Grass cutting device
First Claim
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1. A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, the device comprising:
- at least one drive wheel;
a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;
a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes;
an obstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle; and
a suspended pivoting vane which detects long-grass and is responsive to the impact of long grass.
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Abstract
A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, comprises
at least one drive wheel;
a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device;
a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes and
obstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle.
The grass cutting device preferably further comprises
mechanical long grass detection means arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device.
47 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, the device comprising:
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at least one drive wheel; a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device; a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes; an obstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle; and a suspended pivoting vane which detects long-grass and is responsive to the impact of long grass.
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2. A grass cutting device suitable for automatic and unattended operation, the device comprising:
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at least one drive wheel; a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheel to propel said device; a cutter mechanism to cut grass over which said device passes; an obstacle detection means capable of detecting an obstacle in the path of said device and being operably linked to said power unit to cause said device to retreat and turn away from said obstacle; and a mechanical long-grass detection means which is arranged to detect long grass in the path of said device and to activate the cutter mechanism in response to the detection of long grass. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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5. A grass cutting device comprising:
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a base plate; two generally trapezoidal side walls attached to said base plate; two individually driven drive wheels connected to said side walls; a power unit operatively coupled to said drive wheels to propel said device; a cutter mechanism to cue grass over which the device passes; a shaft which passes through said side walls; a buffer mounted on the front of the device; a first microswitch which is operatively associated with said buffer and said power unit; wherein an obstacle in the path of the device is detected by contacting said buffer thereby actuating said first microswitch and causing said device to retreat and turn away from the obstacle; a long-grass detector bar pivotally suspended from said shaft and pivotally responsive to impact with long-grass; a second microswitch operatively associated with and activated by said long-grass detector bar; and a cutter drive motor for driving said cutter mechanism which is switched on by activation of said second microswitch such that the cutter mechanism is only engaged when long-grass is detected. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification