Patent · US Expired

Lawn mower blade control mechanism

US4416107A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 1982
Grant dateNov 22, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 16, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01D2101/00
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A combined safety clutch and brake mechanism for a rotary lawn mower blade has a driven blade carrier with self-energizing centrifugal shoes biased to engagement with a driving drum. Brake drum segments fixed to the shoes are engaged by a brake band which physically forces the shoes to declutched position. To ensure reliable operation, the brake band is connected to a lever arm which is strongly biased to brake-ON position by a coil spring engaged about a guide rod and disposed along the movable end portion of the brake band, in a chordal position between the band and a surrounding protective bowl. The geometry of the lever arm and spring thrust line progressively reduces the force required to actuate the brake band to OFF position, relative to the spring force, as the lever arm is moved and the spring compressed.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.