Reel mower
US5533326A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 9, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 24, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01D75/306
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
One aspect of the present invention includes a traction vehicle (12); one or more reel-type cutting unit(s) (20), each supported by one or more rollers (34, 35); and a cutting unit suspension system (22) associated with each cutting unit, preferably including a ball joint (90) located generally at the same height as the cutting unit roller(s) (34, 35) and proximate the lateral mid-point of the cutting unit (20). Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of a flexible seal member (110) which bears against a reel-type cutting unit and the lower edge of the mouth of a grass catcher (46). The flexible seal member (110) flexes to accommodate yawing of the cutting unit to minimize dribbling of grass clippings. In a preferred embodiment, when the cutting unit (20) is raised off of the turf, the cutting unit (20) initially rises independent of the grass catcher (46), and the flexible seal member (110) accommodates this relative motion by sliding along a front shield (40) of the cutting unit (20).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.