CENTER REAR DISCHARGE DECK

• US 20130152538A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna Consumer Outdoor Products Na Incorporated (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Fiser, Jake, Chapman, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 8,635,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/14.7
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/66 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/71 with means for discharging mown material A01D57/26 - A01D57/30 take precedence; combined with means for gathering or loading mown material A01D43/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/73 Cutting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/76 Driving mechanisms for the cutters

Abstract

To reduce the complexity, maintenance, and cost and increase reliability of a riding lawnmower employing a center rear discharge deck, the riding lawn mowers may be configured with a cutter engagement system which allows for a cutting system to be engaged and disengaged by a user without a motor clutching system. A riding lawn mower may comprise a center rear discharge deck having a single sided belt and a cutter engagement system. The cutter engagement system may be configured to interface with the belt to provide power and opposing rotation movement through one or more cutter engagements and/or gear boxes.

Claims

1. A center rear discharge deck system, comprising:

a belt comprising a first side and a second side;

a first cutter operatively engaged by the second side of the belt;

a gearbox operatively engaged by the second side of the belt; and

a second cutter coupled to the gearbox, wherein the first cutter and the second cutter rotate in opposing directions, in response to movement from the belt.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first cutter comprises one blade.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second cutter comprises two blades.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the gear box further comprises a rotatable belt engagement.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable belt engagement is configured as a belt tensioning system.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the rotatable belt engagement is configured as a clutching system, such that the first cutter and the second cutter may be engaged and disengaged based on user input.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second side of the belt comprises at least one of a plurality of grooves, and a plurality of teeth.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising

a housing operatively coupled to the gearbox;

and

a discharge coupled to the housing, wherein the housing is configured to retain clippings produced by the first cutter and the second cutter and configured to conduct the clippings to the discharge.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to provide a movement in a first direction of rotation and power to a belt.

10. A lawnmower, comprising:

a center rear discharge deck comprising

a belt,

a second cutter movable in a second direction of rotation in response to movement from the belt;

a second engagement rotatably coupled to the second cutter, such that the second engagement is configured to engage the belt in a first position and disengage the belt in a second position;

a frame wherein the center rear discharge deck is coupled to the frame; and

a motor coupled to the frame, wherein the motor is configured to provide power and a first movement in a first direction of rotation to the belt.

11. The lawnmower of claim 10, further comprising a gear box operatively coupled to the second engagement, wherein the gear box comprises an engagement gear configured to move in the first direction of rotation and a drive gear configured to move in the second direction of rotation, in response to a movement of the engagement gear.

12. The lawnmower of claim 10, wherein the belt comprises a first side and a second side.

13. The lawnmower of claim 12, wherein the first side comprises a substantially smooth surface, and wherein the second side comprises at least one of a plurality of grooves and a plurality of teeth.

14. The lawnmower of claim 10, further comprising a first cutter movable in a first direction of rotation, in response to movement from the belt;

15. The lawnmower of claim 10, wherein the first direction of rotation is substantially opposite to the second direction of rotation.

16. The lawnmower of claim 10, wherein the second engagement is configured as a belt tensioning system.

17. The lawnmower of claim 10, wherein the second engagement is configured as a clutching system, such that the second cutter can be engaged and disengaged, in response to user input.

18. A method for operating a lawnmower comprising:

tensioning a belt to a power transfer mechanism of a motor and a second engagement, in response to user input;

rotating the second engagement by the belt in a first direction of rotation, wherein the second engagement is coupled to a gear box, wherein the gear box comprises an engagement gear operatively engaged with a drive gear, and wherein the engagement gear is configured to rotate in the first direction of rotation and the drive gear is configured to rotate in a second direction of rotation;

rotating a second cutter by the drive gear in the second direction of rotation, wherein the second cutter is at least partially enclosed by a housing;

rotating a first cutter by the belt at a first engagement in the first direction of rotation, wherein the first cutter is at least partially enclosed by the housing; and

conducting clippings from the first cutter and the second cutter through the housing to a center rear discharge.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first direction of rotation is substantially opposite to the second direction of rotation.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second engagement is configured as a clutching system, such that the second cutter can be engaged and disengaged, in response to user input.