U.S. patent application number 11/233635 was filed with the patent office on 2007-03-29 for convertible mower deck with interlocking baffles.
This patent application is currently assigned to Deere & Company, a Delaware corporation. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Paul Chenevert.
Application Number | 20070068132 11/233635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37460257 |
Filed Date | 2007-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070068132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chenevert; Jeffrey Paul |
March 29, 2007 |
CONVERTIBLE MOWER DECK WITH INTERLOCKING BAFFLES
Abstract
A convertible mower deck has a plurality of adjoining cutting
chambers under a mower deck, each cutting chamber having a cutting
blade mounted to the lower end of a vertical spindle. The deck
includes openings between adjoining cutting chambers, and gates or
baffles under the deck in the openings between adjoining cutting
chambers. The gates or baffles include pairs of plates that pivot
on vertical axes, and interlock together when moved in the mulching
position.
Inventors: |
Chenevert; Jeffrey Paul;
(Apex, NC) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DEERE & COMPANY
ONE JOHN DEERE PLACE
MOLINE
IL
61265
US
|
Assignee: |
Deere & Company, a Delaware
corporation
|
Family ID: |
37460257 |
Appl. No.: |
11/233635 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
56/320.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01D 34/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
056/320.1 |
International
Class: |
A01D 67/00 20060101
A01D067/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a mower deck covering a plurality of
cutting chambers with a rotary cutting blade in each chamber and a
discharge opening from one of the cutting chambers; a plurality of
pivoting baffles between the adjacent cutting chambers; each baffle
being movable between an open position allowing flow of grass
clippings between the cutting chambers and a closed position
blocking flow of grass clippings between the cutting chambers; and
each baffle having a first plate and a second plate, the first
plate interlocking with the second plate when the baffle is in the
closed position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first plate and the second
plate each have ends that interlock together when the baffle is in
the closed position.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mower deck has three
cutting chambers and three rotary cutting blades.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first plate has an
interlocking end with a "J"-shaped cross section.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the second plate has an
interlocking end with an "L"-shaped cross section.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one
stationary baffle under the mower deck, and wherein the first and
second plates interlock adjacent the stationary baffle.
7. A convertible mower deck comprising: first, second and third
generally cylindrical cutting chambers with a first flow passage
between the first and second chambers, a second flow passage
between the second and third chambers, and a discharge opening from
the third chamber; a first pair of plates movable to an interlocked
position to block the first flow passage; and a second pair of
plates movable to an interlocked position to block the second flow
passage.
8. The convertible mower deck of claim 7 wherein at least one pair
of plates includes a lead plate having an interlocking end with a
"J"-shaped cross section and a secondary plate having an
interlocking end with an "L"-shaped cross section.
9. The convertible mower deck of claim 7 further comprising
stationary baffles in the first flow passage and the second flow
passage.
10. The convertible mower deck of claim 9 wherein the first pair of
plates and the second pair of plates are spaced from the stationary
baffles when the plates are in the interlocked position.
11. The convertible mower deck of claim 7 wherein the first pair of
plates and second pair of plates pivot on generally vertical
axes.
12. The convertible mower deck of claim 7 further comprising a
third plate movable to a closed position to block the discharge
opening.
