, pesticides, and herbicides; d. a blade assembly secured to said lower frame, said blade assembly including a housing guard and at least one cutting blade, the housing guard having a top surface and a bottom surface; e. at least one nozzle secured to said housing guard, said nozzle oriented such that said chemical agent flowing therethrough will contact said housing guard bottom surface and said at least one cutting blade during operation of said lawn mower; f. a motorized pump in communication with said storage tank; and g. at least one fluid line assembly having one end in communication with said pump and storage tank and another end secured to one or more of said nozzles, such that when said pump is activated, said chemical agent is pumped from said storage tank, through said at least one fluid line assembly, and discharged through said at least one nozzle. 2. The lawn mower of claim 1, further including a hand held spray attachment secured to said storage tank for spraying said chemical agent to surrounding vegetation, said spray attachment including a hose secured to, and in communication with, said storage tank, and a spray handle for operation by an operator of said lawn mower. 3. A motorized lawn mower comprising: a. a chassis having a lower frame, a rear end, and a front end, said chassis further having a steering handle for steering said lawn mower during operation; b. a first set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said front end and a second set of one or more wheels secured to said lower frame near said rear end of said chassis; c. a storage container for storing a chemical agent, said tank mounted onto said chassis, wherein said chemical agent is selected from the group of bactericides, pesticides, and herbicides; d. a blade assembly secured to said lower frame, said blade assembly including a housing guard and at least one cutting blade, the housing guard having a top surface and a bottom surface; e. at least one nozzle secured to said housing guard, said nozzle oriented such that said fluid flowing therethrough will contact said housing guard bottom surface and said at least one cutting blade during operation of said lawn mower; f. at least one nozzle secured to said lower frame and positioned behind one of said pair of wheels, said nozzle oriented substantially perpendicular to said lower frame such that said fluid flowing therethrough will travel behind said first set of wheels to contact an underlying lawn; g. at least one fluid line assembly secured to, and in communication with, said storage tank and said at least one nozzles; and i. a motorized pump in communication with said storage tank, such that when said pump is activated, fluid is pumped from said storage tank, through said at least one fluid line assembly, and through said nozzles. 4. The lawn mower of claim 3, further including at least one nozzle secured to said rear end of said chassis. 5. The lawn mower of claim 3, further including a hand held spray attachment secured to said storage tank for spraying said chemical to surrounding foliage, said spray attachment including a hose secured to, and in communication with, said storage tank, and a spray handle for operation by an operator of said lawn mower. 6. A method of decontaminating a lawn mower from agricultural pathogens during operation of said lawn mower, thereby preventing the spread of said pathogens to adjacent lawns, said method comprising: a. operating the lawn mower of claim 1 to cut grass in a lawn area having citrus trees infected with, or suspected of being infected with, citrus canker, wherein said chemical agent is stored in said storage container of said lawn mower, said chemical agent effective in eradicating citrus canker pathogens; and b. activating the pump of said lawn mower during operation of said lawn mower to pump said chemical agent from said storage tank, through said fluid line assembly and at least one nozzle, and onto said underlying ground, said cutting blades, and said housing guard, thereby decontaminating concurrently said lower frame, said cutting blades, and said housing guard of said lawn mower to prevent the spread of said canker pathogens to other lawns upon subsequent operation of said lawn mowers on said other lawns. 7. The lawn mower of claim 2, wherein the hand held spray attachment further comprises a valve for stopping the flow of said chemical agent to said nozzles while providing the flow of said chemical agent to the hand held spray attachment. 8. A motorized shredding machine comprising: a. a grinding blade assembly for processing foliage fed into said machine, said foliage infected with, or suspected of being infected with, an agricultural pathogen; b. a hopper connected to said grinding blade assembly, said hopper comprising an open mouth end having a diameter sufficiently large to receive said foliage fed therein; c. a powered vacuum assembly for drawing said foliage fed into said hopper through said machine and into said grinding blade assembly, thereby creating processed foliage debris via said grinding blade assembly; d. an exit chute secured to said machine through which said processed foliage debris is discharged; e. a storage tank for storing a chemical agent, said tank mounted on said machine, wherein said chemical agent is selected from the group of bactericides, pesticides, and herbicides; f. at least one nozzle secured to said open mouth of said hopper; g. at least one fluid line assembly secured to, and in communication, with said storage tank and said at least one nozzle; and h. a motorized pump in communication with said storage tank and at least one fluid line assembly, such that when said pump is activated, said chemical agent is pumped from said storage tank, through said at least one fluid line assembly, and through said at least one nozzle to spray said foliage entering therein, thereby decontaminating said hopper and said foliage prior to processing, to thereby prevent further spread of said agricultural pathogens. 9. The shredding machine of claim 8, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker. 10. The shredding machine of claim 8, further including at least one second nozzle secured within said exit chute, said chute nozzle further in communication with a fluid assembly line and said pump and storage tank. 11. The shredding machine of claim 10, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker. 12. The shredding machine of claim 10, wherein said at least one second nozzle is secured near an open mouth of said exit chute. 13. The shredding machine of claim 8, further including one or more interior nozzles and fluid assembly lines in communication with said interior nozzles positioned within said machine at one or more locations within said machine between said open mouth of said chute and said open mouth of said hopper. 14. The shredding machine of claim 13, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker. 15. A motorized shredding machine comprising: a. a grinding blade assembly for processing foliage fed into said machine, said foliage infected with, or suspected of being infected with, an agricultural pathogen; b. a hopper connected to said grinding blade assembly, said hopper comprising an open mouth end having a diameter sufficiently large to receive said foliage fed therein; c. a powered vacuum assembly for drawing said foliage fed into said hopper through said machine and into said grinding blade assembly, thereby creating processed foliage debris via said grinding blade assembly; d. an exit chute secured to said machine through which said processed foliage debris is discharged; e. a storage tank for storing a chemical agent, said tank mounted on said machine, wherein said chemical agent is selected from the group of bactericides, pesticides, and herbicides; f. at least one nozzle secured to said exit chute of said machine; g. at least one fluid line assembly secured to, and in communication, with said storage tank and said at least one nozzle; and h. a motorized pump in communication with said storage tank and at least one fluid line assembly, such that when said pump is activated, said chemical agent is pumped from said storage tank, through said at least one fluid line assembly, and through said at least one nozzle to spray said processed foliage exiting therefrom, thereby decontaminating a portion of said exit chute and said processed foliage prior to exiting said machine, to thereby prevent further spread of said agricultural pathogens. 16. The shredding machine of claim 15, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker. 17. The shredding machine of claim 15, wherein said at least one nozzle is secured near an open mouth of said exit chute. 18. The shredding machine of claim 17, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker. 19. The shredding machine of claim 15, further including one or more interior nozzles positioned at one or more locations within said machine between said open mouth of said chute and said open mouth of said hopper. 20. The shredding machine of claim 19, wherein said pathogen is citrus canker and said chemical agent is effective in eradicating citrus canker.