Abstract: A mowing mechanism having a spindle rotatively driven by a power source, a blade having a radially inner portion coupled for rotation with the spindle and a radially outer portion for cutting vegetation, a housing within which the blade rotates, and a disc operatively carried within the housing for rotation with the blade and having a radially outer portion spaced above the blade. The disc includes an inner portion extending radially inwardly from the outer portion to a position proximate the blade, the inner and outer portions of the disc serving to confine air and clippings near the outer portion of the blade. The rotating disc prevents accumulation of the grass clippings beneath the disc and housing, and enhances airflow within the housing due to viscous drag or friction between the disc and the air within the housing. Deflectors carried by the disc are designed to further enhance airflows and generally deflect clippings back toward the blade for mulching.

Abstract: An apparatus for mowing and shredding a lawn is disclosed. A motor is mounted on a top cover. A push handle is engaged with the top cover and extends upwardly at an angle for pushing the apparatus in a forward rolling motion on the ground. The top cover is attached to and above a perforated partition that is supported by an undercarriage that includes a plurality of wheels. The motor has a downwardly extending drive shaft that extends through the top cover to engage a shredder blade. The drive shaft further extends downwardly through a central exhaust hole of the partition to a mower blade. The blades, when rotating, cause an upward air flow that sucks lawn debris into first the mower blade, through openings in the perforated partition, and into the shredder blade. The subsequent pulverized lawn debris is then ejected through discharge slots located around the peripheral edge of the top cover.

Abstract: An improved cutter blade assembly for lawn edging machines, the improvement comprising two cutting blades having the central portions of the first and second blades nested flat face against flat face and mounted on a powered drive shaft, the blades extending oppositely and outwardly from the horizontal drive shaft in a plane normal to the axis of the drive shaft. Each of the cutting blades preferably contains a series of progressively spaced, stepped mounting holes, a series of stepped locking holes, and a locking dog to provide an adjusting means for extending the combined length of the two cutting blades to compensate for wear. As the diameter of the cutter blade assembly is shortened from wear, each cutting blade may then be disengaged from the drive shaft and moved radially and oppositely outward and may then be re-engaged onto the drive shaft through the next appropriate mounting hole. Thus, the cutter blade assembly may be restored approximately to its original cutting diameter.

Abstract: An improved lawn mower blade including a cutting blade detachably affixed to a surface of the lawn mower blade and extending outwardly beyond a forward edge of the lawn mower blade, and a cover plate affixed to the cutting blade on the surface of the cutting blade opposite the lawn mower blade. The cover plate is in compressive contact with a surface of the cutting blade. The cutting blade has a thickness less than the thickness of the lawn mower blade. The cutting blade has a beveled edge extending outwardly beyond the forward edge of the lawn mower blade. The cutting blade is secured between the cover plate and the lawn mower blade by a plurality of bolts extending therethrough. A second cutting blade is detachably affixed to a surface of the lawn mower blade at an opposite end of the lawn mower blade and a second cover plate is affixed to a surface of the second cutting blade.

Abstract: A mower deck is convertible between a discharge configuration wherein grass clippings are discharged from the deck and a mulching configuration wherein grass clippings are mulched within the deck. The deck has a housing with a discharge port for discharging grass clippings from the housing when the deck is in the discharge configuration. Spindles are rotatably mounted to the housing and coupled to a drive mechanism. A cutting blade is attached to each spindle. A removable shroud can be attached to and removed from the housing. The mulching configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is attached to the housing and the discharge configuration of the deck corresponds to when the removable shroud is detached from the housing. A fixed shroud is attached to the housing and partially enshrouds the cutting path of the cutting blade.

Abstract: A mower unit includes a housing having a skirt portion extending toward the ground, and a covering wall surrounding a plurality of grass cutting blades to define spaces for mulching treatment. The covering wall includes peripheral wall members each curved along a locus of revolution of the blade and spaced from the skirt portion. The peripheral wall member includes a vertical portion descending toward the ground. The vertical portion and the skirt portion have lower ends thereof substantially at the same height over the ground. The blades are arranged transversely of the mower unit. The peripheral wall members are in the form of independent annular wall members provided for the blades, respectively. The annular wall members define spaces for mulching treatment substantially independent of one another.

Abstract: A wheel assembly for attachment to hand-held devices such as trimmers, edgers, blowers, metal detectors and the like includes a wheeled frame having a clamp arranged to be freely secured to the wand of a device for rotation of the wand therein. Stop members engage the wand on each side of the clamp to prevent relative longitudinal sliding movement of the wand and the clamp. The wheel assembly is thus able to be mounted on and retained in a desired position on the wand while still permitting the wand to be rotated as desired to orient the working end of the device, as for example with a string trimmer device, between a mowing orientation and an edging orientation.

Abstract: A lawn mower has at least one rotary cutting blade and an internal combustion engine for operating the at least one cutting blade, wherein the lawn mower can be operated on a substantially horizontal surface, while inclination of the mower on various surface slopes is also possible, while still maintaining adequate lubrication of the operating parts of the mower.

Abstract: A self-propelled, battery-powered lawn mower is provided having an onboard battery and two electric motors, a blade motor for rotating a grass cutting blade and a drive motor for propelling the lawn mower along a grass surface to be cut. The blade motor is provided with a switch for regulating the operation of the blade motor and the drive motor is provided with a speed control enabling the speed of the drive motor to be controlled independently of the speed of the blade motor.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower specially adapted for selectively mulching and/or discharging grass clippings. The preferred embodiment comprises a lawn mower having a generally conventional cutting deck, with an integrated discharge chute/mulching plug hingedly secured to the deck adjacent the discharge opening. The integrated discharge chute/mulching plug is selectively movable between a plurality of positions, including a mulch position and a discharge position. In the mulch position, the inner wall of the plug member extends within the discharge chute to establish a generally continuous inner wall within the cutting chamber for improved mulching performance. The mower further includes an improved cutting blade, having a pair of raised rib sections intermediate the cutting edges and the central hub, the raised ribs being operative to create an additional upward air flow component to improve circulation during both mulching and discharging.

Abstract: A blade assembly for a brush cutting machine. The blade assembly comprises two blades, each blade having a two sided cutting edge on both a first and second ends. The four sided cutting edge blades are rotatable from the first end to the second end and invertible from the upper surface to the lower surface to take advantage of all four cutting edges on each blade. A first blade is attached to the bottom surface of a first end of the crossbar. A second blade is attached to the bottom surface of a second end of the crossbar. The blades are attached to the bottom surface of the crossbar with counter-bored holes in the blades that correspond to counter-bored holes in the crossbar. Counter-bored holes in the bottom surface of the blades recess the head of the attaching bolt so that the top of the head of the attaching bolt is flush with the bottom surface of the blades.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement of the vertical shaft rotary lawn mower so that it can, besides cut grass, also vacuum and sweep lawns, driveways, and other hard-surfaced areas and to shred leaves and other shreddable materials. The improvement includes a rotatable sweeper brush in its own housing, a shredder with a number of uniformly twisted angularly radiating blades, and an inverted truncated conically shaped blower. Both shredder and blower are attached respectively near the top extremity and to the lower extremity of a rotatable spindle. In the sweeping and/or vacuuming operation, the sweeper brush, the spindle, the blower, and the mower blade revolve and leaves and other debris are sucked up into the brush housing by the rotating brush and by the rushing air, torn into small pieces by the revolving shredder, and the debris thrown upwardly sideward by the blower into the upper corner above the baffles, whirled, and thrown upward into the discharge chute and into the grass bag.

Abstract: A rotary mulching lawn mower is provided having an annular housing forming a toroidal internal cutting chamber in which is oriented a blade having a central axis for rotation. The blade has a series of blade portions extending radially outward from the central axis each having an end portion extending into the toroidal internal cutting chamber. The blade end portion directs cut grass upward into the cutting chamber. Each blade has an intermediate portion located between the central axis and the end portion having a substantially flat surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The intermediate portion is provided with a radially extending rib located intermediate the leading and trailing edge portions of the blade having a slope 12 projecting downwardly out of the plane for directing cut grass into the lawn upon rotation of the blade. The lawn mower of the preferred embodiment is driven by a battery powered electric motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a conventional rotary mower to a shredder which includes cutting an aperture or hole in a deck of the mower above the cutting blades thereof, positioning and affixing to the deck a feeding assembly above the hole; and interposing between the hole and the feeding assembly a plurality of triangular resilient fingers depressible to permit feeding of an object to be shredded therethrough and elastically returnable to prevent debris from being thrown back up through the hole by action of the cutting blade of the mower.

