Center rear discharge deck
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A center rear discharge deck system, comprising:
- a belt comprising a first side and a second side;
a first cutter operatively engaged by the second side of the belt;
a gearbox operatively engaged by the second side of the belt, wherein the gearbox comprises a drive gear and an engagement gear operatively engaged with the drive gear, wherein the engagement gear is configured to rotate in a first direction of rotation and the drive gear is configured to rotate in a second direction of rotation, and wherein the first and second directions of rotations being opposing directions of rotation;
a second cutter coupled to the drive gear so that the first cutter and the second cutter rotate in opposing directions in response to movement from the belt;
an engagement coupled to the engagement gear so that the engagement is configured to be rotated by the belt in the first direction of rotation, wherein the engagement and engagement gear are configured to be moved from a first position that engages the belt to a second position that disengages the belt.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
To reduce the complexity, maintenance, and cost and increase reliability of a riding lawnmower employing a center rear discharge deck, the riding lawn mowers may be configured with a cutter engagement system which allows for a cutting system to be engaged and disengaged by a user without a motor clutching system. A riding lawn mower may comprise a center rear discharge deck having a single sided belt and a cutter engagement system. The cutter engagement system may be configured to interface with the belt to provide power and opposing rotation movement through one or more cutter engagements and/or gear boxes.
29 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A center rear discharge deck system, comprising:
-
a belt comprising a first side and a second side; a first cutter operatively engaged by the second side of the belt; a gearbox operatively engaged by the second side of the belt, wherein the gearbox comprises a drive gear and an engagement gear operatively engaged with the drive gear, wherein the engagement gear is configured to rotate in a first direction of rotation and the drive gear is configured to rotate in a second direction of rotation, and wherein the first and second directions of rotations being opposing directions of rotation; a second cutter coupled to the drive gear so that the first cutter and the second cutter rotate in opposing directions in response to movement from the belt; an engagement coupled to the engagement gear so that the engagement is configured to be rotated by the belt in the first direction of rotation, wherein the engagement and engagement gear are configured to be moved from a first position that engages the belt to a second position that disengages the belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A lawnmower, comprising:
a center rear discharge deck comprising; a belt, a second cutter movable in response to movement from the belt; an engagement gear configured to rotate in a first direction of rotation; a drive gear operatively engaged with the engagement gear and the second cutter; an engagement coupled to the engagement gear and rotatably coupled to the second cutter, wherein the engagement is configured to engage the belt in a first position and disengage the belt in a second position by rotating about the drive gear; a frame wherein the center rear discharge deck is coupled to the frame; and a motor coupled to the frame, wherein the motor is configured to provide power and a first movement in a first direction of rotation to the belt. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
16. A method for operating a lawnmower comprising:
-
tensioning a belt to a power transfer mechanism of a motor and a second engagement in response to user input, wherein the second engagement is coupled to an engagement gear via a shaft, and wherein the engagement gear is operatively engaged with a drive gear; rotating the second engagement by the belt in a first direction of rotation, thereby rotating the engagement gear in the first direction of rotation and rotating the drive gear in a second direction of rotation; rotating a second cutter by the drive gear in the second direction of rotation, wherein the second cutter is at least partially enclosed by a housing; and rotating a first cutter by the belt at a first engagement in the first direction of rotation, wherein the first cutter is at least partially enclosed by the housing, wherein the second engagement is configured to be moved from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to engaging the belt with the second engagement, and wherein the second position corresponds to disengaging the belt with the second engagement. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification