Abstract: The mowing implement of a mowing apparatus, rotating about a vertical axis, is driven over a transmission comprising a freewheel mechanism and driving pins. A drive shaft is connected with the freewheel mechanism so that there cannot be any mutual rotation therebetween. In a basic orientation parallel to the axis of rotation of the mowing implement, these driving pins produce a driving connection between the freewheel mechanism and the mowing implement for driving the latter. In the event of a stoppage of the drive shaft, the driving pins, together with the freewheel mechanism, carry out a lifting motion, which interrupts the driving connection between the mowing implement and the freewheel mechanism. During their lifting motion, the driving pins activate a braking device in the region of the interior of the transmission housing above the freewheel mechanism. This braking device rapidly brings the mowing implement, which continues to run, to a stop.

Abstract: In a walk-behind, powered lawnmower, a cable control apparatus is provided for supporting at least two different cable assemblies. The apparatus includes a housing for supporting the outer conduits of the cables at a fixed position on the handlebar of the mower and a fastener for fastening the housing to the handlebar. A throttle lever is supported on the housing for pivotal movement, the free end of the first cable being connected to the throttle lever so that movement of the lever is transmitted to the motor by the first cable, adjusting the speed of the motor. The free end of the second cable extends beyond the cable control apparatus and is connected to a separate ground drive lever so that movement of the ground drive lever is transmitted to the ground drive assembly by the second cable, actuating the ground drive assembly. The control apparatus includes an adjustment apparatus for removing slack from the second cable assembly.

Abstract: In a garden appliance provided with a traveling drive, the tools, for example a mowing tool, are driven by a motor which is also coupled to the drive wheels. Connected between the motor and drive wheels is a gear which reduces the speed of the drive wheels with increasing output requirement or increasing torque, and vice versa. As a result, it is, for example, effected that in the case of a high resistance to mowing the advance of the mower is less than in the case of a low resistance to mowing. A V-belt pulley gear with variable radii can be used as the gear, the axial adjustment of the V-belt pulley halves being effected as a function of the load torque. This setting can be performed against the action of return springs via helical threads which can be constructed, for example, in the form of a ball self-closure.

Abstract: A belt drive mechanism for transmitting power from a vehicle's power source to a mower deck vertically shiftably coupled with the vehicle, and having a primary belt driven by an output sheave coupled with the vehicle power source, a double pulley jacksheave driven by the primary belt, and a secondary belt driven by the jacksheave and operatively engaged with mower deck sheaves which drive mower blades within the mower deck. A support member extends between the mower deck and the vehicle for supporting the jacksheave, the support member being pivotal with respect to both the mower deck and the vehicle for shifting the position of the jacksheave to a position vertically between the output sheive and the mower deck sheaves as the mower deck shifts vertically. The jacksheave pivots with the support member to assume a tilted position when the mower deck is shifted vertically.

Abstract: A braking system for a rotary mower includes a brake element which is secured to an impeller and is urged by a spring normally into braking engagement with a fixed brake friction member. On start-up of a motor of the mower, rotation of the impeller causes axial movement of the brake element against the spring and out of braking engagement. Movement of the brake element may be assisted by mechanical means, for example by a multiple ball and ramp system or arrangement. In this embodiment, four equally spaced balls are normally located in ramped recesses formed in an upper face of an adaptor element, such that on start-up of the motor, the balls ramp up at least partially out of the recesses, and assist in urging a braking element and a friction element out of braking engagement with one another. This assist stops when the motor is turned off, the balls now moving back into their respective lowest positions in the recesses formed in the upper face of the adaptor element.

Abstract: A hedge trimmer provided with a deflector which deflects, gathers, and rolls forwardly together and simultaneously materials cut by the trimmer in the direction of the sweep of the trimmer.

Abstract: Two-ply belting having improved dimensional stability flexing characteristics and elongation characteristics is disclosed. The belting comprises a first synthetic fabric proximate to the friction rubber surface of said belting and a second synthetic fabric distal to the friction rubber surface. The modulus and flex fatique life of the first synthetic fabric is greater than the modulus and flex fatique life of the second synthetic fabric. Belting with accordance with this invention is useful in agricultural applications.

Abstract: An agricultural machine has two power transmission lines, one of which includes a disk type frictional stepless change speed apparatus and the other of which includes a belt transmission apparatus. The disk type frictional stepless change speed apparatus comprises a drive disk formed integrally with a split pulley of the belt transmission apparatus, a driven disk in pressure contact with and receiving power from the drive disk, a driven shaft slidably carrying the driven disk, and stays for supporting the driven shaft, the stays being oscillatable about an axis parallel to the driven shaft to permit the driven disk to be released from pressure contact with the drive disk. The agricultural machine further includes a mechanism for sliding the driven disk to effect speed changing.