Abstract: The carriage for holding horticultural motorized hand-held cutting devices, comprises an elongated frame having opposite longitudinal sides and opposite lateral sides to define opposite ends. At least one wheel which defines the front of the carriage, is rotatably mounted on the frame at one of the opposite lateral sides. An auxiliary wheel frame assembly, near the other of the opposite lateral sides, extends from the elongated frame, respectively away from each of the opposite longitudinal sides and downwardly from the elongated frame into a leg. Each of the legs has a wheel rotatably mounted thereto. A handle on said elongated frame, propels and directs the motion of the carriage. The elongated frame has rotatably mounted thereto a supporting holder assembly for holding in an operating position a horticultural motorized hand-held cutting device such as a weed eater, an edger, a trimmer, a blade cutter for branches and a cultivator.

Abstract: A rotatable machinery system including a washer, the washer including a flange for keeping debris from contacting both rotating and stationary elements. The rotatable machinery system includes a rotatable cross member, a drive shaft coupled to the cross member, a bearing including a bearing housing, and a drive device for rotating the drive shaft. The bearing housing and drive shaft form a circumferential junction. The flange of the washer covers at least a portion of the junction, the washer turning responsive to the drive shaft.

Abstract: The peripheral mower blade is designed to cut and mulch grass at high volume. The blade is so designed to reduce back drag and require less horsepower. Peripheral blades will not throw objects out from under the mower deck they are mounted on, nor will they come apart creating a dangerous environment for those who are around the mower. The construction of the blade being one piece makes manufacture of it less expense and replacement of the blades less often.

Abstract: A mulching blade for use with a rotary powered lawn mower. The mulching blade comprises a generally planar disk shaped mulching member having an outside perimeter defining mulching teeth and a center attachment opening. The mulching blade also has a generally planar attachment bridge spanning the center attachment opening and spaced away from the disk shaped mulching member in a generally parallel relationship. The attachment bridge is supported by bridge ends attached to the disk shaped mulching member. The attachment bridge has a drive shaft opening such that the cutting blade of the lawn mower may be slid between the attachment bridge and the disk shaped mulching member such that both may be mounted together onto the drive shaft of the rotary lawn mower.

Abstract: A combination blade assembly is designed for use with a riding type lawn mower and the like. The combination blade assembly modifies the riding type lawn mower into a mulcher and chipper without prohibiting the lawn mower from being used for cutting grass. The combination blade assembly is permanently installed on the riding type lawn mower which eliminates the need for additional equipment. Due to the nature of the riding type lawn mower, the combination blade assembly creates a very mobile mulcher and chipper.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting and mulching lawns includes a shallow substantially cylindrical housing having an open bottom and adapted, in use, to have its axis perpendicular to a lawn to be cut; a blade, mounted within the housing to rotate about an axis co-axial with that of the housing, the blade extending radially from the axis and rotating in a plane near the bottom of the housing; a grass exit chute communicating with the inside of the housing; a source of rotational power in the form of an electric motor for rotating the blade; means for changing the direction of rotation of the blade; and means for allowing cut grass within the housing to pass out of the housing into the chute when the blade is rotating in a first direction and to prevent cut grass in the housing from entering the chute when the blade is rotating in a second direction.

Abstract: A lawn mower for use both as walking operator type and riding type, having a grass cutting unit, an engine located rearwardly thereof, a driver's seat located above the engine, a floor step located over the grass cutting unit to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and right and left rear wheels driven by the engine. The rear wheels have respective stepless transmissions operable independently of each other to transmit engine drive in different speeds to the rear wheels. These transmissions are operable by shift levers located on opposite sides of the driver's seat when the lawn mower is used as the riding type, and by control levers extending rearwardly of the driver's seat when the lawn mower is used as the walking operator type.

