Lawn mower

Abstract

To solve a conventional problem that when grass collecting work is performed, there is no appropriate place to put a removed mulching cover and the removed mulching cover is tend to be put in a barn or the like, therefore when switching to mulching work during mowing work, a user has to go to the barn to take the mulching cover, which is inconvenient.SOLUTION: A mower includes a mower body, a mowing device 6, a grass collecting container, a conveyance path from the mowing device 6 to the grass collecting container, and a freely attachable / detachable mulching cover 20 capable of closing the conveyance path. The mowing device 6 is provided with a cover fixation part 17 for fixing the mulching cover 20 removed to open the conveyance path.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lawn mower.

Background Art

[0002] A riding lawn mower is known (Patent Document 1) that includes a grass cutting device for cutting grass and a grass collecting container for collecting and storing the cut grass, and is detachably provided with a mulching cover that can block the connection portion of the grass cutting device to the passage in the passage between the grass cutting device and the grass collecting container.

[0003] In such a riding lawn mower, when performing a mulching operation of finely cutting the cut grass on the spot without collecting the cut grass, the mulching cover is attached to the grass cutting device to block the passage. On the other hand, when collecting the cut grass, the passage is opened by removing the mulching cover to collect the grass, etc., and the work is performed by switching between the mulching operation and the grass collecting operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, when performing the grass collecting operation, there is no appropriate place to place the removed mulching cover, and it was often placed in a shed or the like. Therefore, when switching to the mulching operation during the lawn mowing operation, it was troublesome because it was necessary to go to the shed to get the mulching cover.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a lawn mower that can easily switch between performing a mulching operation and performing a grass collecting operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention is a lawn mower comprising a lawn mower body, a grass cutting device, a grass collection container, a conveyance path from the grass cutting device to the grass collection container, and a detachable mulching cover that can block the conveyance path, wherein a cover fixing portion for fixing the mulching cover removed to open the conveyance path is provided on the grass cutting device.

[0008] Accordingly, it is possible to easily switch between the case of performing mulching work and the case of performing grass collection work.

[0009] The second aspect of the present invention is a lifting arm for lifting and lowering the grass cutting device is connected to the lawn mower body, and a pair of left and right lifting arm connection portions to the grass cutting device of the lifting arm are provided on the grass cutting device, wherein the cover fixing portion is provided between the pair of left and right lifting arm connection portions, which is the lawn mower according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0010] Accordingly, the mulching cover can be fixed to the grass cutting device without interfering with the lifting and lowering of the grass cutting device.

[0011] The third aspect of the present invention is wherein the grass cutting device has a plurality of cutting blades, and a cutting blade interlocking shaft for connecting the plurality of cutting blades is provided on the grass cutting device, wherein the cover fixing portion is provided in front of the cutting blade interlocking shaft, which is the lawn mower according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0012] Accordingly, the mulching cover can be fixed in the space available on the grass cutting device.

[0013] The fourth aspect of the present invention is wherein the cover fixing portion fixes the top plate portion of the mulching cover on the grass cutting device, and the fixing method is to fix at two locations, one at the outer side and one at a position closer to the center inside with respect to the left - right direction. The lawn mower of the first aspect of the present invention has a fixing height on the outside that is greater than the fixing height on the inside.

[0014] This makes it possible to lower the height of the mulching cover at a position closer to the center of the deck portion, so that interference with the main body side is easily avoided when the grass cutting device is raised.

[0015] The fifth aspect of the present invention is When the grass cutting device is raised, the mulching cover is disposed on the grass cutting device such that the mulching cover is positioned between the number plate at the front portion of the lawn mower main body and the frame at the front portion of the lawn mower main body. This is the lawn mower of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0016] This enables effective use of the free space on the main body side and makes it easier to select the fixing position of the mulching cover.

Advantages of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, it is possible to easily switch between performing a mulching operation and performing a grass collection operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a lawn mower according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, with reference to the traveling direction of the lawn mower, the front and rear, left and right, and up and down are defined as seen from the operator who operates it.

[0021] In FIG. 1, front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 are provided at the lower part of the main body 1 of the lawn mower, a grass collection container 4 is attached above the rear part, and a driver's seat 5 is provided in the front.

[0022] Furthermore, a mowing device 6 is connected to the lower front of the main body 1, and a transport path 7 for transporting the cut grass cut by the mowing device 6 to the grass collection container 4 is provided between the grass collection container 4 and the mowing device 6. G is the ground.

