Rotary mower apparatus

Abstract

A rotary blade assembly for a rotary mower that provides an equivalent cut with a substantial reduction in necessary driving power, and a method of implementing the same to reduce the necessary driving power of a mower. The rotary blade assembly includes a support structure fixedly disposed to a rotary drive shaft, at a height sufficient to avoid or to minimize contact with vegetation, such that the rotary drive shaft rotates the support structure about an axis. The rotary blade assembly includes a plurality of cutting elements that project downwardly and outwardly from the support structure to a predetermined distance such that the cutting elements are positioned to avoid contact with the ground and to cover the area to be cut in a more uniform way. The support structure of the rotary blade assembly can be a support arm having the cutting elements spaced over a length thereof. Alternatively, the rotary blade can be formed using a plate-shaped member having projecting portions extending downwardly for use as cutting elements. The projecting portions can be integral with the plate-shaped member or separately attached thereto. In other embodiments, a plurality of rotary blades are used in place of a single large conventional blade spanning the same width, whereby power requirements are reduced and a more uniform cut results. A blunt extension can be secured to or integral with the lower end of the drive shaft to prevent the cutting elements of the mower blade from contacting and disturbing the ground surface in uneven terrain.