Abstract: A mulching deck particularly designed to handle tall, thick grasses and weeds (dry or wet), and a kit for converting an existing mowing deck into such a mulching deck. The deck features the combination of a closed discharge chute in a multi-bladed rotary mower having a plurality of stationary cutting blades positioned within the rotary blade housing. Deflectors may be provided in the housing for helping to redirect the clippings back into the path of the rotary and stationary blades for further comminution.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a lawn mower is proved which includes a pair of sealed ratchet mechanisms which provide improved resistance to wear and contamination.

Abstract: A rotary mulching lawn mower is provided having an annular housing forming a toroidal internal cutting chamber in which is oriented a blade having a central axis for rotation. The blade has a series of blade portions extending radially outward from the central axis each having an end portion extending into the toroidal internal cutting chamber. The blade end portion directs cut grass upward into the cutting chamber. Each blade has an intermediate portion located between the central axis and the end portion having a substantially flat surface lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. The intermediate portion is provided with a radially extending rib located intermediate the leading and trailing edge portions of the blade having a slope projecting downwardly out of the plane for directing cut grass into the lawn upon rotation of the blade. The lawn mower of the preferred embodiment is driven by a battery powered electric motor.

Abstract: A walk-behind power driven lawn mower having a front wheel steering system including a control mounted on the mower handle and a linkage system interconnecting the control and the front wheels of the mower so that in operation the mower may be steered to the right or left by the operator as the grass cutting operation proceeds. The control includes a lever for controlling the drive transmission to the rear wheels. Also disclosed is a locking tab attached to a pivoting wheel drive actuation handle which lockingly engages an operator presence bar in engagement when said wheel drive actuation handle is in engagement.

Abstract: A powered lawn edging or trimming tool is provided with at least one flexible filament cutting line, rather than the usual rigid metal blade. The use of a filament type cutting element precludes many of the disadvantages of such tools using rigid blades, such as the need to sharpen blades regularly and the relative hazard of such rapidly rotating rigid blades. The flexible elements also reduce the number and size of foreign objects (gravel, etc.) thrown about by the tool in operation. A method of modifying a standard grass trimmer having a horizontally disposed cutting head to form the tool of the present invention, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lawn mower comprising a frame, an engine mounted on the frame, and a cutting deck removably mounted on the frame. A wheel mounting structure is pivotally connected to the frame and rear wheels are mounted on the wheel mounting structure wherein the pivotal movement of the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure raises and lowers the frame with respect to the wheels thereby raising and lowering the cutting deck. A lever mechanism is provided for pivoting the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure to thereby raise and lower the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure and a rod and plurality of holes are provided for fixing the position of the frame with respect to the wheel mounting structure at any of a plurality of predetermined positions.

Abstract: A cutter and housing assembly for a lawn mower has a cutter having a plurality of blades disposed dispersely as viewed in plan, and a cutter housing accommodating the cutter therein and having at least an upper panel and a side grass clipping discharge outlet. The upper panel has an elevated panel portion which defines a grass clipping discharge passage. The elevated panel portion is spaced from lower ends of the blades by a distance ranging from 120 mm to 140 mm, and is higher than the upper panel by a distance ranging from 0 mm to 20 mm.

Abstract: In reference to a grass cutting machine of the kind comprising a self-propelling device supported on four wheels rotatably mounted to rotate around a common axis and supporting a chassis carrying a power source and provided with rigid or adjustable rearwardly extending handle bars and rigid or adjustable forwardly extending means for a cutter device comprising a housing accomodating at least one cutter, a device consisting of a rigidly affixed, or adjustable seat housing with adjustable handlebars, which is to be positioned above the power source, parallel in line with the common axis, and attached directly to the steering linkage thereby allowing the operator greater maneuverability by providing operation from with-in the center of gravity without deterring from the original intended purpose of the machine itself.

