Patent Publication Number: US-2003221399-A1

Title: Changeable power implements

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] (none)  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R &amp; D  
       [0002] (none)  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] The invention is directed to changeable power implements, such as, lawnmowers, lawn blowers, lawn edgers, mulchers, snow blowers, compressed air generators or electricity generators. All of the above named implements are well known because they are in abundant uses. One disadvantage of the above named implements is that they all have their own or individual power plants so that they can operate under their own power. It is quite possible that many home owners, especially landscapers or other shop facilities have several of the implements sitting in their garage ready to be used for a particular task. The inventive concept is directed to a multiple of implements having one power source to drive all of them.  
       [0004] Farm machinery is known to use different implements for such tasks such as mowing, raking, plowing and others. However, these implements are pulled behind the power source such as a tractor and the implements are all driven by power shaft connections e.t.c. to the tractor while the tractor can operate on its own without any implements being dragged there behind.  
       [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 2,770,894 discloses an invention that relates to improvements in snow removers and grass cutters of the rotary type which are interchangeably connected with and operated by power driven tractors and to power driven work devices having rotary work units detachably connected thereto. The power is conveyed by belts or chains.  
       [0006] U.S. Pat. No. 3,596,450 illustrates an adapter system and attachments therefor which utilizes the structural and drive features of a powered lawn mower inclusive of the cutter blade-fan to provide additional power rake, brush, edger and non-scalping features.  
       [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 3,945,176 illustrates a power driven rotary lawn mower in which an auxiliary power drive is provided to a tine bearing shaft. This combination permits thatching, grass cutting and mulching, all at the time, depending on the position of the tine bearing shaft. There is also a rearwardly mounted seed drill for immediately reseeding of a thatched lawn.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,532,725 shows a rideable work apparatus having attachments that include a snow plow, a lawn mower and a roto-tiller simultaneously mounted to a frame. Cranks are provided for selectively actuating each of the attachments.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,278,133 discloses a motor powered lawn edger which can be converted to a lawn cultivator, a snow blower or an ice chipper by removal of the lawn edging blade and its housing and thereafter substituted by a different housing having the appropriate tools.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,520,253 illustrates a basic structure and a collection of components to improve on the efficiency in caring for lawns and gardens. The basic structure comprises a single engine, a speed reducer and a transmission mounted on a frame with handle bars and controls. The components make up a collection of tines, wheels, blades, rollers, plows, racks an mounting parts. The operator mounts selected components on the basic structure to create a custom ramification for accomplishing a specific task.  
       [0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,970 shows a mobile lawn maintenance having a vertical drive shaft driving a forward vertical shaft by way of a belt. The bottom ground contacting end of the vertical drive shaft has means for accepting various and different working implements thereon.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] The basic inventive concept involves a basic power unit having two wheels, a handle bar with controls thereon to control the power of the engine mounted above the wheels. The engine has a horizontal drive shaft having at one end thereof a splined receptacle. The various implements mentioned above have another set of wheels to achieve a stable structure maneuverable over the ground. Any of the above mentioned implements have the same connecting features that match connecting features on the basic power unit. The implements have a splined drive shaft that matches the splined receptacle power drive on the basic power unit when connected thereto. The basic power unit is only half of all the other implements and can only operate when connected thereto. There is a clamping mechanism that easily connects the power unit to the other implements. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0013]FIG. 1 illustrates the basic power unit which drives the changeable implements;  
     [0014]FIG. 2 shows the implement as a cement mixer;  
     [0015]FIG. 3 shows the implement as a snow blower;  
     [0016]FIG. 4 shows the implement as a rotary brush surface cleaner;  
     [0017]FIG. 4 a  shows the implement of FIG. 4 having a roto-tiller unit thereon;  
     [0018]FIG. 5 shows the implement as a leaf blower;  
     [0019]FIG. 6 shows the implement as a rotary lawn mower;  
     [0020]FIG. 7 shows the implement as a mulcher or chipper;  
     [0021]FIG. 8 shows the implement as an electric generator  
     [0022]FIG. 9 shows the implement as an air compressor;  
     [0023]FIG. 10 shows the implement as a wagon box;  
     [0024]FIG. 11 shows the end of a splined drive shaft to match the female drive shaft of FIG. 1;  
     [0025]FIG. 12 illustrates a plate to plate clamping mechanism in perspective view;  
     [0026]FIG. 13 is the clamping mechanism of FIG. 12 in a side view. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.  
     [0027]FIG. 1 shows the overall power unit which can easily be connected to all the implements shown and explained hereafter. The power unit shown at  1  can be a standard low horse power drive engine of a two or four cycle system shown at  2 . As is well known, the numeral  3  shows a gas tank with the air intake for the engine shown  4 . The basic unit has front wheels  5  which may be driven (not shown) or just may be moved along with the basic unit as it moves across the surface of the ground. At the rear of the basic unit there are mounted one or two idler or caster wheels  6 . Although not essential, the idler wheels  6  are used to stabilize the unit when not in use. The power unit  1  is handled and moved about by the handle bars  7  as is well known on lawn mowers and other devices. The upper ends of the handle bars have handle grips  8  attached thereto. On a cross piece of the handle bars there are mounted the various control levers which is also well in the art.. The front of the power unit has attached thereto a mounting plate  10  which serves to mount the various implements having a like plate, as will be explained below. The mounting plate has stabilizing depressions  11  therein. the implements will have similar protrusions on their plates to match the depressions  11  as the explanation continues below. The engine in this application is designed to have a horizontal crank shaft (not shown) so that the power takeoff for the respective implements will be in a horizontal manner. Thus, the power takeoff in FIG. 1 is shown at  12  as a female interiorly splined shaft. The reason that a female splined shaft is used is for safety reason. Were a male shaft be used, it would be protruding from the front plate as at  12  and when operating and thereby turning, the protruding shaft would pose a safety hazard. The power unit  1  could easily be moved to any desired location because of the wheels  6  and  6 .  