[0023] In front of the driver's seat 5, a steering wheel 202 and a steering post 203 are arranged, and a license plate 200 is attached to the foremost part. 201 is a frame member of the main body 1. 204 is a blower provided in the conveyance path 7 for sucking and conveying the cut grass. 205 is a lifting cylinder described later.

[0024] The structure of the mowing device 6 and the like will be described in detail below.

[0025] That is, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mowing device 6 in the present embodiment as viewed from above, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mowing device 6 as viewed from below, and FIG. 4 is a plan view thereof. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the mowing device 6 includes a deck portion 11 at the center, front wheel portions 19, 19 at the front, and lifting arms 15R, 15L at the rear. Note that 21 is a cutting height adjustment mechanism, 21a is its left-right connecting shaft, and 21a1 is a bracket that supports it at a substantially central position (see FIGS. 15 and 16).

[0026] The deck portion 11 houses a plurality of cutting blades for cutting grass below the top surface 11a, and a power unit of the mowing device 6, the lifting arms 15R, 15L, etc. are arranged in a state of being exposed to the outside above the top surface 11a.

[0027] The power unit of the mowing device 6 is provided with power such as a motor, and the motor operates by a power source supplied from the main body 1 of the mower through the motor input shaft 13, so that the left and right cutting blades rotate to cut grass (10a, 10b are cutting blade rotation shafts). 14 is a cutting blade interlocking shaft for driving the cutting blade.

[0028] The lifting arms 15R, 15L provided on the upper rear side of the deck portion 11 have their rear ends connected to the mower main body 1, and the deck portion 11 is lifted and lowered by the lifting cylinder 205 by the power supplied from the main body 1. When not in operation such as when driving on a road, the mowing device 6 is lifted, and when mowing, it is lowered.

[0029] The lifting arms 15R and 15L are rotatably connected to the deck portion 11 at their front ends by the lifting arm connecting portions 16R and 16L, and are connected to the horizontal maintaining mechanism 18 at an intermediate position. Thereby, as the lifting arms 15R and 15L move up and down, the deck portion 11 moves up and down while maintaining a horizontal state.

[0030] Furthermore, the lifting arm connecting portions 16R and 16L of the lifting arms 15R and 15L for lifting the mowing device 6 as described above are provided in a pair on the left and right above the deck portion 11, and the cover fixing portion 17 is provided between the pair of left and right lifting arm connecting portions 16R and 16L. Thereby, the mulching cover 20 fixed to the cover fixing portion 17 during non-operation does not interfere with the lifting movement (interference of link movement) of the mowing device 6.

[0031] In the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the cover fixing portion 17 is provided at a position in front of the deck portion 11 and to the left of the center position. Thereby, interference with other members such as the number plate 200 described later can be avoided.

[0032] Note that FIGS. 2 and 3 show the state during mulching work, that is, the state in which the detachable mulching cover 20 is attached to the opening 12 and only the cover fixing portion 17 is visible on the top surface 11a. On the other hand, FIG. 4 shows the state during grass collection work, that is, the state in which the mulching cover 20 is removed from the opening 12 and is fixed and stored in the cover fixing portion 17.

[0033] Also, in the embodiments of FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the cover fixing portion 17 is disposed in front of the cutting blade interlocking shaft 14. Thereby, the mulching cover 20 can be fixed in the space vacated by the mowing device 6.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the upside-down state of the use state of the mulching cover 20 during work, that is, the storage state during non-operation. Here, 21 is a top plate portion, and 22 is a curved grass cutting branch portion provided at the rear end of the top plate portion 21 for returning the cut grass into the rotation circle of the cutting blade.

[0035] 23 is a bar bridging between the lower ends of both ends of the mowing branch part 23, and a screw bolt 23a is attached to the center thereof. It is for screwing and fixing the mulching cover 20 to the deck part 11 during use in work. Note that 26 are left and right walls erected on both the left and right sides of the top plate part 21, and are plates for dropping the cut grass. It also has the effect of enhancing the rigidity of the mulching cover 20.

[0036] Furthermore, 24 is a handle hole drilled in the top plate part 21. It is a hole for inserting a finger into the handle hole 24 and holding it when attaching and closing the mulching cover 20 to the transport path 7 for performing mulching work.

[0037] Also, 25 is a notch formed at the tip side of the top plate part 21, and is a notch for connecting to an inner fixing member 172 described later. Since the tip part of the mulching cover 20 serves as a insertion part into the deck part 11, there is no worry of reducing the closing effect even if such a new notch 25 is drilled.

[0038] Next, the cover fixing part 17 which fixes the mulching cover 20 during storage at non - working time will be described.

[0039] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the front left side of the deck part 11 as seen from above. 171 is an outer fixing member, and 172 is an inner fixing member. The handle hole 24 of the mulching cover 20 is fixed to the outer fixing member 171, and the notch 25 of the mulching cover 20 is fixed to the inner fixing member 172. That is, the top plate part 21 of the mulching cover 20 is fixed respectively.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 7, the outer fixing member 171 is composed of a U-shaped base 171a in cross section, a tapped stepped nut 171b provided at the center of its upper surface, and a knob bolt 171c as shown in FIG. 8. By making it stepped, the positioning of the martingale cover 20 in the front, rear, left, and right directions can be fixed, and the mounting can be easily performed. Align the handle hole 24 of the martingale cover 20 with this nut 171b, and fix the martingale cover 20 with the knob bolt 171c. By using the knob bolt 171c, the attachment and detachment can be easily performed without using tools.

[0041] In addition, as described above, by using the handle hole 24 on the martingale cover 20 side as the hole for fixing to the outer fixing member 171, there is the following effect. That is, since the martingale cover 20 is a member for closing the conveyance path 7, it is desirable to minimize the holes. Therefore, there is an advantage that the effect of closing is not reduced by also using the conventionally open handle hole 24 for fixing.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, the inner fixing member 172 is composed of a U-shaped base 172a in cross section and an adjustable bolt-nut structure 172b provided at the center of its upper surface. The lower nut 172b2 of this bolt-nut structure 172b can be changed in vertical height. The notch 25 of the martingale cover 20 can be fixed in position by fitting it to the upper bolt 172b1, and after adjusting the height of the lower nut 172b2, the upper bolt 172b1 is tightened to complete the fixing in a state where the height is adjusted. By sandwiching the bolt 172b1 in the notch 25, it can be fixed without moving, and interference against the rocking of the deck portion 11 in the vertical and horizontal directions can be prevented.

[0043] In the example described above, the fixing method is to fix at two locations, one on the outer side and one near the center inside, with the left-right direction as the reference. The height of the fixing on the outer side is larger than the height of the fixing on the inner side.

[0044] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a state in which the mowing cover 20 is fixed to the cover fixing portion 17 as described above during non-operation.

[0045] Next, an example of the inner fixing member 172 will be described. FIG. 11 shows a U-shaped stock table 173 for a cross-section, in the center of which a nut 173a is welded so that the lower end of the bolt 172b1 of the bolt-nut structure 172b described above can be screwed in, and further, four stock holes 173b are drilled around it. As shown in FIG. 12, shear pins 174 are inserted into these holes 173b respectively to enable stocking. As this shear pin 174, for example, a pin for determining the phase of a blade for preventing damage to a gearbox can be used. This is to enable immediate replacement when the shear pin 174 breaks during operation. Also, loss of the shear pin 174 can be prevented.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 13, such a stock table 173 is attached to the deck portion 11 so that the nut 173a in the center thereof is aligned with the notch 25 at the tip of the mowing cover 20.

[0047] Note that, since the stock table 173 has a U-shaped cross-section, a gap is formed between it and the top surface 11a of the deck portion 11. Therefore, even when it is difficult to insert and remove the shear pin 174 from above (when grass or small stones get stuck in between), support for insertion and removal can be provided through the horizontal gap. This is to prevent the shear pin 174 from becoming clogged and unable to be inserted and removed. As shown in FIG. 13, the direction of the gap is in the front-rear direction.

[0048] Cover the above-described inner fixing member 172 having a U-shaped cross section from above the stock table 173 attached to the surface of the deck portion 11 in this way. Then, screw the lower end of the bolt 172b1 of the inner fixing member 172 into the nut 173a at the center of the stock table 173. In that case, cover the inner fixing member 172 in a direction perpendicular to the stock table 173. That is, the gap of the inner fixing member 172 faces in the left-right direction. FIGS. 6 and 10 are views after covering in this way. By covering in such a perpendicular manner, when tightening the notch 25 of the mulching cover 20 with the bolt 172b1, it is possible to prevent the inner fixing member 172 from idling.

[0049] Also, by covering the inner fixing member 172 in a perpendicular manner, there is no worry about grass entering from either gap, and there is no need to remove the inner fixing member 172 for cleaning each time.

[0050] Furthermore, the height of the U-shaped base 172a of the inner fixing member 172 is higher than the height of the stock table 173. When covering, the lower end of the inner fixing member 172 contacts the top surface 11a of the deck portion 11, and further, the height is set such that a gap is also formed between the head of the shear pin 174 of the stock table 173. If the height is low and the inner fixing member 172 is in contact with and riding on the shear pin 174, there is a problem that the inner fixing member 172 will tilt when, for example, the remaining number of the stocked shear pins 174 becomes one. To avoid this, the height of the base 172a of the inner fixing member 172 is increased.