Abstract: A motorized lawn mowing machine has a generally horizontal deck with an engine releasably mounted thereon. A vertical drive shaft driven by the engine protrudes through an opening in the deck to mount a grass cutter blade thereon below the deck. A releasably mounted adaptor plate is mounted on the deck between the engine and deck, the plate having an opening for passing the shaft and having radially extending extension arm mechanism with parallel arms projecting radially at a sidewisely forward angle. The plate houses a first pulley fixed to rotate with the shaft at the level of the arms. The arm mechanism slideably supports a vertical flail assembly having an upper second pulley in alignment with the first pulley. An endless belt drive member is trained around the pulleys, and manipulatable mechanism is connected to slide the vertical flail device on the arm mechanism to engage and tauten the endless member to rotate the flail assembly.

Abstract: A mulching mower has at least one generally enclosed cutting chamber in which a rotatable cutting blade is carried for rotation in a generally horizontal cutting plane. The side wall which defines the circumferential boundary of the cutting chamber is not perfectly circular with respect to the axis of blade rotation. Instead, the chamber is stretched or elongated with respect to the blade tips over the rear half of the chamber to be obround to the rear of the chamber. This enhances use of the mower as a mulcher. In addition, grass deflecting members are desirably used in the rear half of the chamber to further enhance the mulching action provided by the chamber.

Abstract: A cutting and mulching blade assembly for a rotary type lawn mower or similar device that can be installed as an original part or as an after market application by an owner or other operator. Consisting of a two bladed design, it will cut grass, leaves and other similar materials (medium) then re-cut it several times to reduce these medium to a size much less than a conventional mower (considered mulch). It can be used as strictly a mulcher dispensing cuttings below the deck onto the ground or may be used to disperse the cuttings out of a chute onto the ground away from the device or into a bag. This can all be done without changing the blade in any way.

Abstract: A multi-bladed mulching mower is convertible between a mulching mode in which the grass clippings are deposited as mulch or a discharge/collection mode in which the grass clippings are discharged from the housing or are bagged. The mower includes two separate cutting chambers which are staggered forwardly relative to one another but otherwise are arranged side-by-side next to one another. The peripheral wall of the forward cutting chamber has a selectively openable gate which is closed in the mulching mode but is opened in the discharge/collection mode. The rearward cutting chamber is provided with a discharge outlet which can be selectively opened in the discharge/collection mode but is otherwise closed.

Abstract: A power lawn mower of a mulching type with no opening for releasing mowed pieces sidewardly and having a housing with a short peripheral side wall with an inwardly protruding at a rear substantially half portion of a lower edge of the peripheral wall in the direction of forward movement of the lawn mower. The protruding portion temporarily retains mowed lawn pieces, or cuttings within the housing for chopping by a cutter rotatable in the housing. Chopped lawn pieces or cuttings are dropped through a lawn drop opening defined by the peripheral wall and deposited between blades of the cut lawn grass. The moved pieces are chopped to a moderate extent and dropped through the blades of the cut lawn grass to promote growth of the lawn grass.

Abstract: A mulching mower apparatus for use in a mover having a housing that includes a discharge outlet. A guide mechanism is provided for guiding air and vegetation clippings radially inwardly and downwardly towards the blade for re-cutting, and a blocking mechanism is provided for partially blocking the housings discharge outlet to thereby allow a portion of the air circulating within the housing to escape and increase the lifting of the vegetation to be cut.

Abstract: A rotary blade mowing machine having mechanism for washing the inner walls of the blade shroud thereof, wherein the shroud has a top deck and surrounding skirt depending therefrom to provide a blade cavity, wherein one or more drive shafts are provided within the cavity and at least one of which carries a rotary blade, at least one fluid slinger having a body provided with diverters extending generally radially outwardly therefrom, the slinger being affixed at its body to at least one of the shafts within the cavity at a position spaced from the cavity side of the deck, the diverters having surfaces on their cavity side contoured with respect to the general plane of the cavity side of the deck to provide at least one generally vertically oriented vector surface and, at least one chute surface having a fluid throw axis directed generally radially outwardly toward the skirt, the vector surface and the chute surface being adapted to direct, respectively, contacting wash fluid generally toward the deck and genera

