Abstract:
The primary feature of the invention is a nozzle end which extends downward through a hole in the deck of a rotary mower and has a plurality of orifices, some of which are parallel to the deck and some are angled downward at an angle in a range of 1° to 45°. The orifices are radial from the axis of the nozzle end. The cleaning is done by supplying water to the orifices at household pressure while the mower is running at mowing speed. The nozzle having the nozzle end may be installed in the deck or manually held in place during use.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field  
           [0002]    The subject invention is in the field of equipment used to inject liquids onto surfaces and/or onto the interior surfaces of enclosed or partially enclosed spaces for the purposes of cleaning or coating the surfaces. Such equipment includes automatic dishwashers, painting apparatus and lubrication equipment. More particularly, it is in the field of equipment which sprays water onto the interior surfaces of a partially enclosed space to clean out the space and clean off the interior surfaces of the space. Specifically, it is in the field of water spraying equipment or apparatus used to remove cut grass and associated debris from the inner surfaces of the partially enclosed space in the shroud of a rotary mower. Such shrouds comprise a deck which is generally horizontal when in use and a skirt which extends downward from the perimeter of the deck.  
           [0003]    2. Prior Art  
           [0004]    The U.S. patents listed below are a sample of the prior art in the specific field of the subject invention:  
                                                       3,856,028   5,651,242           5,042,242   5,673,856           5,499,492    D350,357                      
 
           [0005]    The closest prior art to the subject invention is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,499,492 (Jameson). Disclosed in this patent is an attachment which clamps onto the skirt of a rotary mower and has a passageway for water supplied by a hose to the attachment. The water is ejected as a jet rather than a spray, from a nozzle of the attachment and directed (1) inwardly and upwardly against the lower surfaces of the mower blades as they pass the nozzle, and (2) against the inner side of the deck of the shroud of the mower. The attachment is held in place by a thumbscrew. The portion of the attachment enclosing the passageway passes under the lower edge of the skirt.  
           [0006]    This attachment is considered to be more cumbersome, complicated and expensive than necessary. Also, the use of a jet rather than a spray, directed against the undersurfaces of the blades, is considered to degrade the efficiency of the cleaning, using more water and time for the purpose than necessary. Also, the projection of the attachment below the skirt of the mower is not desirable, particularly when mowing uneven lawns.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, the primary objective of the subject invention is to provide a method and related equipment, for cleaning the undersides of rotary mowers, which are less expensive, less cumbersome and more efficient than prior art equipment used for the same purpose. Another objective is that the equipment not project laterally from or below the mower skirt.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The subject invention is a method for cleaning the underside of a rotary mower and a nozzle which is fundamental to the method. The underside of the mower is the lower surface of the deck and the inner surface of the skirt of the shroud of the mower. The axis of the nozzle, when installed or inserted in the deck is vertical (i.e. normal to the deck). The nozzle has a plurality of exit orifices, some directed horizontally and some at a small angle downward, all being directed radially from the axis of the nozzle. The nozzle is adapted to be connected to the end of a hose, preferably in combination with a valve. In use, with the mower running at operation speed, the water from the nozzle jets impinges on the inner surface of the skirt and the tops of the blades. Water impinging on the blades is accelerated forcibly by the blades against the inner surface of the skirt and the underside of the deck. In the embodiment of the invention in which the nozzle is inserted through the mower deck rather than installed in the deck, the nozzle may be attached to a wand which is attached to a hose which delivers water to the nozzle. In use the nozzle is inserted through a hole in the deck. Several holes may be provided. The nozzle has a shoulder which sets the depth of installation and/or insertion of the nozzle.  