13. An apparatus comprising: a plurality of adjoining cutting
chambers under a mower deck, each cutting chamber having a cutting
blade mounted to the lower end of a vertical spindle; openings
between adjoining cutting chambers; a discharge opening from one of
the cutting chambers; and a plurality of baffles mounted under the
deck in the openings between adjoining cutting chambers, each
baffle including a pair of plates, each plate pivoting on a
vertical axis, each plate having an end that interlocks with
another plate.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein each pair of plates includes
a first plate with an interlocking end having a "J"-shaped cross
section and a second plate with an interlocking end having an
"L"-shaped cross section.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plates are pivotable
toward a first position to close the openings between the cutting
chambers, or toward a second position to open the openings between
the cutting chambers.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plurality of baffles are
mechanically linked together and to a control structure extending
above the mower deck.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a baffle mounted
in the discharge opening and pivotable on a horizontal axis to open
or close the discharge opening.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of
stationary baffles extending at least partially into the openings
between the cutting chambers.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the baffles are pivotable to
an intermediate position between a mulching position and a
discharge or collection position.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the plates interlock when the
baffles are in the mulching position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to mower decks and, more
specifically, to mower decks that are convertible between a
discharge or collection position and a mulching position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Mower decks have been designed that are convertible between
a discharge or collection position and a mulching position. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,358 entitled "Mower Having a Mower
Deck Adapted for Selective Mulching or Non-Mulching Modes" relates
to a mower deck that can be converted between a discharge or
collection position and a mulching position. The conversion may be
done without using tools, and without separately attaching or
detaching components on the deck. The convertible mower deck
enables an operator to avoid the inconvenience of having to stop
mowing to either remove or install a mulch kit. The convertible
mower deck has adjustable baffles between adjacent cutting chambers
that can be moved to an open position in which grass clippings move
between the cutting chambers and out through a discharge opening,
or to a closed position in which grass clippings are mulched by
restricting their movement between cutting chambers and blocking
the discharge opening. The baffles may be moved to either the open
position or the closed position with a handle attached to the top
surface of the deck.
[0003] When in use, material including debris and grass clippings
may build up on the underside of a mower deck. Material build-up
may cause partial or complete loss of mulch-on-demand
functionality. For example, build up that collects on baffles under
the deck may prevent one or more of the baffles from moving
completely between a discharge/collection position and a mulching
position. As a result, some of the grass clippings may become
lodged in or expelled from a gap between the baffles instead of
recirculating in the cutting chamber until they are converted to
mulch.
[0004] When the mower deck shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,609,358 is
operated in the mulch position, each lead or pivoting baffle under
the deck should abut against a fixed baffle that is welded to the
deck shell. The purpose of the fixed baffle structure is to provide
support to the pivoting baffles, and to prevent damage to the
pivoting baffles from impacts, while the mower travels forward.
However, build up of material on the backside of each pivoting
baffle (and/or the fixed baffle it opens against) may block and
prevent the pivoting baffle from swinging completely into the full
mulch position, and also may stop other baffles from moving
completely into the mulch position. If the mower continues to
operate, additional clippings may clog the gaps between the
baffles, and may lead to a partial to full loss of the ability to
move the baffles between the discharge or collection position and
the mulching position. To restore full function, the operator may
need to stop the mower and clean material such as debris and grass
clippings from the the underside of the deck. This has an adverse
effect on the operator's productivity.
[0005] There is a need for a convertible mower deck that can move
between a discharge or collection position and a mulching position
even if there is a build-up of material on the baffles under the
mower deck. There is a need for a convertible mower deck that may
continue to operate at a high level of productivity without the
need for the operator to stop and clean material from the underside
of the deck. There is a need for a convertible mower deck that will
not allow grass clippings to clog the gaps between the baffles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A convertible mower deck has pivoting baffles that interlock
when the deck is in the mulching position. Each baffle pivots
between and open position allowing flow of grass clippings between
the cutting chambers and a closed position blocking flow of grass
clippings between the cutting chambers. Each baffle has a first
plate and a second plate, the first plate interlocking with the
second plate when the gate is in the closed position.
[0007] The interlocking baffle structure helps reduce the build-up
of material under the mower deck that otherwise may block the deck
from moving to the full mulching position. The interlocking baffles
help prevent grass clippings from clogging the gaps between the
baffles. The convertible mower deck may continue to operate at a
high level of productivity without the need for an operator to stop
and clean material from the underside of the deck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a convertible mower deck
according to one embodiment of the invention in a mulching
position.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a convertible mower deck
according to one embodiment of the invention in a discharge or
collection position.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an interlocking baffle of the
convertible mower deck according to one embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a top perspective of a convertible mower deck
according to one embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, shown in FIGS. 1-2,
convertible mower deck 10 may include three adjacent cutting
chambers 11, 12, 13, with each cutting chamber covering or housing
a rotary cutting blade 21, 22, 23. The cutting blades may be
mounted and secured to the lower ends of generally vertically
oriented spindles for rotation on vertical axes. The spindles may
be turned by one or more belts wound around pulleys attached to the
upper ends of the spindles.