Abstract: The invention relates to a lawn mover, comprising a body portion (1), a power unit (14) mounted on the body portion, and blade members (2), rotating substantially in a horizontal plane and fixed to the lower end of a substantially vertical driving shaft (10) inside a cutting chamber (12) provided by body (1). The inner surface of said cutting chamber (12) in body portion (1) is provided with a material (15) having a low friction coefficient. The power unit (14) preferably comprises a permanent magnet direct-current motor. Blade members (2) are made of a sheet-like material. The blade member mounted on either side of said driving shaft (10) of blade (2) is, from its end and over part of its length, designed in a manner such that, as seen in its rotating direction, the leading edge of the blade lies at a level substantially lower than the rest of the blade. The plane of rotation defined by said lower leading edge is located approximately 10-15 mm above the bottom edge of cutting chamber (12).

Abstract: A support for mounting an implement engine onto an implement and supporting the engine crakshaft which has an extending end. The support is attached to the engine base and presents a rotation support for the engine shaft and presents an additional rotation support for the implement tool. The support serves the dual purpose of resisting shaft bending and providing a simplified attachment for the engine on the implement.

Abstract: A motor-powered mulching mower and edger apparatus (20) with dual rotary mower blades (33,35), a mower deck (21) and a side-mounted edger attachment (75) adapted by a clutch mechanism (110,111) for simultaneous operation therewith. An adjustable mulching control valve (60) mounted at the inlet of a discharge chute (39) from the deck (21) allows variation of the proportions of mulching to clippings bagging in the range of zero to one hundred percent during mower operation. The dual rotary blades (33,35) are mounted in vertically spaced relation and select leading-angle trailing-angle relationship and are cooperable with an internal deck-mounted air stream deflector (68) for deflecting multiple cuttings of grass clippings in an inwardly directed spiral path such that after the initial cutting, each of the clippings is disposed to at least two more cuttings to produce a finer mulch.

Abstract: A post-processor having a housing in communication with the discharge of a lawn mower. A cutting blade is disposed within the housing for rotation on a driven shaft for finely cutting the materials in the housing, and a discharge opening is formed in the housing above the cutting blade for discharging fine cut materials. An impeller is also disposed within the housing on the shaft for drawing materials past the cutting blades and forcing fine cut materials through the discharge opening. A baffle affixed to the housing adjacent the discharge opening disperses the stream of fine cut materials.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower blade is provided with opposite end dependingly supported rake springs. Each of the springs comprises a closed coil spring body whose upper end is removably supported from the underside of the corresponding rotary mower blade end and the lower convolution of each coil spring body includes a downwardly directed vertical spring tine or finger. The mower blade incorporates a pair of elongated opposite end blade end sections including remote and adjacent ends with the adjacent ends thereof disposed in end overlapped engagement with each other and the adjacent ends include meshed projections and recesses spaced longitudinally therealong. The adjacent ends are longitudinally slotted and a threaded shank type fastener is passed upwardly through the slots and may be threaded in a blind bore formed in the lower end of the vertical engine shaft of a rotary mower.

Abstract: A mulching rotary lawn mower which returns cut grass particles into a lawn wherein the mower is designed with an open air flow system. The mower comprises a rotary blade pivotally mounted beneath a deck. The deck includes an opening therein, providing an outlet for air drawn beneath the deck by the rotating blade and the grass clippings which are cut by the blade. A curved deflector is positioned proximate the blade to redirect the air and grass clippings exiting the opening. The air and clippings are redirected back beneath the deck, where the air drawn beneath the deck raises the clippings toward the blade where they are cut into tiny particles driven into the lawn and soil below.

Abstract: A spindle assembly for the cutter blade of a rotary lawn mower includes a spindle rotatably mounted in a fixed housing by means of a pair of spaced apart tapered roller bearings. Lip seals are provided at the upper and lower ends of the housing and there is a further O-ring seal adjacent the lower housing end. The spindle shaft is maintained within the housing by snap rings and spacers, and the spindle and bearings are lubricated by a heavy oil disposed within the housing. A cutter blade is fixed to the lower end of the spindle and a pulley is fixed to the spindle above the housing.

