Deere + Company

Bombardier Inc.

Daniel J Kettler

John B Kuhn

David K Stricker

Germain Cadotte

James Heinrich Weitz

Daniel A Sebben

Jean-Philippe Crépeau

Dean William Benter

Jonathan Richard Chase

Ronald Mark Harycki

Jamie David Kovalaske

All terrain vehicle

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.

Rotating mower baffle mechanism

A mechanism including a plurality of baffles positioned within a mower housing between the mower blades and a rear discharge outlet, including a first wall adjacent the edge of a respective blade and which acts to define the chamber within which the blade rotates, a second wall extending rearwardly from the first wall and defining chutes which extend between the chambers and the rear discharge outlet, and third surfaces which act to enclose the space between the first and second walls to thereby prevent air and clippings from accumulating there. The chutes generally converge at the rear outlet. Ramps are positionable within the chutes for changing the mower to a mulching mode, and include a fourth wall or surface positioned in the entrance to the chute for partially blocking air and clippings from entering the chute. A fifth surface extends rearwardly from the edge of the fourth surface to the discharge outlet. A deflector is positionable within the housing and acts to channel clippings downwardly into the blade for re-cutting at a first portion, reduce the effective volume within the chamber at a second portion, and increase the vacuuming effect at a third portion. A first blade includes a plurality of upstanding nubs which are received in respective openings formed in the second blade, and act to couple the second blade for rotation with the first blade.

Rear discharge mulching apparatus

A material collection mechanism coupled with a mowing vehicle and having a container mechanism or a flexible bag for receiving air and air-borne material, and within which the material may accumulate. A support mechanism is coupled with an attachment mechanism and extends upwardly therefrom for supporting the container. The support mechanism includes a generally vertically extending chamber for rigidifying the support mechanism, and is also adapted to receive air from the container for channeling the air downwardly for discharge adjacent to the ground. An attachment mechanism is provided for coupling the material collection mechanism with the vehicle. A mechanism is provided for maintaining the bags in material receiving position.

Material collection system

Growing community of inventors

Beaver Dam, WI, United States of America

Daniel J Kettler