Discharge stopper units for mower decks
First Claim
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1. A discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck which defines a discharge opening, the discharge stopper unit comprising:
- a discharge stopper adapted to block the discharge opening; and
an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally connected to the discharge stopper and the second end removably engagable with a portion of the mowing machine, the discharge stopper and the arm movable between;
(a) a first position for stopping discharge wherein the discharge stopper is engaged with the mower deck and the second end of the arm is engaged with the portion of the mowing machine; and
(b) a second position for enabling flow of discharge wherein the discharge stopper and the arm are disengaged from the mowing machine.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck. The discharge stopper unit has a discharge stopper adapted to block a discharge opening in the mower deck and an arm connected to the discharge stopper. Preferably, the arm has a biasing member which produces a securing force on the discharge stopper.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck which defines a discharge opening, the discharge stopper unit comprising:
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a discharge stopper adapted to block the discharge opening; and
an arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally connected to the discharge stopper and the second end removably engagable with a portion of the mowing machine, the discharge stopper and the arm movable between;
(a) a first position for stopping discharge wherein the discharge stopper is engaged with the mower deck and the second end of the arm is engaged with the portion of the mowing machine; and
(b) a second position for enabling flow of discharge wherein the discharge stopper and the arm are disengaged from the mowing machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck which defines a discharge opening, the discharge stopper unit comprising:
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a discharge stopper adapted to block the discharge opening; and
an arm having a biasing member operatively engaged with an extension member, the extension member having a first end pivotally connected to the discharge stopper and a second end, the second end having an engaging member removably engagable with a portion of the mowing machine, the discharge stopper and the arm movable between;
(a) a first position for stopping discharge wherein;
(i) the discharge stopper is engaged with mower deck;
(ii) the second end of the arm is engaged with the portion of the mowing machine; and
(iii) the biasing member biases the discharge stopper against the mower deck; and
(b) a second position for enabling flow of discharge wherein the discharge stopper and the arm are disengaged from the mowing machine. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A mower assembly for a mowing machine, comprising:
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a mower deck which defines a discharge opening;
a discharge chute in communication with the discharge opening;
a discharge stopper; and
an arm connected to the discharge stopper, the arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the discharge stopper, the discharge stopper and the arm movable between;
(a) a first position for stopping discharge wherein;
(i) a portion of the arm has a position inside the discharge chute, said position being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the discharge chute;
(ii) the discharge stopper is engaged with the mower deck; and
(iii) the second end of the arm is engaged with a portion of the mowing machine; and
(b) a second position for enabling flow of discharge wherein the discharge stopper and the arm are disengaged from the mowing machine. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mowing machine comprising:
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a frame;
a power unit supported by the frame;
a drive mechanism coupled to the power unit;
a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the frame; and
a mower assembly supported by the frame, the mower assembly having a mower deck which defines a discharge opening, a discharge chute in communication with the discharge opening, a discharge stopper, and an arm connected to the discharge stopper, the arm having a first end and a second end, the first end pivotally coupled to the discharge stopper, the discharge stopper and the arm movable between;
(a) a first position for stopping discharge wherein;
(i) a portion of the arm has a position inside the discharge chute, said position being substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the discharge chute;
(ii) the discharge stopper is engaged with the mower deck; and
(iii) the second-end of the arm is engaged with a portion of the mower deck; and
(b) a second position for enabling flow of discharge wherein the discharge stopper and the arm are disengaged from the mowing machine. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 30)
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27. A method of stopping material from discharging from a discharge opening defined by a mower deck of a mowing machine, the mowing machine including a discharge chute having a first end in communication with the discharge opening and a second end, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) grasping an arm pivotally coupled to a discharge stopper;
(b) lifting the arm and the discharge stopper from a first position;
(c) inserting the discharge stopper into the discharge chute;
(d) using the arm to move the discharge stopper from the second end to the first end of the discharge chute;
(e) positioning the discharge stopper on the mower deck so as to block the discharge opening;
(f) pushing the arm in a direction of the discharge stopper;
(g) engaging the arm with a support member coupled to the mowing machine; and
(h) releasing the arm thereby biasing the discharge stopper against the mower deck. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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31. A discharge stopper unit for a mowing machine having a mower deck including at least one discharge wall which defines a discharge opening, the mowing machine further including an elongated discharge chute in communication with the discharge opening, the discharge chute having a first chute end and a second chute end positioned along a longitudinal axis, the discharge stopper unit comprising:
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an arm having a first arm end, a second arm end and an extension member positioned between the first arm end and the second arm end, the extension member having a length sufficient to enable the first arm end to have a position adjacent to the first chute end and the second arm end to have a position adjacent to the second chute end while the extension member has a position inside the discharge chute substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis; and
a discharge stopper pivotally coupled to the first arm end, the discharge stopper including at least one guide member having at least one surface adapted to slidably engage with the discharge wall of the mower deck wherein the guide member is operable to guide positioning of the discharge stopper on the mower deck. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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Specification