Abstract: A rotary cutting mechanism having crossed blades mounted one above the other on a common shaft. Each of the blades has a cutting edge located at each outer end and facing in the direction of rotation. The outer ends of the upper blade are displaced downwardly so that its cutting edges lie in substantially the same plane as the cutting edges of the lower blade.

Abstract: A washing device for a rotary blade mowing machine having a rotary blade shroud having a top deck and a depending surrounding skirt providing a generally circular blade cavity, a drive shaft extending substantially centrally through the deck into the cavity, and a rotary blade affixed to the shaft for rotation thereby, the device comprising, a fluid slinger having a body member affixed to the shaft at a position between the cavity side of the deck and the blade and spaced from the cavity side, a diverter on the body member extending generally radially therefrom, the diverter having surface portions on its cavity side contoured with respect to the general plane of the cavity side of the deck to provide vertically oriented vector surface portions adapted to force contacting wash fluid toward the deck cavity side upon rotation of the shaft, the diverter also being provided with chute surface portions having throw axes directed generally radially toward the shroud skirt, and at least one wash fluid port in the sh

Abstract: A wheeled attachment for a grass trimmer includes a mounting bar having a wheel at each end, detachably mountable to the grass trimmer to provide easy control and easy support for the grass trimmer. The detachable bar may be securable by a nut and bolt combination either to a housing or protective cover mounted on the grass cutting head immediately above the grass cutting element, or to an adjustable bar component which is detachably securable to the elongated shaft of the grass trimmer. For easy mounting upon the housing of a grass trimmer, the detachable bar includes adjustment slots for the nut and bolt fasteners so that the fasteners may be easily and quickly adjusted to the size of the housing component. For easy mounting upon the elongated shaft of the grass trimmer, the adjustable bar component includes two or more vertically extending bar members which are adjustably attachable to permit forward or rearward adjustment of the wheeled attachment.

Abstract: A convertible mulching mower (10) including a housing (12) and chute (30). Chute (30) can be selectively blocked with a chute plug (32) to selectively put mower (10) in a mulching mode. Mounted beneath housing (12) is a plurality of kickers (72) which serve to deflect the grass clippings generally downwardly and inwardly to cause them to penetrate the standing grass blades in the cutting path, when the mower (10) is in its mulching mode (when chute plug (32) is blocking discharge chute (30)). When chute plug (32) is removed, it can be replaced by various grass handling means, including a grass bag (36) or a side discharge chute extension (140). A wash-out system (129) can be included in plug (32) to allow the underside of housing (12) to be sprayed with water to remove accumulated grass clippings. Wash-out system (129) can be used for mulching or non-mulching mowers.

Abstract: A powered vegetation cutting deck adapted to be pulled by a tow vehicle which has a cylindrical deck housing with a solid top supported at its rear by a wheeled carriage. The deck has a skirt that completely surrounds flattened cutting blades under the deck so that the discharge of cut vegetation is vertical and downward with even distribution so that there are no wind rows produced. An internal combustion engine is mounted on the deck to power the cutting blades. Power is transmitted to the blades through a special pulley and a "v" belt system that features a clutch construction that allows the disconnection of the power path by a special idler and lever system. In the event of wheel or carriage damage, rear ground contact runners or skids secured to the deck enable the mower to be readily towed to a service area with the rear carriage moved to a stowed position. The skids also establish a minimum cutting height.

Abstract: Several embodiments of air cooled rotary lawn mowers wherein the mower is provided with a cooling shroud for directing cooling air downwardly across the engine. The cooling shroud defines an air inlet that is spaced from the discharge chute so that grass clippings are not likely to enter it. The engine is laid out so that the center of gravity of the mower is disposed rearwardly of the axis of the cutting blade for facilitating turning.

Abstract: A bearing assembly housing having at least one pair of spaced-apart bearing races surrounding a heavy duty drive shaft of a commercial lawn mower is provided with a critically located single grease fitting for introducing a lubricant to the housing to thereby allow the lubricant to enter at the top of the upper bearing race and migrate by force of gravity to the lowermost bearing race, thereby insuring sufficient lubrication of all the bearings in the housing.