[0051] In such a configuration, the bolt 172b1 serves both to fix the inner fixing member 172 to the stock table 173 and to position the notch 25 of the mulching cover 20, so there is an effect of reducing the number of parts.

[0052] Note that the fixing height of the handle hole 24 of the top plate portion 21 of the mulching cover 20 with respect to the outer fixing member 171 is larger than the fixing height of the notch 25 of the top plate portion 21 of the mulching cover 20 with respect to the inner fixing member 172.

[0053] As a result, as shown in FIG. 14, when the deck portion 11 is in the fully raised state, interference with the number plate 200 of the main body 1 of the lawn mower can be avoided.

[0054] Further, since the cover fixing portion 17 is provided between the pair of left and right lifting arm connecting portions 16R and 16L, the mulching cover 20 can be fixed to the mowing device 6 without interfering with the lifting arms 15R and 15L and without obstructing the lifting of the mowing device 6.

[0055] Further, since the cover fixing portion 17 is disposed in front of the cutting blade interlocking shaft 14, the mulching cover 20 can be fixed in the space vacated by the mowing device 6.

[0056] Next, a modification of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0057] In this modification, as shown in FIG. 15, the cover fixing portion 17 is provided substantially at the center in front of the deck portion 11, and the mulching cover 20 fixed thereto is also fixed at that position. This is effective when the size of the mowing device 6 is small.

[0058] That is, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, even when the deck portion 11 is raised, the mulching cover 20 fits between the number plate 200 provided on the main body 1 side of the lawn mower and the frame member 201 of the main body 1, and interference with the main body 1 can be avoided. In other words, when the deck portion 11 is raised, the cover fixing portion 17 is disposed on the deck portion 11 so that the mulching cover 20 fits between the number plate 200 and the frame member 201 of the main body 1. Note that FIG. 17 is a side perspective view seen from the left side to the right side of the deck portion 11, and shows a state in which the mulching cover 20 fits between the number plate 200 and the frame member 201 of the main body 1.

Industrial Applicability

[0059] The present invention can be easily switched between mowing operations and grass collection operations, and is optimal for a lawn mower.

Explanation of Signs

[0060] 1 Main body 2 Front wheel 3 Rear wheel 4 Grass collection container 5 Driver's seat 6 Grass cutting device 7 Conveyor path 10a, 10b Blade rotation shaft 11 Deck part 11a Top surface 12 Opening 12a Opening joint 13 Mower input shaft 14 Blade linkage shaft 15R, 15L Lifting arm 16R, 16L Lifting arm connecting part 17 Cover fixing part 171 Outer fixing member 172 Inner fixing member 173 Stock stand 174 Split pin 18 Horizontal maintenance mechanism 19 Front wheel part 20 Mulching cover 21 Top plate part 22 Grass cutting branch part 23 Bar 24 Handle hole 25 Notch 26 Left and right walls 200 Number plate 201 Frame member of main body 1

Claims

1. A lawn mower comprising a lawn mower body, a grass cutting device, a grass collection container, a conveyance path from the grass cutting device to the grass collection container, and a detachable mulching cover capable of closing the conveyance path, wherein a cover fixing portion for fixing the mulching cover removed so as to open the conveyance path is provided on the grass cutting device.

2. A lift arm for lifting and lowering the grass cutting device is connected to the lawn mower body, and a pair of left and right lift arm connecting portions of the lift arm to the grass cutting device are provided on the grass cutting device, The lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein the cover fixing portion is provided between the pair of left and right lift arm connecting portions.

3. The grass cutting device has a plurality of cutting blades, and a cutting blade interlocking shaft for connecting the plurality of cutting blades is provided on the grass cutting device, The lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein the cover fixing portion is provided in front of the cutting blade interlocking shaft.

4. The cover fixing portion fixes the top plate portion of the mulching cover on the grass cutting device, The fixing method is to fix at two locations, one location on the outer side with respect to the left-right direction and one location closer to the center on the inner side, The lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein the fixing height on the outer side is greater than the fixing height on the inner side.

5. The lawn mower according to claim 1, wherein when the grass cutting device is lifted, the mulching cover is disposed on the grass cutting device so as to be positioned between a number plate at the front portion of the lawn mower body and a frame at the front portion of the lawn mower body.

Images