WO1989011785A1

WO1989011785A1 - Electrically powered machine and attachment therefor

Info

Publication number: WO1989011785A1
Application number: PCT/GB1988/000428
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dudley Arnold Joiner
Original assignee: Dudley Arnold Joiner
Priority date: 1986-11-24
Filing date: 1988-06-01
Publication date: 1989-12-14
Also published as: GB8628040D0; GB2197775A

Abstract

An electrically powered machine such as a lawnmower is provided with a resilient wand (5) by which power cable (3) is support. The wand (5) prevents the cable (3) from fouling the machine and enables the cable (3) to be flicked from the machine's path.

Description

Electrically Powered Machine and Attachment Therefor

This invention relates to electrically powered machines and attachments therefor. More particularly the invention relates to machines such as lawnmowers, drills, hedge trimmers, edging tools and the like machines provided with cutting means such as blades for cutting and tilling.

Electricity is supplied to conventional machines by a cable or other electric wire connected to a switch housing and/or handle of the tool. As is well known the cable can interfere with the machine's operation either by its tendency to ensnare the operator's limbs or because of the danger of the machine severing the cable. One way of overcoming this problem is to power the machine by batteries. Battery powered machines are bulkier or less powerful than mains powered machines. The present invention seeks to provide an attachment for mains- electricity powered machines which reduces or eliminates these problems. The invention also seeks to provide mains-electricity powered machines which are less liable to these problems than hitherto.

According to one aspect the invention there is provided a machine to which electricity is supplied by way of a cable, the cable being supported above the ground in the vicinity of the machine by a resilient elongate support which is connected to the machine and is capable of adjustment in angular position relative to the machine such that part of the cable supported by the ground is displaced relative to the machine.

According to another aspect of the invention there is also provided a cable support for use on a machine to which electricity is supplied by way of a cable, the support comprising a resilient elongate member attached at or adjacent one end to a support capable of being secured to the machine, the member being provided towards its other end with means for supporting the cable.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by reference to the accompanying figures of which;

Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of an electric mower which may be of the rotary, hover or cylinder type, Figure 2 is a side elevation of a 'strim er' tool, Figure 3 is a front elevation of the attachment of the wand to the handle of the tool of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a plan view of a chain saw or hedge trimmer and wand in a first configuration, and

Figure 5 is a plan view of a chain saw or hedge trimmer and wand in a second configuration.

Pivoted to the handle (1) of the machine is a tapered wand (5) conveniently made from glass fibre carbon fibre, cane or similar resilient materials and similar in resilience to a fishing rod. The free end of the wand (5) is provided with clip (3) to which the cable (6) is secured. When the mower is in use, the wand (5) extends upwards and to one side at an appropriate angle so as to avoid interference with the user and hold the cable well above the ground in the vicinity of the mower. The rod is able to swing from side to side through arc (4) as the mower turns, whereby the rod is capable of adopting a position projecting generally towards the source of the cable. There is consequently never any need for the user to handle the cable as he changes the mowing direction.

Preferably, however, the wand (5) is 'flipped' sideways so that the whipping action induced by the tapered wand (5) causes the cable to move from the mowers path with a helical wave motion in the same direction as the wand (5) was flipped. This 'flipping' may be due to the inherent resilience of the wand or due to a user manipulating the wand.

It is important to use a wand of the correct length to produce the desired whipping action.

If the rod is too short or too stiff then insufficient whipping action is induced and the cable will not be moved very far. If the rod is too long then it will be unwieldy and may have to be very thick to support the cable adequately. The effective length of the wand (5) is preferably about 0.75m to about 1.75m. The cable may be secured towards or at one end of the rod for the induction of the whipping action and also part way along to avoid the interference with the user. The machine end of the support is generally thicker or less flexible than the other end. Typically diameters are about 8mm to 2mm preferably about 6mm to 3mm. The wand may be mounted on the handle by a support (2) consisting of a housing m which the wand is fixed by a pin or bolt serving as a pivot for an end piece into which the rod is secured. The housing cooperates with the end piece so as to define end positions for the end piece and limit the angle through which the wand swings. The end piece can incorporate means for clamping the wand. The clamping means may be in the form of a ferrule or a pin and cam. Preferably the wand is adjustable for example by downwards movement relative to the clamping means such that the distance between the tip of the wand and the support is reduced. This is particularly advantageous for use in confined spaces or adjacent to obstructions such as hedges and fences. Alternative constructions are, however, possible. Thus, for example the wand may be mounted on the handle by a helical or other spring which allows the wand to adopt appropriate positions, suitable means being provided to restrict the path of movement of the wand and prevent or restrict the cable and or wand interfering with the user. The wand may be mounted on a part of the mower other than the housing. The cable is preferably clipped to the end of the rod but provision may be made for adjustment at this point, for example by use of a fitting which has a tapered recess into which the cable can be pressed. Other means for attachment of the cable may also be used.

In other embodiments of the invention the wand is attached directly to the machine without a pivot. The end attached to the machine will be comparatively rigid and the remote end resilient. To move the cable the wand is grasped a short distance from the machine and actuated as described above.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 comprises a 'stπmmer' (10) having a pivotless housing or support (11) mounted adjacent handle (12). Preferably housing (11) is rotatably mounted and may be secured in a desired orientation for example with thumb¬ screw (13). Housing (11) is substantially V-shaped with a strengthening web (14) between the arms of the V. Wand (15) is carried in one arm of the V. As previously explained cable attached to the wand may be 'flipped' by shaking the wand. Alternatively or additionally the resilience inherent in the wand may move the cable.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 and 5 comprise a chain saw of hedge trimmer (20) having a housing or support which is securable for example with hand-wheel (21) m a desired orientation. This allows the user to locate the wand and cable in a convenient position, for example passing above the user's shoulder. For example the configuration of Figure 4 could be adopted when the cutting means (22) are horizontal as when trimming the top of a hedge. The configuration of Figure 5 could be adopted when the cutting means (22) are vertical as when trimming the side of a hedge.

The skilled worker will appreciate that the invention is of use with other electrical devices and machines, especially portable machines provided with cutting means such as cultivators, scarifiers, sweeping machines, hedge-trimmers, strimmers, chain-saws, edging tools and drilling machines.

Claims

1. A machine to which electricity is supplied by way of a cable, the cable being supported above the ground in the vicinity of the machine by an elongate support which is connected to the machine and is capable of adjustment in angular position relative to the machine such that part of the cable supported by the ground is displaced relative to the machine.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elongate support comprises a resilient wand.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the elongate support comprises glass fibre reinforced plastics material (GFRP), carbon fibre reinforced plastics material (CFRP) filled or unfilled plastics material or cane.

4. A machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the machine is a mowing machine, εtrimmer, cultivator_/ scarifier, sweeping machine, hedge-trimmer, chain-saw or edging tool.

5. An electric mowing machine or the like, to which electricity is suppplied by way of a cable, the cable being supported above the ground in the vicinity of the machine by an elongate support which is connected at one end to the machine and is capable of adjusting in angular position relative to the machine during changes in the direction of movement of the latter.

6. A cable support for use on a machine to which electricity is supplied by way of a cable, the support comprising a resilient elongate member attached at or adjacent one end to a support capable of being secured to the machine, the member being provided towards its other end with means for supporting the cable.

7. A support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the elongate member compr ises a tapering wand compri s ing GFRP , CFRP filled or unfilled plastics material or cane.

8. A support for use in a mowing machine or the l ike, comprising a rod attached at one end to a support capable of bei ng secured to the handle of the machine, the rod being provided at its other end w ith means for retaining the cable.