[0013] In one embodiment, mower deck 10 may have a skirt 16
extending downwardly around at least a portion of the outer
periphery from the top surface of the mower deck. Wheels 17 may be
attached to the skirt and/or periphery of the mower deck to help
prevent or minimize damage or scalping of the ground surface or
turf when mowing.
[0014] In one embodiment, pivoting baffles 41, 42, 43 may be
positioned under the mower deck. Baffles 41, 42 may be moved to
open, close, and control the size of the passage or opening between
adjacent cutting chambers, and baffle 43 may control the area
between a cutting chamber and a discharge opening. For example, as
shown in FIG. 1, the baffles are in a fully closed position for
mulching. In FIG. 2, the baffles are in a position for discharge or
collection of clippings. Additionally, the baffles may be placed in
one or more intermediate positions in which some of the grass
clippings may be discharged or collected, and the remainder may be
mulched. Baffle 41 is between adjacent cutting chambers 11 and 12,
baffle 42 is between adjacent cutting chambers 12 and 13, and
baffle 43 is between cutting chamber 13 and discharge opening
14.
[0015] In one embodiment, if the baffles are placed in a fully open
position, grass may be cut and swept along a flow pathway that
extends and interconnects the three cutting chambers, and which
continues through discharge opening 14. If the baffles are placed
in a fully closed position, grass clippings may be recirculated and
recut within each cutting chamber. If the baffles are placed in an
intermediate position, a portion of the grass clippings may be
swept along the flow pathway between the cutting chambers and out
the discharge opening or collected, and the rest of the clippings
may be recirculated and recut within each cutting chamber.
[0016] In one embodiment, baffle 41 may include a pair of plates
51, 52 mounted on generally vertically aligned hinges or pivot
shafts 53, 54 near the front end of the mower deck. Baffle 42 may
include a pair of plates 61, 62 mounted on generally vertically
aligned hinges or pivot shafts 63, 64 near the front end of the
mower deck. Baffle 43 may include plate 71 mounted on generally
horizontally aligned hinge or pivot shaft 72. Rod 58 may connect
pivot shaft 64 to plate 71.
[0017] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the lead plate 61 of
baffle 42 may have a "J"-shaped bend 66 on its end opposite its
pivot axis, and the secondary plate 62 may have an "L"-shaped bend
67 on its end opposite its pivot axis. Similarly, baffle 41 may
have a lead plate 51 a "J"-shaped bend at the end, and a secondary
plate 52 with an "L"-shaped bend. When the deck is in the full
mulch position with the gates or baffles closed, the lead plate
with the "J" shaped bend at the end may engage the secondary plate
with the "L"-shaped bend at its end. The engagement allows the pair
of plates to interlock, so that the plates provide mutual support.
As a result, the interlocking plates provide a more rigid
structure, thus preventing damage to the pivoting baffles and other
movable components of the convertible mulch-on-demand mower
deck.
[0018] In one embodiment, the lead plate of each pair covers the
end of the secondary plate when the baffles are in the discharge or
collection position, as well as the mulch position. Because the
lead plate covers the secondary plate, this helps prevent or reduce
material build-up on the interlocking surfaces. Additionally, the
open side of the "J" bend faces outwardly, away from the main flow
of grass clippings and other debris under the mower deck, to
further reduce or prevent build-up of material on the interlocking
surfaces of each pair of plates.
[0019] In one embodiment, the underside of the mower deck includes
stationary or fixed baffles that may be configured and positioned
such that one of the pivoting plates of each pair may wipe off at
least some of the material that may build up on the stationary
baffle. For example, plate 61, which is the lead plate of baffle
42, may swing near enough to stationary baffle 96 between cutting
chambers 12 and 13 to remove some build-up on the stationary
baffle. Similarly, plate 51, which is the lead plate of baffle 41,
may swing near the stationary baffle 95 between cutting chambers 12
and 13 to remove build-up of clippings and debris on the stationary
baffle.
