US Patent:
20080173000, Jul 24, 2008
Inventors:
Michael Lee Skinner - Urbana IL, US
Valentin Ion Prisecaru - Urbana IL, US
Assignee:
MOE Industries - Urbana IL
International Classification:
A01D 34/00
Abstract:
The invention provides a power take-off from a lawn mower, through a flexible drive shaft cable, to utilize lawn maintenance accessories. The power take-off allows the accessories (e.g. edgers and trimmers) to draw power from the lawn mower's engine. Flexible drive shafts provide rotary power transmission along curved, non-linear axes. The user can engage or disengage the accessory through use of an electrical or mechanical clutch. The clutch connects the lawn mower engine drive shaft to the flexible drive shaft so that they can either be locked together and spun at the same speed, or decoupled and spun at different speeds. Engaging the clutch transfers power from the lawn mower engine to the flexible drive shaft. Disengaging the clutch stops the power transfer, but allows the lawn mower engine to continue turning. The invention provides power take-off for several pieces of lawn care equipment including weed trimmers, hedge trimmers, edgers, chainsaws, and blowers. These accessories are attached to the flexible drive shaft cable through a variety of connectors including a four-point star connector.