Rail-mounted automated grass cutter

• US 9,119,343 B1
• Filed: 11/19/2013
• Issued: 09/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel R. Stovall
• Original Assignee: Daniel R. Stovall
• Inventors: Stovall, Daniel R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TORRES, ALICIA M
• Application Number:
  US14/083,836
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 56230-232, 180/401, 104245-247
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/40 Other details

Abstract

The automated grass cutter is a sickle mower that is driven along a rail in order to autonomously cut grass. The automated grass cutter places a rail of an undefined length or track, which is supported via fence posts. A drive wheel system is engaged onto the rail in order to drive the sickle grass mower along the rail. The fence posts may include a fence rail spanning between consecutive fence posts. The sickle grass mower extends laterally from the rail, and relies on a drive motor to drive the drive wheel system and sickle mower along the rail. The sickle mower includes a reciprocating blade that reciprocates back and forth via movement of guide wheels.

Claims

1. An automated grass cutter comprising:

a rail onto which a drive wheel system engages thereon so as to propel both the drive wheel system and a sickle mower blade;

wherein the rail is supported in place via fence posts;

wherein the rail is further defined with a top surface, bottom surface, inner surface, and outer surface;

wherein the rail is generally squared-shaped, and is of an undefined length;

wherein the rail is constructed of individual rail segments that attach to one another via a male end and corresponding female end provided on distal ends of each of the rail segments;

wherein the rail is held in place via the fence posts;

wherein the fence posts are configured to be inserted into a ground surface, and include a rail arm that is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the fence post;

wherein the drive wheel system includes a series of inner guide wheels as well as a series of outer guide wheels;

wherein the inner guide wheels engage the inner surface of the rail whereas the outer guide wheels engage against the outer surface of the rail;

wherein the outer guide wheels include an outer bracket that linearly connect to all of the outer guide wheels;

wherein the inner guide wheels include an inner bracket that connects across all of the inner guide wheels;

wherein the drive wheel system includes a drive wheel that is engaged against two adjacent outer guide wheels;

wherein the drive wheel is responsible for propelling the drive wheel system along the rail;

wherein the drive wheel is in mechanical connection with a drive motor via a drive wheel belt;

wherein a plurality of spring members traverse between the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels to insure adequate contact of the drive wheel system to the rail;

wherein the spring members ensure that the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels are able to maintain traction to the rail;

wherein the spring members span across and above the rail so as to not interfere with the rail arms that are periodically spaced along the length of the rail.

2. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 1 wherein the fence post and the rail arm support the rail at an elevation above the ground surface.

3. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 2 wherein the rail spans between two consecutive fence posts.

4. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 1 wherein the drive wheel belt extends from a drive motor shaft to a drive wheel shaft;

wherein the drive motor shaft extends down from the drive motor to a sickle blade gear, which is positioned underneath the drive wheel system.

5. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 4 wherein the sickle blade gear attaches to a sickle idler arm;

wherein the sickle idler arm is responsible for translating rotational motion of the sickle blade gear to a back and forth motion;

wherein the sickle idler arm connects to a sickle mower blade such that the sickle idler arm moves the sickle mower blade back and forth whilst a stationary mower blade remains motionless;

wherein the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade are supported via a mower blade brace.

6. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 5 a guard supports both the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the guard is positioned in front of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade.

7. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 6 a mower wheel is provided at a distal end of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the mower wheel is included to insure proper support of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the motor wheel ensures that the sickle mower blade and the stationary motor blade are horizontally oriented with respect to the ground surface.

8. An automated grass cutter comprising:

a rail onto which a drive wheel system engages thereon so as to propel both the drive wheel system and a sickle mower blade;

wherein the rail is supported in place via fence posts;

wherein the rail is further defined with a top surface, bottom surface, inner surface, and outer surface;

wherein the rail is generally squared-shaped, and is of an undefined length;

wherein the rail is constructed of individual rail segments that attach to one another via a male end and corresponding female end provided on distal ends of each of the rail segments;

wherein the rail is held in place via the fence posts;

wherein the fence posts are configured to be inserted into a ground surface, and include a rail arm that is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the fence post;

wherein the fence post and the rail arm support the rail at an elevation above the ground surface;

wherein the rail spans between two consecutive fence posts;

wherein the drive wheel system includes a series of inner guide wheels as well as a series of outer guide wheels;

wherein the inner guide wheels engage the inner surface of the rail whereas the outer guide wheels engage against the outer surface of the rail;

wherein the outer guide wheels include an outer bracket that linearly connect to all of the outer guide wheels;

wherein the inner guide wheels include an inner bracket that connects across all of the inner guide wheels;

wherein the drive wheel system includes a drive wheel that is engaged against two adjacent outer guide wheels;

wherein the drive wheel is responsible for propelling the drive wheel system along the rail;

wherein the drive wheel is in mechanical connection with a drive motor via a drive wheel belt;

wherein a plurality of spring members traverse between the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels to insure adequate contact of the drive wheel system to the rail;

wherein the spring members ensure that the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels are able to maintain traction to the rail;

wherein the spring members span across and above the rail so as to not interfere with the rail arms that are periodically spaced along the length of the rail.

9. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 8 wherein the drive wheel belt extends from a drive motor shaft to a drive wheel shaft;

wherein the drive motor shaft extends down from the drive motor to a sickle blade gear, which is positioned underneath the drive wheel system.

10. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 9 wherein the sickle blade gear attaches to a sickle idler arm;

wherein the sickle idler arm is responsible for translating rotational motion of the sickle blade gear to a back and forth motion;

wherein the sickle idler arm connects to a sickle mower blade such that the sickle idler arm moves the sickle mower blade back and forth whilst a stationary mower blade remains motionless;

wherein the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade are supported via a mower blade brace.

11. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 10 a guard supports both the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the guard is positioned in front of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade.

12. The automated grass cutter as described in claim 11 a mower wheel is provided at a distal end of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the mower wheel is included to insure proper support of the sickle mower blade and the stationary mower blade;

wherein the motor wheel ensures that the sickle mower blade and the stationary motor blade are horizontally oriented with respect to the ground surface.