Abstract: This specification discloses a cutting head and mounting assembly for adjustably supporting the cutting head on a mower. The mounting assembly for the head permits easy adjustment of the height of the head above the ground, its horizontal angle with respect to the frame of the mower, and the inclination of the head from a horizontal to a vertical orientation or any angle of inclination therebetween. At the end of the head opposite its cutting flail members, there is a quick detach joint which allows, either an electric motor to be mounted and energized through a switch by electrical power available aboard the mower, or alternatively allows a cable drive to be mounted which drives the head from a friction drive mechanism taking power from the mower engine shaft, the friction drive being selectively engageable by means of a Bowden control cable. A guard to deflect cuttings away from the operation is mounted on the cutting head.

Abstract: A mower drive mechanism including a clutch-brake assembly, a travel control and neutral lift-off assembly, and a traction sensor assembly for a friction disc transmission having a driven disc engageable with a drive disc. The clutch-brake assembly includes a rockshaft, bellcrank actuator asssembly, and swing plate for raising the driven disc of the friction disc transmission when the rockshaft rotates a predetermined amount. Further rotation of the rockshaft causes a brake arm to come into engagement with a brake hub on the drive shaft for the driven disc thereby effecting a braking action. Also, a spring force is applied to the rockshaft which is transmitted through the bellcrank actuator assembly to the swing plate for biasing the driven disc toward the drive disc in a driving mode. The travel control and neutral lift-off assembly includes a rotatable control member for causing the driven disc to be moved linearly along its drive shaft to a desired speed and direction of rotation setting.

Abstract: A universal grass edger and trimmer attachment is disclosed utilizing a rotary flexible drive shaft whose operating end is supported by a multipositional boom.

Abstract: The disclosed friction disc transmission includes a conventional drive disc rotatable about a vertical shaft and a vertical friction disc engaging the top horizontal face of the drive disc to be driven about a horizontal axis. The friction disc is rotatably supported on a pivot frame having a sprocket drive connected to a sprocket on the wheel axle. The vertical drive disc shaft is mounted on a transversely swingable support for movement of the drive disc relative to the driven friction disc and control of the rotational speed and direction of the driven disc. The support includes a control plate having camming surfaces which lift the driven disc over the center neutral axis of the drive disc, reducing wear of the driven disc when the transmission is in neutral. The control also includes a clutch-brake mechanism independent of the control plate including a lever connected to a rotatable link means.

Abstract: The disclosed friction disc transmission includes a conventional drive disc rotatable about a vertical axis and a vertical friction disc engaging the top horizontal face of the drive disc to be driven about a horizontal axis. The friction disc is rotatably supported on a pivot frame having a sprocket drive connected to a sprocket on the wheel axle. The wheel axle sprocket in the self-energizing transmission is located vertically below the drive sprocket and the drive sprocket is located between the frame pivot axis and the friction disc. The tension in the drive chain thereby compresses the friction disc into engagement with the drive disc in proportion to the torsion in the wheel axle and eliminates the requirement of a spring. Other improvements include the novel chain drive including a driven sprocket on the pivot frame.

Abstract: A drive for a mower of the type having a multiple number of vertically disposed drum cutters. The cutting elements are at the bottom of each drum and cut in a horizontal plane. A horizontally disposed pneumatic tired wheel is associated with and acts to impart rotation to each of the drum cutters. External drive is imparted to effect rotation of one of the pneumatic tired wheels. The other pneumatic tired wheels are mounted to have frictional circumferential engagement with each other and with the driven wheel to cause all of the wheels to be driven.

Abstract: A rotary power mower in which the cutter blade is fixed to the bottom of a cup-shaped rotor, freely rotatably suspended from a carriage that is slidably mounted for fore and aft movement beneath the deck of the mower chassis. The carriage is spring-urged to a position in which the outer face of the side wall of the cup-shaped rotor is frictionally engaged with a brake shoe fixedly carried by the mower chassis, to hold the cutter blade against turning; and a deadman control mounted on the handle of the mower and operatively connected with the carriage enables the operator to move the carriage against the force of the spring to a position in which the inner face of the side wall of the cup-shaped rotor is tangent to and frictionally engaged with the periphery of a drive wheel fixed to the engine drive shaft.