Outboard Marine Corporation

Other

Cushman, Inc.

John E Hicks

Loren F Hansen

Ronald M Stolley

Michael E Allen

James J Kubat

Allen D Meyer

Richard H Florer

A mower deck including a shroud having a top, a discharge opening, first and second sides, the discharge opening located adjacent the second side and a peripheral skirt defining an open bottom, a plurality of cutting blades mounted to the shroud, each blade on a corresponding vertical drive shaft so as to cut plants and convey the clippings generated thereby from the first side to the second side and through the discharge opening, the drive shaft located closest to the discharge opening being provided with an impeller blade oriented at an angle to the corresponding cutting blade and adapted to direct the flow of cut plants toward the second side and through the discharge opening. The shroud also includes intake ports and a baffle which facilitates the flow of air and clippings from the first side to the second side.

Mower deck dedicated to grass collection

A ducted cover grass collection system for a lawn mower includes a hopper with a front end having an inlet, a rear end having an outlet and an open upper end, a deflector hood located at the front end to partially cover the open upper end, and a lid covering the remainder of the open upper end, the lid having a duct open at a front end and having a rear end in communication with the outlet so that a flow of clippings and air is introduced through the inlet and projected generally horizontally toward the rear end of the hopper, so that the clippings settle to the bottom of the hopper, after which the air is directed back toward the deflector hood, through the duct and is discharged via the outlet. An air flow indicator located in the hopper lid pivots when the air flow in the duct decreases, signaling that the hopper is filled with clippings.

Ducted cover grass collection system

An arrangement for preventing clogging of particulate material flowing through a curved section in a tubular duct or chute employs an air manifold operatively associated with the duct or chute and having an elongated discharge orifice positioned to discharge a wall of pressurized air along the internal concave duct surface so as to create positive laminar air flow along the curved surface and prevent stagnation and clogging of the particulate material. In a preferred embodiment, mutually cooperating auxiliary air discharge openings in the manifold and duct effect laminar air flow over other internal surface areas of the duct within the curved section. The anti-clogging arrangement finds particular application in grass mowers and the like wherein clippings tend to clog within curved sections of chutes through which the clippings pass to a receptacle.

Anti-clogging means for bulk material flow duct

A vehicle seat switch apparatus comprising a frame adapted to be mounted beneath a vehicle seat, a first member supported by the frame for generally reciprocal vertical movement relative to the frame between upper and lower positions, the first member having an upper end adapted to be contacted by the vehicle seat to move the first member to the lower position in response to movement of the seat caused by the weight of a vehicle operator on the seat, a spring for biasing the first member to the upper position, a switch mounted on the frame and adapted to be connected to an ignition circuit for opening and closing the circuit, the switch including a plunger movable upwardly and downwardly for respectively opening and closing the switch, and a second member for closing the switch in response to location of the first member in the lower position and for opening the switch after expiration of a predetermined period of time after the first member moves upwardly from the lower position.

Vehicle seat switch

A soil aerating apparatus comprising a towing vehicle, a soil aerating device comprising a drum, tines extending radially from the drum, and a frame for supporting the drum for rotation about a horizontal axis. The frame includes a forward end with a draw arm, and the forward end is pivotally attached to the towing vehicle so that the frame is raised and lowered by moving the draw arm. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for moving the draw arm comprising a hydraulic cylinder including a piston rod and connected between the draw arm and the towing vehicle, and a valve operably connected to the cylinder for extending and retracting said piston rod. The valve includes a valve member movable between a position wherein the valve extends the piston rod, a position wherein the valve holds the piston rod in a fixed position, a position wherein the valve retracts the piston rod, and a position wherein the valve permits the piston rod to extend or retract in response to movement of the draw arm. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for moving the valve member. The mechanism includes a lever pivotally connected to the valve member and pivotally mounted for movement between four positions corresponding to the valve member positions. The mechanism for moving the draw arm also includes a mechanism for releasably securing the lever in the position where the piston rod is free to move.

Soil aerating apparatus with hydraulic valve arrangement

The rotary mower has a blade housing supported on wheels for travel along the ground and including a top deck, a front wall and opposed side walls depending from the top deck, a rear wall depending from the top deck and extending transversely between the rear portions of the side walls, and a plurality of cutter blades which are mounted inside the blade housing and are rotated in the same direction about laterally spaced vertical axes. A flexible flap extending transversely generally coextensively with the rear wall and extending substantially vertically down to engage the mowed grass forms an effective air seal substantially across the rear of the blade housing. A portion of the grass clippings is impelled rearwardly toward the rear wall and another portion is impelled transversely toward an arcuate baffle disposed inside the blade housing near one of the side walls, extending between the front and rear walls of the blade housing, and having a rear portion extending closely adjacent the travel path of the corresponding cutter blade. The arcuate baffle guides the latter portion of the grass clippings in a direction along the rear wall and thereby promotes even distribution of the clippings from the rear of the blade housing.

Rear discharge multi-blade rotary mower

Disclosed herein is a vehicle comprising a frame including a substantially closed engine compartment including an access opening, an engine supported on the frame in the compartment, a seat, and cooperating elements for removably and adjustably supporting the seat in overlying relation to the engine comprising a pair of spaced elongated parallel guides partially defining the access opening, a mounting platform connected to the seat, and interengaging structure on the mounting platform and on the guides for supporting the platform so as to at least partially close the engine access opening, for guiding movement of the platform in the direction of elongation of the guides, and for removably and adjustably fixedly positioning the platform with respect to the guides.

Vehicle with adjustable seat

The riding mower (10) includes a prime mover (12) and a cutter blade housing (28) mounted on the prime mover (12) for pivotal movement between a lowered mowing position and a raised non-mowing position. The blade housing (28) is moved between the mowing and non-mowing positions by a flexible member (56), such as a chain, having a first end (58) connected to the blade housing (28) and a second end (60) connected to the prime mover (12) and a fluid-actuated cylinder (64) including a piston rod (66) carrying an arcuate element (68), such as a pulley, which engages an intermediate portion (62) of the chain (56) and lifts it in response to extension of the piston rod (66). The chain (56) is maintained in tension and in engagement with the pulley (68) at all times by a spring-biased arm (70) pivotally mounted on the prime mover (12) and connected to the second end (60) of the chain (56).

Blade housing lift for riding mower

Disclosed herein is a self-propelled vehicle for transporting personnel and/or small cargoes including a seat for the driver and a cargo-carrying bed or floor located rearwardly of the seat. The floor includes a stationary, generally flat first platform and a movable section including a generally flat second platform and a rear wall member extending generally perpendicular to the second platform. The movable floor section is supported from the rear portion of the vehicle frame for selective pivotal movement between a raised or cargo-carrying position where the second platform is generally coplanar with the first platform and the rear wall member serves to confine cargo on the floor and a lowered or passenger-carrying position where the rear wall member can serve as a step for a passenger to step up and sit on the stationary platform and also serve as a foot rest for a rearward-facing passenger(s) sitting on the stationary platform. The movable floor section is releasably held in the raised position by a pair of laterally spaced arms, each of which, at the outer end, is pivotally supported from the movable floor section and, at the inner end, is provided with a detent notch which is biased into releasable engagement with a pin located on the vehicle frame beneath the stationary platform by a spring connected between the inner end of the arm and the vehicle frame.

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

John E Hicks