Deere & Company

Kenneth D Schweitz

Dean William Benter

James Thomas Dowe

Kevin F Thompson

Lawn mower

A drive wheel control for a walk-behind self-propelled implement, such as a lawn mower. The control activates sequentially a transmission ball clutch and then a V-belt drive to provide positive and gradual drive wheel start up. Disengagement of the ball clutch allows the drive wheels to freewheel and permits the operator to easily move the mower backwardly as when trimming around hedges and bushes. The control includes a pair of links pivotally connected, with one link rigidly mounted to the transmission. Movement of a single control cable connected to one link initially activates the ball clutch and then causes rocking movement of the other link and the transmission to engage the V-belt drive.

Transmission control for self-propelled implement

A material deflector is provided for a lawn mower. The deflector is swingably carried by the mower housing and need not be removed when a bagger attachment is used. The deflector is shiftable between a first position above and biased against the mower grass bagger and a second position in registry with the mower discharge outlet. When the deflector is in registry with the rear discharge outlet, it deflects the cut material to the side of the mower. The deflector includes two adjoining material deflector surfaces, the first surface sloping downwardly and to the side and the second surface sloping rearwardly and to the side. The two surfaces meet to form a generally right angle or L-shape material deflector rather than a traditional tubular channel for conveying of the cut material.

Growing community of inventors

Oconomowoc, WI, United States of America

Kenneth D Schweitz