Apparatus for fine pulverization of dry leaves and garden debris

• US 20040216435A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/04/2004
• 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 6,928,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/1
• 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 driven by a gasoline or electrical power source. Lawn debris is drawn into a suction and grinding chamber by the rotation of a distribution plate which has a plurality of curved impeller blades permanently attached to a perforated plate. A grinding blade with a plurality of blade elements is mounted on the central drive shaft above the distribution plate and effects pulverization of the debris. The distributing plate apertures dispense the pulverized debris uniformly over a lawn. Optionally, additional fan impeller blades may be mounted on the central drive shaft to draw and initiate pulverization of the debris. In this case, the rotation of the distributing plate may be stopped by disengaging a clutch mounted on the central shaft to direct pulverized debris to a side collection chamber, which 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 and a plurality of transportation wheels;

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

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

d. a distributing plate mounted for rotation on said central shaft, said distributing plate having a plurality of curved impeller blades permanently attached to a perforated plate with an array of apertures therein for providing required suction for drawing the dry leaves through the suction hood and dispensing a high velocity stream of said pulverized debris uniformly over said lawn.

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 grinding blade set 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.

5. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said grinding blade set has four pairs of blade elements.

6. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said distributing plate has a perforated plate with an array of apertures ranging in diameter from {fraction (1/16)}″

to ¼

″

.

7. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said distributing plate has a perforated plate with an array of apertures ranging in diameter from {fraction (3/32)}″

to {fraction (3/16)}″

.

8. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, wherein said distributing plate has at least two curved impeller blades permanently attached at 120 degrees to each other on the upper surface of to said perforated plate.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 1, comprising:

an additional fan impeller blade mounted on the central drive shaft above said grinding blade within the suction and grinding chamber for drawing the dry leaves through the suction hood and effecting initial pulverization of said debris.

12. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 11, wherein said fan impeller blade comprises two to six blade elements.

13. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 11, wherein said fan impeller blade comprises four blade elements.

14. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 11, wherein said fan impeller blades are separated from said grinding blades by a distance ranging from about 2 to 8 inches.

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

16. 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 set 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, said distributing plate having a plurality of curved impeller blades permanently attached to a perforated plate with a plurality of apertures therein for providing required suction for drawing the pulverized debris and dispensing a high velocity stream of said uniformly over said lawn, 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.

17. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said power source is a gasoline powered engine.

18. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said power source is an electrical motor.

19. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said grinding blade set 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.

20. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said grinding blade set has four pairs of blade elements.

21. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said distributing plate has a perforated plate with an array of apertures ranging in diameter from {fraction (1/16)}″

to ¼

″

.

22. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said distributing plate has a perforated plate with an array of apertures ranging in diameter from {fraction (3/32)}″

to {fraction (3/16)}″

.

23. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said distributing plate has three curved impeller blades permanently attached at 120 degrees to each other on the upper surface of to said perforated plate.

24. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said distributing plate is separated from ground therebeneath by a distance of about 2 to 6 inches.

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

26. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said side collecting chamber is directly attached to said suction and grinding chamber.

27. An apparatus for finely pulverizing lawn debris as recited by claim 16, wherein said side collecting chamber is attached to said suction and grinding chamber through an isolation gate which is opened when said distributing plate rotation is stopped by disengaging said clutch.