           [0009]    The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 illustrates a typical rotary mower with a preferred embodiment of the subject invention installed on the mower.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of a preferred embodiment of a nozzle assembly installed in the deck of a mower.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at  3 - 3  in FIG. 2, showing a preferred arrangement of orifices in the end of the nozzle assembly.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view of a nozzle which is inserted in the deck of a mower, rather than installed in the deck, for use in the subject invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned view of a nozzle assembly for use in the subject invention in the same way as the nozzle of FIG. 4 and incorporating a spring-loaded valve.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the subject invention in which the valve of FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 is attached to a wand. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]    The subject invention is a method and nozzle for cleaning the underside of a rotary mower, specifically the inner surfaces of the deck and skirt of the shroud of the mower.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the subject invention. Hose assembly  10  is attached to handle  11  and nozzle  12  which is installed in deck  13  of shroud  14  of mower  15  The hose assembly comprises a valve  16 . In use, end  17  of the hose assembly is attached to a water hose. To clean the underside of the mower, the mower is run at operational speed and valve  16  is opened so that water is sprayed from the nozzle as described in more detail below.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a partially sectioned view of nozzle assembly  12  according to the subject invention installed in the deck of a mower. Fitting  18  is threaded in portion  19  to accept the end fitting of a standard garden hose. Portion  20  is threaded to accept threaded portion  21  of fitting  22 . Portion  22  is inserted through hole  23  in deck  13  and fitting  18  is threaded onto portion  21  to hold both fittings in place. There is a plurality of orifices, orifice  24  being typical, in end  25  of fitting  22 . Typical orifice diameter is in a range of {fraction (1/32)}″ to ⅛″ with {fraction (5/64)} preferred. The orifices extend radially from the axis of fitting  22  as shown in FIG. 3. Some are normal to the axis, such as orifice  24  and some are angled toward the end surface  26  of fitting  22  (i.e. downward when the fitting is installed), the angle being in a range of 45° to 90° to the axis with 70° preferred. Shoulder  27  on fitting  22  sets the distance d of the orifices below the deck. Distance d is in a range of ⅛″ to 1.0″ with ⅜″ preferred.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned view of a nozzle for use in a fundamental embodiment of the subject invention in which the nozzle is inserted into a hole in the deck of a mower for use, rather than being installed in the deck. Nozzle  28  is one piece, threaded in portion  29  to accept the end fitting of a standard garden hose, having orifices as described above near end  30 , orifice  31  being typical, and having shoulder  32  to set the distance d of the orifices below the inner surface of the deck of a mower (shown in phantom lines). Hole  33  passes water from the hose (not shown) to the orifices. As shown, this nozzle is held in place while cleaning. It can be installed in deck  13  by threading portion  34  and using nut  35 , shown in phantom lines. Portion  29  can be adapted to be attached to the end of a hose by being in the shape of a tube which fits closely inside of the hose and the connection is sealed by clamping the hose onto the tube shape.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a partially sectioned view of a nozzle assembly used in the subject invention in the same way as the nozzle of FIG. 4 but incorporating a spring loaded valve. Valve  36  comprises nozzle portion  37 , housing  38 , fitting  39 , spring  40 , valve seat  41 , cap  42  and O ring  43 . Fitting  39  enables attachment of a standard outlet fitting of a garden hose to the housing. Valve seat  41  is installed on shoulder  44  in the housing. Flange  45  on portion  37  contacts the valve seat. The spring presses flange  45  against the seat. Cap  42  prevents water from entering directly into hole  46  in portion  35 . The O ring is installed in groove  47  to prevent leakage between the body and the nozzle portion. Shoulder  48  sets the distance the orifices, orifice  49  being typical, are below the inner surface of a deck when the nozzle assembly is in use. In use, pressing the body of the assembly against shoulder  48  moves the nozzle portion against spring force, and lifts flange  45  off the valve seat, allowing water to flow through hole(s)  50  into hole  46  and out of the orifices. End  51  of the housing limits the distance the nozzle portion can be moved into the housing. When the assembly is lifted off shoulder  48 , flange  45  reseats and shuts off the flow of water.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 illustrates a nozzle or nozzle assembly  52  of the type shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 attached to a handle or wand  53  by clamp  54 . As shown, hose  55  is attached directly to the nozzle assembly or valve  56  if such a valve is installed between the nozzle assembly and the hose. However, the wand  53  may be a pipe or tube which conducts water to a nozzle assembly from a hose attached to the upper end  51  of the wand.  
         [0022]    The diameter of the hole in the mower deck is larger than the diameter of the end of a nozzle or nozzle assembly and smaller than the diameter of the shoulder which sets the distance of the nozzle orifices away from (below) the inner surface of the mower deck.  
         [0023]    The basic method of the subject invention comprises the steps of:  
         [0024]    1) providing a nozzle adapted to be connected to a water supply, having an axis, having a nozzle end, having a first diameter and at least one orifice the nozzle end, the orifice being oriented radially from the axis and at an angle to the axis in a range of 90°-45°, the nozzle further comprising a shoulder having a second diameter and being perpendicular to the axis and a distance from the orifices in a range of ⅛ inch to 1.0 inches,  
         [0025]    2) providing a hole in the deck of a rotary mower, the hole having a third diameter which is larger than the first diameter and smaller than the second, the hole being at a radius from the axis of the mower in a range of 0.5 to 0.95 of the radius of the shroud of the mower,  
         [0026]    3) inserting the nozzle end in the hole with the shoulder contacting the deck,  
         [0027]    4) running the mower at mowing speed,  
         [0028]    5) causing water to flow through the nozzle end and out of the at least one orifice for sufficient time to clean the underside of the mower,  
         [0029]    6) shutting off the water flow,  
         [0030]    7) removing the water supply and, in some cases,  
         [0031]    8) removing the nozzle end from the hole.  
         [0032]    It is considered to be understandable from this description that the subject invention meets its objectives. It provides a method and related equipment for cleaning the undersides of rotary mowers. The cleaning is done more efficiently and less expensively than is possible with prior art methods and equipment used for the same purpose. It is less expensive in terms of equipment cost and time and water used. Also the equipment does not extend laterally from or below the skirt of the mower.  
         [0033]    It is also considered to be understood that while certain embodiments of the invention are described herein, other embodiments and modifications of those described are possible within the scope of the invention which is limited only by the attached claims