Apparatus for fine pulverization of dry leaves and garden debris

• US 20040168423A1
• Filed: 03/05/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric S. Ndumele, Michael U. Nwosu
• Original Assignee: Eric S. Ndumele, Michael U. Nwosu
• Inventors: Ndumele, Eric S., Nwosu, Michael U.
• Granted Patent: US 6,877,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/295
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/005 Mulching means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 56/05 with material distribution

Abstract

An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris has a central drive shaft with a clutch driven by a gasoline or electrical power source. Lawn debris is drawn into a suction chamber by a fan impeller blade mounted on the central drive shaft. The fan impeller blade initiates pulverization of the debris. A grinding blade with a plurality of blade elements is mounted on the central drive shaft below the fan impeller blade and effects additional pulverization of the debris. A clutch is mounted next on the drive shaft followed by a distributing plate with a plurality of inclined apertures for dispensing a high velocity stream of the pulverized debris uniformly over a lawn from the rotating distributing plate. When the clutch is disengaged the distributing plate rotation is stopped and the finely pulverized garden debris is collected in a side collection chamber and is periodically emptied through a bottom discharge gate.

Claims

1. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris, comprising:

a. a frame having attached thereto a suction hood, a suction and grinding chamber, a side collection chamber and a plurality of transportation wheels;

b. a power source mounted on said suction and grinding chamber, and operably connected to a central drive shaft to provide power for pulverization and distribution of said lawn debris;

c. a fan impeller blade mounted on said central drive shaft for drawing said lawn debris through said suction hood and effecting initial pulverization of said lawn debris;

d. a grinding blade mounted for rotation on said central shaft for effecting further pulverization of said initially pulverized debris;

e. a clutch means mounted on said central shaft forming a central shaft extension;

f. a distributing plate mounted for rotation on said central shaft extension, said distributing plate having a plurality of inclined apertures therein for dispensing a high velocity stream of said pulverized lawn debris uniformly over a lawn when said distributing plate is rotating; and

g. a clutch disengagement means for stopping said rotation of said distributing plate to enable collection of finely pulverized garden debris in said side collection chamber.

2. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said power source is a gasoline powered engine.

3. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said power source is an electrical motor.

4. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said fan impeller blade comprises two to six blade elements.

5. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 4, wherein said fan impeller blade comprises four blade elements.

6. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said grinding blade comprises two to six pairs of blade elements, each pair having one fan blade and one knife edge blade, wherein said blade elements are arranged on said shaft so that said fan blades and said knife edge blades are alternately disposed.

7. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 6, wherein said grinding blade set has four pairs of blade elements.

8. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said grinding chamber is directly attached to said side collecting chamber.

9. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said grinding chamber is attached to said side collecting chamber through an isolation gate which is opened when said distributing plate rotation is stopped by disengaging said clutch.

10. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said fan impeller blades are separated from said grinding blades by a distance ranging from about 2 to 8 inches.

11. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 10, wherein said fan impeller blades are separated from said grinding blades by a distance of about 4 inches.

12. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said apertures extend from a top surface to a bottom surface of said plate, and are inclined at an angle ranging from about 45 to 60 degrees with respect to said top surface.

13. An apparatus for finely pulverizing of lawn debris as recited by claim 12, wherein said angle of inclination of said apertures extends generally radially outward and along direction of said plate rotation.

14. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 12, wherein said angle of inclination of said apertures extends generally radially outward.

15. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said distributing plate is separated from ground therebeneath by a distance of about 2 to 6 inches.

16. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said distributing plate is separated from ground therebeneath by a distance of 4 inches.