Bag-full indicator mechanism

• US 5,950,408 A
• Filed: 08/07/1997
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schaedler, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): MELIUS, TERRY L
• Application Number:
  US08/908,357
• Time in Patent Office: 768 Days
• Field of Search: 56/202, 56/16.6, 56/11.3, 56/11.6, 56/11.8, 56/10.2 R, 56/10.3, 56/DIG. 4, 56/DIG. 6, 56/DIG. 15
• US Class Current: 56/202
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/63 having cutters rotating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/64 mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle A01D34/695 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/69 with motor driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/0631 Control devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/06 fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/083 Rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/16 Expansible chamber with flexible wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 56/08 Air gathering

Abstract

A bag-full indicator mechanism is provided for use on a mower that has a mower deck with cutting blades, a bag for collecting cut vegetation, and a chute communicating the mower deck with the bag. The bag-full indicator mechanism includes a vacuum actuator, vacuum means for providing a vacuum to the vacuum actuator, and sensing means for sensing that the bag is full. Preferably the vacuum means is the intake manifold of the mower engine. The bag-full indicator mechanism also includes activating means for activating the vacuum actuator and includes a switching means and a pivotable lever. Finally, indicating means is used for indicating that the bag is full and preferably includes a shutoff means for stopping the rotation of the cutting blades.

Claims

1. A bag-full indicator mechanism for use on a mower, the mower having a body, an engine with an intake manifold, and an engine pulley, a mower deck having a mower deck pulley that rotates cutting blades for cutting associated vegetation, a belt selectively operatively connecting the engine pulley to the mower deck pulley with the use of an idler pulley a bag for collecting cut vegetation and a chute communicating the mower deck with the bag, the chute having an aperture, said bag-full indicator mechanism comprising:

(1) a vacuum actuator having

(a) a connection port and

(b) a first side, said first side moving inwardly with respect to said vacuum actuator as a vacuum is established inside said vacuum actuator, said first side moving outwardly with respect to said vacuum actuator as the vacuum is removed from inside said vacuum actuator;

(2) vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said vacuum actuator, the intake manifold providing said vacuum means;

(3) sensing means for sensing that the bag is full, said sensing means having a membrane covering the aperture in the chute, said membrane including

(a) a rigid portion and

(b) a flexible portion, said flexible portion being fixedly attached to the chute, said flexible portion selectively permitting said rigid portion to move in an inward direction with respect to said chute, said flexible portion also selectively permitting said rigid portion to move in an outward direction with respect to said chute;

(4) activating means for selectively activating said vacuum actuator, said activating means having

(a) switching means, said switching means selectively initiating said vacuum actuator,

(b) a vacuum source line, said vacuum source line communicating a vacuum from the intake manifold to said switching means,

(c) a vacuum line, said vacuum line selectively communicating a vacuum from said switching means to said vacuum actuator,

(d) a lever having first and second ends, said second end of said lever being pivotably connected to a pivot member that is fixedly connected to the chute,

(e) a lever extension for operative contact with said rigid portion of said membrane, said lever extension being fixedly connected to said lever, said membrane selectively pivoting said lever as said rigid portion of said membrane moves in said outward direction with respect to the chute,

(f) a spring having first and second ends, said first end of said spring being pivotably connected to said first end of said lever, said spring biasing said lever against said rigid portion of said membrane,

(g) a spring extension member, said spring extension member being fixedly connected to the chute, said second end of said spring being pivotably connected to said spring extension member and

(h) a reset button for resetting said membrane, said reset button being fixedly connected to said lever, said reset button selectively pivoting said lever, said reset button selectively moving said rigid portion of said membrane in said inward direction with respect to the chute; and

,

(5) indicating means for indicating that the bag is full, said indicating means having

(a) a connector link, said connector link being operatively connected to said first side of said vacuum actuator, and

(b) a brake member having first and second ends and a pivot point, said first end of said brake member being pivotably connected to said connector link and to the idler pulley,

(c) a spring having first and second ends for biasing the belt in a disengaged condition, said first end of said spring being pivotably connected to said first end of said brake member, said second end of said spring being pivotably connected to the body of the mower and

(d) a brake puck for use in stopping the rotation of the mower deck pulley, said brake puck being fixedly connected to said second end of said brake member.

2. A bag-full indicator mechanism for use on a mower, the mower having an engine with an intake manifold, a mower deck with cutting blades for cutting associated vegetation, a bag for collecting cut vegetation, and a chute communicating the mower deck with the bag, said bag-full indicator mechanism comprising:

a vacuum actuator;

vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said vacuum actuator, said intake manifold providing said vacuum means;

sensing means for sensing that the bag is full;

activating means for selectively activating said vacuum actuator; and

,

indicating means for indicating that the bag is full.

3. A bag-full indicator mechanism for use on a mower, the mower having a mower deck with cutting blades for cutting associated vegetation, a bag for collecting cut vegetation and a chute communicating the mower deck with the bag, said bag-full indicator mechanism comprising:

a vacuum actuator;

vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said vacuum actuator;

sensing means for sensing that the bag is full;

first and second vacuum lines, said first vacuum line selectively communicating vacuum between said vacuum means and said sensing means, said second vacuum line selectively communicating vacuum between said sensing means and said vacuum actuator;

activating means for selectively activating said vacuum actuator; and

,

indicating means for indicating that the bag is full.

4. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 3 wherein said sensing means comprises:

a membrane operatively associated with the chute.

5. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 4 wherein said membrane comprises:

a rigid portion; and

,

a flexible portion, said flexible portion being fixedly attached to the chute, said flexible portion selectively permitting said rigid portion to move in an inward direction with respect to said chute, said flexible portion also selectively permitting said rigid portion to move in an outward direction with respect to said chute.

6. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 3 wherein said activating means comprises:

switching means, said switching means selectively initiating said vacuum actuator.

7. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 6 wherein said switching means comprises:

an air valve having a tip and a plurality of holes that permit air to enter when said air valve is closed.

8. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 6 wherein said switching means comprises:

an electric switch having a tip; and

,

a solenoid valve.

9. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 3 wherein said activating means comprises:

a lever, said lever being pivotably connected to the chute, said sensing means selectively pivoting said lever.

10. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 9 wherein said lever comprises:

a reset button for use in moving said lever and resetting said sensing means.

11. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 9 wherein said activating means further comprises:

a spring, said spring being operatively associated with said lever, said spring biasing said lever against said sensing means.

12. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 11 wherein said spring also biases said lever away from said sensing means.

13. The bag-full indicator mechanism of claim 3 wherein said indicating means comprises:

a connector link, said connector link being operatively connected to said vacuum actuator; and

,

shut off means for shutting off the cutting blades, said shut off means being operatively connected to said connector link.