GB1587471A - Cylinder mowers - Google Patents

Description

(54) CYLINDER MOWERS (71) We, QUALCAST (LAWN MOW ERS) LIMITED, a British Company, of Sunnyhill Avenue, Sunnyhill, Derby, DE3 7JT., do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a cylinder lawnmower. Such mowers generally include a rotating cutting cylinder consisting of a series of helical metal blades mounted on a shaft so that their cutting edges lie on a cylindrical surface. The grass is cut by a scissor action between the helical cutting edges and a fixed bottom blade extending parallel to the axis of the rotating cylinder.

It is known to provide such mowers with a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered upwardly and rearwardly from the cutting cylinder relative to the normal direction of mowing. The grass-box is conveniently carried by the handle of the mower but in this case we have found that when full of grass its weight can lead to "lifting" of the front end of the mower so that a satisfactory cutting action is not always achieved.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a cylinder mower comprising a plurality of helical blades forming a cutting cylinder, a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered from the cutting cylinder, and a motor for driving the cutting cylinder, the motor having its centre of gravity located forwardly of the axis of rotation of the cutting cylinder relative to the direction of movement of the mower.

The motor thus counterbalances the combined weight of the grass-box and handle, and we have found that this greatly improves the performance of the mower.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one example of a mower embodying the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mower embodying the invention, and Figure 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the bottom portion of the mower shown in Figure 1 with the side plate removed to illustrate the internal components.

Referring to these drawings, the mower includes a chassis frame 30 having mounted thereon a rear roller 16, a cutting cylinder assembly 3, a pair of front wheels 31, and an electric motor 10. A handle 32 is pivotally mounted on the chassis and has a grass-box 33 releasably secured thereto.

The motor 10 is supported by the chassis 30 in an axially horizontal position at the front end of the chassis. As shown, the motor axis is at a level above that of the cutting cylinder, but this level of the motor axis can be varied depending on other design requirements. Between the wheels 31 there is thus a space 34 through which grass passes unimpeded to the cutting cylinder before being cut. The motor 10 is enclosed within a housing provided by an upper cover 11 and a lower cover 12 secured to one another. The centre of gravity of the motor will lie as near as practicable to the front-torear centre line of the mower.

The front wheels 31 may be replaced by a single roller or roller assembly extending the full width of space 34.

The cutting cylinder assembly 3 consists of a series of helical blades 36 mounted by means of metal pressings 41 on a shaft 34 and interacting with a fixed blade 37 secured to a bracket 38 and pivoting for adjustment on a tie rod 42 by means of hinge bushes 43 secured to the blade 37.

It is apparent that the centre of gravity of the motor 10 lies well in front of the fulcrum at the axis of roller 16, and the motor therefore counter-balances the weight of the grass-box 33 and handle 32 to provide a stable construction.

The motor 10 drives the cylinder assembly 3 in a conventional manner by means of transmission components located within the cover 39 secured to the side plate 40.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A cylinder lawnmower comprising a plurality of helical blades forming a cutting cylinder, a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered from the cutting cylinder, and a motor for driving the cutting cylinder, the motor having its centre of gravity located forwardly of the axis of rotation of the cutting cylinder relative to the direction of movement of the mower.

2. A cylinder lawnmower comprising a chassis supported on front and rear rollers or wheels, a handle extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the chassis for manoeuvering the chassis along the ground, a plurality of helical blades forming a cutting cylinder, a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered from the cutting cylinder, the grass-box being carried by the said handle, and a motor for driving the cutting cylinder, the motor having its centre of gravity located forwardly of the axis of rotation of the cutting cylinder relative to the direction of movement of the mower.

3. A mower according to claim 2 in which the motor is located beneath a protective top cover secured to the chassis, the cover having a first portion sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear roller or wheels and a second portion sloping downwardly and forwardly from the top end of the first portion.

4. A mower according to claim 3 in which the top cover is fastened to a bottom cover such that the motor is enclosed between the two covers.

5. A mower according to claim 3 or 4 in which the top end of the top cover is located forwardly of the axis of the front wheels or roller.

6. A mower according to any one of the claims 3 to 5 in which the second portion of the top cover is substantially perpendicular to the first portion.

7. A mower according to any one of the claims 3 to 6 in which the motor is an electric motor and includes a frame which is substantially rectangular in cross-section, one side of the frame being substantially parallel to the said first portion of the top cover.

8. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims in which the axis of rotation of the motor is located at a level above that of the cutting cylinder.

9. A mower according to claim 8 in which the axis is substantially horizontal.

10. A mower according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. stable construction. The motor 10 drives the cylinder assembly 3 in a conventional manner by means of transmission components located within the cover 39 secured to the side plate 40. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A cylinder lawnmower comprising a plurality of helical blades forming a cutting cylinder, a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered from the cutting cylinder, and a motor for driving the cutting cylinder, the motor having its centre of gravity located forwardly of the axis of rotation of the cutting cylinder relative to the direction of movement of the mower.

2. A cylinder lawnmower comprising a chassis supported on front and rear rollers or wheels, a handle extending upwardly and rearwardly from the rear end of the chassis for manoeuvering the chassis along the ground, a plurality of helical blades forming a cutting cylinder, a rear grass-box for collecting grass cuttings delivered from the cutting cylinder, the grass-box being carried by the said handle, and a motor for driving the cutting cylinder, the motor having its centre of gravity located forwardly of the axis of rotation of the cutting cylinder relative to the direction of movement of the mower.

3. A mower according to claim 2 in which the motor is located beneath a protective top cover secured to the chassis, the cover having a first portion sloping downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear roller or wheels and a second portion sloping downwardly and forwardly from the top end of the first portion.

4. A mower according to claim 3 in which the top cover is fastened to a bottom cover such that the motor is enclosed between the two covers.

5. A mower according to claim 3 or 4 in which the top end of the top cover is located forwardly of the axis of the front wheels or roller.

6. A mower according to any one of the claims 3 to 5 in which the second portion of the top cover is substantially perpendicular to the first portion.

7. A mower according to any one of the claims 3 to 6 in which the motor is an electric motor and includes a frame which is substantially rectangular in cross-section, one side of the frame being substantially parallel to the said first portion of the top cover.

8. A mower according to any one of the preceding claims in which the axis of rotation of the motor is located at a level above that of the cutting cylinder.

9. A mower according to claim 8 in which the axis is substantially horizontal.

10. A mower according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.