Mowing machine blower assembly using a direct drive fan for bee displacement prior to vegetation cutting
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A mowing machine blower assembly comprising:
- a riding mowing machine, comprising;
a plurality of wheels;
a frame body supported by the plurality of wheels;
wherein the frame body is further comprised of a drive unit housing and a cutting deck upon which a belt drive system is mounted, the belt drive system comprising a drive pulley and two additional pulleys rotatably coupled to the drive pulley by a belt;
a plurality of cutting blades housed under the cutting deck rotatably coupled to the belt drive system;
a drive unit housed inside the drive unit housing, the drive unit comprising a drive shaft and a the motor, the motor mounted to the drive shaft;
wherein the drive pulley is directly mounted to the drive shaft; and
wherein the motor supplies drive power to the plurality of wheels and to the plurality of cutting blades by turning the drive shaft; and
a blower assembly, comprising;
a fan;
a fan drive shaft; and
a fan housing having an interior space sized and shaped to house the fan, and a pair of through holes sized and shaped to receive the drive shaft;
wherein the fan housing is mounted to the frame body such that it is positioned below the drive unit and above the cutting deck;
wherein the fan drive shaft and the drive shaft of the drive unit are a same drive shaft;
wherein the fan is directly mounted on the drive shaft, with the fan positioned on the drive shaft below the motor and above the drive pulley;
wherein the fan housing is formed with an opening disposed as a funnel terminating in a mouth; and
wherein the mouth is oriented and the funnel is sized and shaped such that a stream of air from the fan being turned directly by the motor turning the drive shaft is collected and concentrated by the funnel and forced out of the mouth onto a quantity of vegetation immediately in front of the cutting deck and prior to cutting the quantity of vegetation by the plurality of cutting blades.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A bee displacement assembly provided as a mowing machine with a direct drive operated fan housed inside a housing formed with a funnel leading from an interior space of the housing and terminating in a mouth. The funnel tapers both horizontally and vertically to the mouth such that the mouth approximates a narrow, widened slot. Powering the motor turns the drive shaft that in turn operates the fan, creating a concentrated stream of air inside the fan housing that is channelized in the funnel and emitted out the mouth at an area of uncut vegetation immediately prior to cutting by a cutting deck of the mowing machine.
12 Citations
5 Claims
-
1. A mowing machine blower assembly comprising:
-
a riding mowing machine, comprising; a plurality of wheels; a frame body supported by the plurality of wheels; wherein the frame body is further comprised of a drive unit housing and a cutting deck upon which a belt drive system is mounted, the belt drive system comprising a drive pulley and two additional pulleys rotatably coupled to the drive pulley by a belt; a plurality of cutting blades housed under the cutting deck rotatably coupled to the belt drive system; a drive unit housed inside the drive unit housing, the drive unit comprising a drive shaft and a the motor, the motor mounted to the drive shaft; wherein the drive pulley is directly mounted to the drive shaft; and wherein the motor supplies drive power to the plurality of wheels and to the plurality of cutting blades by turning the drive shaft; and a blower assembly, comprising; a fan; a fan drive shaft; and a fan housing having an interior space sized and shaped to house the fan, and a pair of through holes sized and shaped to receive the drive shaft; wherein the fan housing is mounted to the frame body such that it is positioned below the drive unit and above the cutting deck; wherein the fan drive shaft and the drive shaft of the drive unit are a same drive shaft; wherein the fan is directly mounted on the drive shaft, with the fan positioned on the drive shaft below the motor and above the drive pulley; wherein the fan housing is formed with an opening disposed as a funnel terminating in a mouth; and wherein the mouth is oriented and the funnel is sized and shaped such that a stream of air from the fan being turned directly by the motor turning the drive shaft is collected and concentrated by the funnel and forced out of the mouth onto a quantity of vegetation immediately in front of the cutting deck and prior to cutting the quantity of vegetation by the plurality of cutting blades. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
Specification