Abstract: According to the principles of the present invention, a ride-behind rotary mower having an advantageous construction is provided. The ride-behind rotary mower includes a mobile structure and a plurality of rotary mowing units. Each mowing unit consists of a mower deck, or cover, a rotary blade, and a plurality of acoustic Helmholtz resonators disposed around the periphery of the mowing unit, with an orifice tube positioned adjacent to the travel of the rotary cutting blade. Each resonator is constructed and tuned such that its resonant frequency is generally equal to the blade pass frequency of the rotary blade during normal operation. As such the resonators will generally reduce the noise of the mower during normal operation.

Abstract: An operator presence control assembly for a walk-behind greens mower includes a handle supported on a frame of the walk-behind greens mower, a ribbon switch on the outer perimeter of the handle, and a circuit including the ribbon switch. The circuit is completed by applying a threshold pressure to the ribbon switch, and a device selectively energizeable via the circuit in accordance with the threshold pressure applied to the ribbon switch. As the user of the greens mower grips the handle, the ribbon switch completes a circuit to energize a switch to engage an electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: A system for notifying the operator of a reel-type greens mower, or any blade-based cutting system, of the relative sharpness of the blades. A controller receives at least one input from the mowing unit such as current draw of the mowing unit, driving energy input to the mowing unit, or rotational speed of the reel, for example, and monitors that input in comparison with the forward cutting speed of the mower to make a determination as to the relative sharpness of the blades. A display may be provided to alert the operator of the condition of the blades, including when maintenance of the blades in necessary. A speed control circuit may also be provided to maintain the speed of the greens mower below the maximum effective cutting speed of the mower.

Abstract: A reel mower assembly which includes a mower reel mounted to a frame, a drive operative to rotate the reel about a reel axis, a magnetic backing plate mounted to the frame and a magnetic bed bar retained in proximity to the backing plate in an operating position. The assembly includes a bed knife interposed between the backing plate and the bed bar, with the backing plate providing additional magnetic attraction between the bed bar and bed knife. The assembly includes an engagement device for preventing sliding movement of the bed knife with respect to the bed bar while allowing the bed knife to move away from the bed bar and backing plate when a separating force is exerted on the bed knife in a direction away from the bed bar that is greater than an attractive force exerted on the bed knife by the bed bar.

Abstract: A riding mower steering system includes an arm rest extension rotatably connectable to a seat arm rest. A hinge device permits at least upward and downward rotation of the arm rest extension and temporarily fixing a plurality of rotation orientations. A steering wheel is rotatably mounted to the arm rest extension. The steering wheel has a diameter adapted for single handed spanning by an operator. The hinge device is positioned to correspond to an operator wrist location and is rotatable upward and downward to accommodate a desired wrist angle with respect to the arm rest. A drive-by-wire control device is connectable to the steering wheel.

Abstract: A sand trap rake having a frame, a pair of rear wheels supporting the frame, a single front wheel supporting the frame, and a steering system operably interconnecting the steering wheel to the single front wheel. A grading device is coupled to the frame and is raised and lowered in response to a grading device actuation system. A steering limiting system is further coupled with the steering system. The steering limiting system is operable in a normal reaction mode and a slow reaction mode. A switch device is connected with the grading device actuation system such that the switch device outputs a control signal when the grading device is in the raised position. In response to the control signal, the steering limiting system consequently causes the steering system to operate in a slow reaction mode.

Abstract: An operator presence control assembly for a walk-behind greens mower includes a handle supported on a frame of the walk-behind greens mower, a ribbon switch on the outer perimeter of the handle, and a circuit including the ribbon switch. The circuit is completed by applying a threshold pressure to the ribbon switch, and a device selectively energizeable via the circuit in accordance with the threshold pressure applied to the ribbon switch. As the user of the greens mower grips the handle, the ribbon switch completes a circuit to energize a switch to engage an electromagnetic clutch.

Abstract: A reel type mower having a mobile structure and a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to the mobile structure. The ground engaging traction member imparts traction movement to the mobile structure for movement on the ground at a ground speed. A power device is supported on the mobile structure and outputs a driving force to the ground engaging traction member. A bed knife is supported by the mobile structure having a cutting edge that cooperates with a grass cutting reel rotatably supported on the mobile structure. A collection apparatus is engagable with the mobile structure or removable from the mobile structure for collecting the grass clippings. A guard device is pivotally coupled to the mobile structure and is positionable in a closed position concealing the grass cutting reel and an opened position revealing the grass cutting reel.

Abstract: A sand trap rake having a frame, a pair of rear wheels supporting the frame, a single front wheel supporting the frame, and a steering system operably interconnecting the steering wheel to the single front wheel. A grading device is coupled to the frame and is raised and lowered in response to a grading device actuation system. A steering limiting system is further coupled with the steering system. The steering limiting system is operable in a normal reaction mode and a slow reaction mode. A switch device is connected with the grading device actuation system such that the switch device outputs a control signal when the grading device is in the raised position. In response to the control signal, the steering limiting system consequently causes the steering system to operate in a slow reaction mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bed knife for a reel mower. The method includes cold roll forming spring steel, flattening and straightening the spring steel, shaping the spring steel through a plurality of rollers to impart a bending force upon the spring steel to define a mounting portion and an upturned portion, and grinding a portion of the upturned portion to form a cutting edge.

Abstract: A reel mower assembly including a reel mower rotatably mounted to a frame, a drive operative to rotate the reel about a reel axis, and at least one backing mounted to the frame. The reel mower further includes a bedknife retainer fastened to the backing in an operating position, a bedknife interposed between the backing and the bedknife retainer such that the bedknife is oriented in cutting relationship with the reel, and an engagement device operative to prevent sliding movement of the bedknife with respect to the backing. Alternatively, the reel mower assembly includes a bedknife retainer fastened to the backing in an operating position, and a bedknife carried by the bedknife retainer.

Abstract: A reel mower assembly including at least one magnetized backing plate mounted to a frame of a greensmower, a bedknife retainer magnetically retained in proximity to the backing in an operating position, and a bedknife interposed between the backing and the bedknife retainer such that the bedknife is oriented in cutting relationship with the reel.

Abstract: An electron multiplier includes a plurality of staggered parallel dynodes disposed between two insulating vanes. The dynodes are disposed between a cathode at one end and a high energy electron filter at the other end. The electron filter includes at least two staggered filter bodies which extend into the space between the vanes. Each of the filter bodies extends slightly more than one-half the distance between the vanes so as to provide no straight path therethrough for high energy electrons, i.e., the filter is optically opaque. Between the dynodes closest to the cathode and the electron filter is a transition region. The transition region includes transition dynodes, having unequal widths and unequal spacings, and steering electrodes. In multiplier operation, the transition region functions to steer low energy electrons around the electron filter.