[0020] In one embodiment, a gap may be provided between each pair
of interlocked plates and a stationary baffle to allow some build
up of material while in the mulching position. In addition, the
interlocking surfaces on the active baffles may be located such
that they are shielded from grass and debris being processed by the
mower blades, preventing material accumulation on the interlocking
surfaces.
[0021] In one embodiment, the interlocking baffles of the present
invention eliminates the need to support the active baffles against
a stationary wall.
[0022] In one embodiment, stationary or fixed baffles 91-96 may be
located under the mower deck to define and separate each of cutting
chambers 11-13. For example, stationary front baffles 91-93 may be
attached to and/or extend from skirt 16 near the front rim of the
deck, and together with the skirt may form a substantially
continuous wall or wall member to define the three adjacent cutting
chambers. In one embodiment, stationary rear baffles 94-96 may be
located under the mower deck adjacent the rear of the deck to
further define the cutting chambers.
[0023] In one embodiment, if the mower deck is in the mulching
position and the baffles are interlocked, they define the
perimeters of a plurality of generally cyindrical cutting chambers.
There may be a small gap between the adjacent cutting chambers
because the closed, interlocked baffles may be spaced from the
stationary rear baffles.
[0024] In one embodiment, the baffles, in their closed positions,
provide a circumferential lower periphery which falls below the
cutting plane of each blade. The baffles substantially enclose each
cutting blade within its cutting chamber and provide the necessary
recirculation for mulching.
[0025] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, control structure 18
may be mounted on or over the top surface of mower deck 10. The
control structure may be used to selectively operate or shift
baffles 41, 42, 43 between the discharge or collection position,
and the mulching position, by controlling the size of the openings
between adjacent cutting chambers and the discharge opening. The
baffles may pivot between a discharge or collection position, a
mulching position, and to one or more intermediate positions in
which some of the grass clippings may be discharged or collected,
and some of the grass clippings may be mulched simultaneously. The
control structure may be linked to and control all of the baffles
under the mower deck, and may move the baffles between open and
closed positions, and also may move the baffles to intermediate
positions in which they are partially open. In each position, the
handle may be releasably secured or locked in the desired position,
as will be explained in detail below.
[0026] In one embodiment, control structure 18 may include a
generally vertically oriented pivoting handle 24 having a lower end
linked to cranks 34-36. Each of the cranks 34-36 may be pivotably
mounted on or over the top surface or plate 19 of mower deck 10.
Each of cranks 34-36 may be attached to generally vertically
aligned pivot shafts, and may be interconnected by rods or linkages
48-49. Crank 34 also may be connected by rod 32 to handle 24 which
is part of the control structure used to move cranks 34-36 and
their associated baffles between a discharge/collection position, a
mulching position, and one or more intermediate positions in which
the baffles are partially open.
[0027] In one embodiment, handle 24 may be reached from the
operator's seat of the vehicle, and may pivot on a generally
horizontal pivoting axis. The ability of an operator to reach and
move handle 24 from a seated position allows the operator to easily
shift between the discharge/collection position, mulching position,
and one or more intermediate positions, while mowing. Upright
support 27 may include a slot having a plurality of steps or
notches to releasably lock and secure the handle at each of at
least three positions into which the handle may be moved.
[0028] The baffles between the cutting chambers may be held in one
or more intermediate positions between the fully open and fully
closed positions. The volume of grass clippings transferred from
one cutting chamber to the next may be controlled by the baffles
between each chamber. The amount of grass clippings discharged or
bagged may be controlled by the baffle at the discharge opening of
the deck.
[0029] The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 provides control of all
baffles with a single control structure, but in an alternative
embodiment, the baffles between the cutting chambers, and the
baffle at the discharge opening, may be controlled
independently.
[0030] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become
apparent that various modifications can be made without departing
from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying
claims.
* * * * *