Mower baffle system
View Patent ↗A multiblade lawn mower including a mower deck having a plurality of cutting blades rotatably disposed therein. A first baffle is positioned within the mower deck between the cutting blades and a front wall of the mower deck and extends substantially continuously between the sides of the mower deck. A second baffle is positioned in the mower deck rearwardly of the cutting blades. The first and second baffles each include a plurality of arcuate baffle portions which define at least one open throat portion therebetween. The first baffle includes at least first, second and third arcuate portions. A third baffle is positioned within the mower deck and extends from adjacent a discharge opening of the mower deck into a circular path defined by peripheral ends of a cutting blade adjacent the discharge opening.
1. A mower deck comprising:
a top wall, a front wall, first and second side walls, and a discharge opening formed by the second side wall;
first and second cutting blades rotatably disposed within the mower deck, wherein rotation of each of the first and second cutting blades defines a circle; and
a mower baffle system mounted to an interior surface of the top wall, the mower baffle system includes a first baffle positioned between i) the first and second cutting blades and ii) the front wall for directing the flow of discharge to the discharge opening, the first baffle having:
a first arcuate portion extending from the first side wall and partially around the circle defined by ends of the first cutting blade to a second arcuate portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arcuate portion, the second arcuate portion extending from the first arcuate portion to a third arcuate portion that extends partially around the circle defined by ends of the second cutting blade, wherein the first, second and third arcuate portions each have a geometric center positioned on the same side of the first baffle.
2. The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the mower baffle system further includes a third baffle extending from adjacent the second side wall proximate to the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the second cutting blade in a chord-like fashion.
3. The mower deck of claim 2 , wherein the third baffle has a first end adjacent the second side wall and extends in the forward direction such that a second end of the second baffle is within the circle defined by the ends of the second cutting blade and positioned forward of an axis of rotation of the second cutting blade.
4. The mower deck of claim 2 , wherein the mower baffle system further includes a second baffle positioned rearwardly of the first and second cutting blades, the second baffle having at least two semi-circular baffle portions adjacent but radially beyond the circles defined by the ends of the first and second cutting blades.
5. The mower deck of claim 2 , wherein the third baffle is shorter than the first baffle.
6. The mower deck of claim 2 , wherein the third baffle depends downwardly from the top wall and is spaced from the second cutting blade sufficiently to allow for the second cutting blade to rotate without engaging the third baffle.
7. The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the mower baffle system further includes a third baffle extending from adjacent the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the second cutting blade defining a baffle discharge opening spaced from the discharge opening.
8. The mower deck of claim 7 , wherein the mower baffle system further includes a second baffle positioned rearwardly of the first and second cutting blades, the second baffle having at least two semi-circular baffle portions adjacent but radially beyond the circles defined by the ends of the first and second cutting blades, and
wherein the second arcuate portion and the second baffle form a throat portion positioned between the first and second cutting blades having a width that is larger than a width of the baffle discharge opening.
9. The mower deck of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third cutting blade rotatably disposed within the mower deck, wherein rotation of the third cutting blade defines a circle, wherein the first baffle further includes a fourth arcuate portion extending from the third arcuate portion and a fifth arcuate portion that extends from the fourth arcuate portion partially around the circle defined by ends of the third cutting blade; and
a third baffle extending from adjacent the second side wall proximate to the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the third cutting blade in a chord-like fashion.
10. The mower deck of claim 9 , wherein the third baffle extends from adjacent the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the third cutting blade defining a baffle discharge opening spaced from the discharge opening.
11. A mower comprising:
the mower deck of claim 1 ; and
a means operatively connected to the mower deck for moving the mower deck along the ground.
12. A mower comprising:
the mower deck of claim 9 ; and
a means operatively connected to the mower deck for moving the mower deck along the ground.
13. A mower deck comprising:
a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, first and second side walls and a deck discharge opening formed by the second side wall;
first and second cutting blades rotatably disposed within the mower deck, wherein rotation of each of the first and second cutting blades defines a circle; and
a mower baffle system mounted to an interior surface of the top wall, the mower baffle system includes:
a first baffle positioned between i) the first and second cutting blades and ii) the front wall, the first baffle having a first arcuate portion extending from the first side wall and partially around the circle defined by ends of the first cutting blade to a second arcuate portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arcuate portion, the second arcuate portion extending from the first arcuate portion to a third arcuate portion that extends partially around the circle defined by ends of the second cutting blade, wherein the first and second arcuate portions each have a geometric center positioned on the same side of the first baffle,
a third baffle extending from adjacent the second side wall proximate to the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the second cutting blade in a chord-like fashion,
a second baffle positioned rearwardly of the first and second cutting blades, the second baffle having a plurality of semi-circular baffle portions adjacent but radially beyond the circles defined by the ends of the first and second cutting blades, wherein the first baffle, the second baffle, the third baffle, the rear wall, and the side walls define a baffle chamber, and
a baffle discharge opening of the baffle chamber formed by the first baffle and the third baffle, and spaced apart from the mower deck discharge opening.
14. The mower deck of claim 13 , wherein the third baffle directs the flow of discharge from the baffle discharge opening to the mower deck discharge opening.
15. The mower deck of claim 13 , wherein the second arcuate portion and the second baffle form a throat portion positioned between the first and second cutting blades having a width that is larger than a width of the baffle discharge opening.
16. The mower deck of claim 13 , wherein third baffle is shorter than the first baffle.
17. A mower comprising:
the mower deck of claim 13 ; and
a means operatively connected to the mower deck for moving the mower deck along the ground.
18. A mower deck comprising:
a top wall, a front wall, a rear wall, first and second side walls and a deck discharge opening formed by the second side wall;
first, second and third cutting blades rotatably disposed within the mower deck, wherein rotation of each of the first, second and third cutting blades defines a circle; and
a mower baffle system mounted to an interior surface of the top wall, the mower baffle system includes:
a first baffle positioned between i) the first, second and third cutting blades and ii) the front wall, the first baffle having a first arcuate portion extending from the first side wall and partially around the circle defined by ends of the first cutting blade to a second arcuate portion having a radius of curvature smaller than a radius of curvature of the first arcuate portion, the second arcuate portion extending from the first arcuate portion to a third arcuate portion that extends partially around the circle defined by ends of the second cutting blade, the third arcuate portion extending from the second arcuate portion to a fourth arcuate portion, which extends to a fifth arcuate portion extending partially around the circle defined by ends of the third cutting blade, wherein the first and second arcuate portions each have a geometric center positioned on the same side of the first baffle,
a third baffle extending from adjacent the second side wall proximate to the discharge opening and into the circle defined by the third cutting blade in a chord-like fashion,
a second baffle positioned rearwardly of the first, second and third cutting blades, the second baffle having a plurality of semi-circular baffle portions adjacent but radially beyond the circles defined by the ends of the first, second and third cutting blades, wherein the first baffle, the second baffle, the third baffle, the rear wall, and the side walls define a baffle chamber, and
a baffle discharge opening of the baffle chamber formed by the first baffle and the third baffle, and spaced apart from the deck discharge opening.
19. The mower deck of claim 18 , wherein the fourth arcuate portion and the second baffle form a throat portion positioned between the second and third cutting blades having a width that is larger than a width of the baffle discharge opening.
20. A mower comprising:
the mower deck of claim 18 ; and
a means operatively connected to the mower deck for moving the mower deck along the ground.