US3570637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Blade drive and braking arrangement for a rotary lawn mower
Assignee: Murray Ohio Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1968-12-04
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Granted: 1971-03-16
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Expires: 1988-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A system for driving and braking a blade in a rotary lawn mower. An arm is pivotally connected to a blade housing. The free end of the arm carries an idler pulley which, on rotation of the arm in one direction, is moved to tension a belt which also passes about a drive pulley and a pulley connected to the blade. The belt tensioning causes the blade to be driven. On rotation of the arm in the opposite direction, the belt tension is released and a brakeshoe carried on the arm engages the blade pulley to terminate blade rotation. Direction of rotation of the arm is controlled by a mechanical linkage from an operator''s lever.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L Pitman
- 👤 Gilbert B Hahn
- 👤 Martin J Gencsi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:38
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/01; A01D34/412; A01D34/63; A01D34/67; A01D34/68; A01D34/6806; A01D34/6812; F; F16; F16H; F16H7/00; A01D2101/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
An arrangement for driving and braking a blade mounted for rotation within a blade housing of a rotary lawn mower, comprising: a. a pulley operatively connected to said blade; b. a drive pulley joined to a power source to be rotated thereby; c. an arm pivotally attached to said housing and having an idler pulley mounted thereon; d. lever means operatively connected to said arm to pivot same to move said idler pulley into and out of tensioning engagement with the belt; and e. a brakeshoe attached to a spring strip which is fastened at its ends to said arm, said shoe braking the blade pulley when the arm is pivoted to move the idler pulley out of tensioning engagement with the belt.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
An arrangement for driving and braking a blade mounted for rotation within a blade housing of a rotary lawn mower, comprising: a. a pulley operatively connected to said blade; b. a drive pulley joined to a power source to be rotated thereby; c. an arm pivotally attached to said housing and having an idler pulley mounted thereon; d. lever means operatively connected to said arm to pivot same to move said idler pulley into and out of tensioning engagement with the belt; and e. a brakeshoe attached to a spring strip which is fastened at its ends to said arm, said shoe braking the blade pulley when the arm is pivoted to move the idler pulley out of tensioning engagement with the belt.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
266 words
An arrangement for driving and braking a blade mounted for rotation within a blade housing of a rotary lawn mower, comprising: a. a pulley operatively connected to said blade; b. a drive pulley joined to a power source to be rotated thereby; c. an arm pivotally attached to said housing and having an idler pulley mounted thereon; d. lever means operatively connected to said arm to pivot same to move said idler pulley into and out of tensioning engagement with the belt, said lever means including: aa. a rotatable lever bar; bb. a connecting element attached at onE end to said lever bar; cc. a connecting link joining the other end of said connecting element to the arm pivotally attached to the housing; the arrangement further including: dd. a spring connected at one end to said pivotally attached arm and at its other end to said lever bar, said spring being tensioned to urge said arm to pivot towards the lever bar whereby when the lever bar is actuated to place the idler pulley in tensioning engagement with the belt, the spring determines the degree of tension on the belt, and when the lever bar is actuated to remove the idler pulley from tensioning engagement with the belt, the spring is displaced in an overcenter relationship with respect to the bar to force the connecting element into engagement with the housing thereby locking the lever bar; and e. a brakeshoe mounted on said arm to brake the blade pulley when the arm is pivoted to move the idler pulley out of tensioning engagement with the belt.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
266 words
An arrangement for driving and braking a blade mounted for rotation within a blade housing of a rotary lawn mower, comprising: a. a pulley operatively connected to said blade; b. a drive pulley joined to a power source to be rotated thereby; c. an arm pivotally attached to said housing and having an idler pulley mounted thereon; d. lever means operatively connected to said arm to pivot same to move said idler pulley into and out of tensioning engagement with the belt, said lever means including: aa. a rotatable lever bar; bb. a connecting element attached at onE end to said lever bar; cc. a connecting link joining the other end of said connecting element to the arm pivotally attached to the housing; the arrangement further including: dd. a spring connected at one end to said pivotally attached arm and at its other end to said lever bar, said spring being tensioned to urge said arm to pivot towards the lever bar whereby when the lever bar is actuated to place the idler pulley in tensioning engagement with the belt, the spring determines the degree of tension on the belt, and when the lever bar is actuated to remove the idler pulley from tensioning engagement with the belt, the spring is displaced in an overcenter relationship with respect to the bar to force the connecting element into engagement with the housing thereby locking the lever bar; and e. a brakeshoe mounted on said arm to brake the blade pulley when the arm is pivoted to move the idler pulley out of tensioning engagement with the belt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said brakeshoe is attached to a spring strip fastened at its ends to said arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |