Cross flow rotary mower
First Claim
1. A cross flow rotary mower which comprises(a) a rotor mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and driving means therefor,(b) said rotor during normal mowing having generally horizontal outer cutting edges and upwardly extending blower vanes spaced outwardly from the rotor axis,(c) upper, lower and side walls for forming a conduit cooperating with said rotor to form a cross flow blower having an inlet region and an outlet region angularly spaced downstream from said inlet region,(d) said inlet region opening in the forward direction of travel of the mower and having a lateral extent at least as great as a major portion of the tip circle diameter of the rotor during normal mowing with inward flow of air substantially throughout said inlet region,(e) said cutting edges and blower vanes traveling within said conduit during at least substantially a semi-circle of rotation of the rotor,(f) the extent of said lower wall being a substantial portion of the area of rotation of said rotor including substantially the semi-circle of travel of said cutting edges rearward of said inlet region and said cutting edges extending beyond said lower wall in a major portion of the forward semi-circle of travel of the cutting edges during normal mowing,(g) said conduit including means cooperating with said rotor for producing vortex air flow on one side of the rotor axis near the region where said blower vanes pass from said outlet to said inlet regions,(h) an extension of said upper wall extending forward substantially beyond the tip circle of said rotor and front and side skirt portions extending downwardly from said extension.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cross flow rotary mower has a rotor with horizontal outer cutting edges and upwardly extending blower vanes. A conduit having upper, lower and side walls cooperates with the rotor to form a cross flow blower. The rear semi-circle of travel of the rotor is within the conduit. The inlet opens forwardly and has a lateral extent preferably as great as the diameter of the tip circle of the rotor. The cutting edges extend forward of the lower wall, and preferably the lower wall extends to the cutting edges. An extension of the upper wall extends forwardly beyond the tip circle with front and side skirt portions. Means for producing and strengthening vortex air flow are described, and also inlet air flow control vanes. A number of rotors and conduit arrangements with advantageous features are described. These include dual blower vane arrangements. Force-controlled retractable blades mounted on a blade carrier are described which avoid undue cutting forces and also enable the use of thin blades requiring no sharpening.
39 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A cross flow rotary mower which comprises
(a) a rotor mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and driving means therefor, (b) said rotor during normal mowing having generally horizontal outer cutting edges and upwardly extending blower vanes spaced outwardly from the rotor axis, (c) upper, lower and side walls for forming a conduit cooperating with said rotor to form a cross flow blower having an inlet region and an outlet region angularly spaced downstream from said inlet region, (d) said inlet region opening in the forward direction of travel of the mower and having a lateral extent at least as great as a major portion of the tip circle diameter of the rotor during normal mowing with inward flow of air substantially throughout said inlet region, (e) said cutting edges and blower vanes traveling within said conduit during at least substantially a semi-circle of rotation of the rotor, (f) the extent of said lower wall being a substantial portion of the area of rotation of said rotor including substantially the semi-circle of travel of said cutting edges rearward of said inlet region and said cutting edges extending beyond said lower wall in a major portion of the forward semi-circle of travel of the cutting edges during normal mowing, (g) said conduit including means cooperating with said rotor for producing vortex air flow on one side of the rotor axis near the region where said blower vanes pass from said outlet to said inlet regions, (h) an extension of said upper wall extending forward substantially beyond the tip circle of said rotor and front and side skirt portions extending downwardly from said extension.
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12. A cross flow rotary mower which comprises
(a) a rotor mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and driving means therefor, (b) said rotor during normal mowing having generally horizontal outer cutting edges and upwardly extending blower vanes spaced outwardly from the rotor axis, (c) upper, lower and side walls for forming a conduit cooperating with said rotor to form a cross flow blower having an inlet region and an outlet region angularly spaced downstream from said inlet region, (d) said inlet region opening in the forward direction of travel of the mower and having a lateral extent approximately as great as the tip circle diameter of the rotor during normal mowing with inward flow of air substantially throughout said inlet region, (e) said cutting edges and blower vanes traveling within said conduit during at least substantially a semi-circle of rotation of the rotor, (f) the extent of said lower wall including substantially the semi-circular area of rotation of said rotor rearward of said inlet region and a major portion of the forward semi-circular area of rotation inside said cutting edges, said cutting edges extending beyond said lower wall in a major portion of the forward semi-circle of travel of the cutting edges during normal mowing, (g) said conduit including means cooperating with said rotor for producing vortex air flow on one side of the rotor axis near the region where said blower vanes pass from said outlet to said inlet regions, (h) an extension of said upper wall extending forward substantially beyond the tip circle of said rotor and front and side skirt portions extending downwardly from said extension.
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29. A cross flow rotary mower which comprises
(a) a housing having a generally horizontal deck, (b) a rotor mounted in said housing for rotation about a generally vertical axis and driving means therefor, (c) said rotor during normal mowing having generally horizontal outer cutting edges and upwardly extending blower vanes spaced outwardly from the rotor axis, (d) side walls extending downwardly from said deck outside the tip circle of said rotor and a bottom wall extending between said side walls beneath said rotor for forming a conduit cooperating with the rotor to form a cross flow blower having an inlet region and an outlet region angularly spaced downstream from said inlet region, (e) said inlet region opening in the forward direction of travel of the mower and having a lateral extent approximately as great as the tip circle diameter of the rotor during normal mowing with inward flow of air substantially throughout said inlet region, (f) said bottom wall covering substantially the semicircular area of rotation of said rotor rearward of said inlet region and a major portion of the forward semicircular area of rotation inside said cutting edges, said cutting edges extending beyond said bottom wall in the major portion of the forward semi-circle of travel thereof during normal mowing, (g) said conduit including means cooperating with said rotor for producing vortex air flow on one side of the rotor axis near the region where said blower vanes pass from said outlet to said inlet regions, (h) said deck extending forward substantially beyond the tip circle of said rotor and front and side skirt portions extending downwardly therefrom.
Specification