     [0028] Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown the first replaceable in the form of a cement mixer. The power unit  1  is only shown schematically by illustrating the front wheels  5  and the female splined connector  12 . In this FIG. 2, there is also shown the front connecting plate  10 . The male connecting splined connecting shaft is shown at  20 . The cement mixer implement has a connecting plate at  21  with connecting protrusions shown at  21   a  which will settle in the depressions  11  shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of stability. The cement mixer implement has a drive mechanism in the form of miter gears  22  in the oil or grease box  23  having a dip stick  24  to observe any present oil or grease level. The concrete tub of known construction and drive is receiving its power by way of a belt drive  25  which is driven from the basic power unit  1 . The front  27  wheels can be idler or caster wheels.  
     [0029]FIG. 3 shows the implement as a snow blower. To this end, the internal female splined drive connection is shown at  12  as previously described. The male splined connection is shown at  30 . As is well known, a snow blower needs a high speed turbine which has the force to blow the snow away from the implement. The male drive shaft  30  drives a miter gear  31  which in turn drives a large drive belt wheel  34  which by way of a belt  36  drives a smaller belt wheel  36 . Therefore, the speed of rotation to the spiral scraper inside the housing  38  (not shown) is greatly increased. such snow blowers are well known in the art. The snow is blown out of the chute  37  away from the implement. The miter gears  31  are contained in a grease or an oil box  32  having a visual observation of the level of the substance therein by way of a dip stick  33   
     [0030]FIG. 4 shows the implement as a sweeper brush. Again, the basic elements of the power unit are shown by using the same reference characters as were used in previous Figs. above. The wheels are shown at  5  and the internal female drive shaft is schematically shown as the driven shaft in the same manner as was the snow blower in FIG. 3. The connector plate of the basic power unit is shown at  10 , while the connector plate of the implement is shown at  41 .  41   a  again indicates the protruding bars which fit into the stabilizing slots  10  in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4, the belt drive wheel is shown at  44  being driven by the belt drive pulley  42  of a larger diameter which would increase the speed of the brush element  46  to some considerable extent.  
     [0031]FIG. 4 a  shows a roto-tiller element  45  being driven by the belt  44 . The roto-tiller element  45  is installed on the same shaft on which the rotary brush element  46  is mounted. This allows the same implement to be converted from a cleaning unit as a surface cleaning device to a roto-tiller unit to cultivate the ground. In case the implement is used as a roto-tiller, it should be noted that the implement should be oriented at a different position so that the tiller unit  45  can dig deeper into the ground. This can easily be accomplished by removing the caster wheels  6  FIG. 1. This allows for a different orientation of the power unit  1 .  
     [0032]FIG. 5 shows the implement to be a leaf blowing implement. By now, it should be realized and understood that the basic elements of the basic power unit are used over and over again to obtain the end result. The same reference characters are used as in previous explanations. Therefore, the numeral  5  indicates the front wheel of the power unit  1 . The numeral  10  indicates the front attachment plate. The miter gear  51  drives a lower shaft  53  which in turn drives a lower miter gear  52  which in drives an intermediate gear  52   a  which in turn drives a large belt wheel  54 . A belt  56  drives a small diameter belt wheel  55  which in turn drives a turbine  57 . The turbine  57  is located in a spiral housing  58  which exhausts air out of the air outlet  59 . The turbine effect of a leaf blower is well known and does not need any further explanations.  
     [0033]FIG. 6 shows the typical construction of a rotary lawn mower. To this end what needs to be explained how the rotary blade is being driven from the basic power unit  1  of FIG. 1. The basic power unit  1  is shown in FIG. 6 by its front wheel  5 . As is well known by now is the male splined drive shaft  60  deriving its power from the female drive shaft  12  in FIG. 1. The horizontal drive shaft  61  drives the miter gear  62  to drive a vertical shaft  65 . The miter gear  62  is contained in a grease or oil box  63 . The level of grease or oil in the box  63  is visually controlled by a dip stick  64 . The rotary cutting blade  66  is attached to the vertical drive shaft  66  which is contained within the housing  67 . The front of the implement of the lawn mower may be stabilized by front wheels  68 .  
     [0034]FIG. 7 illustrates an implement in the form of a mulcher or a chipper. To this end, the basic power unit again is shown with the front wheel  5  and the splined female power connection at  12 . Also, there is shown the connector plate of the power unit at  10  and the connector plate on the implement at  70 . The male splined power drive connection is shown at  20 . The mulcher or chipper drum is shown at  77 . This drum needs a powerful but slow drive in order to accomplish the mulching and chipping it is designed to do. Therefore, the drive involves a gear reduction with two upper gear reductions  73  and  74  and the further reduction gears  75  and  76 . Both gear reduction are contained in a gear grease or oil box  71  having a dip stick  72  for observing the level of the oil or grease within the box. FIG. 7 further shows a feed chute for feeding the material to be chipped up and at  79  as shown an exhaust funnel where the torn up material is being ejected. Of course, there is a turbine (not shown) to accomplish the ejection, which is well known in the art.  
     [0035]FIG. 8 shows the implement as an electric generator to produce electricity. The basic power unit again is shown with its front wheel at  5  and the Front connector plate at  10 . The implement has a corresponding connector plate  80  and shows the male splined drive connector at  20 . The drive shaft  20  drives a large upper belt pulley which drives the lower smaller belt pulley  82  by way of the belt  84 . This constitutes a faster drive for the generator shaft  85  of generator  86  which must be driven at high speed to generate the appropriate electrical power.  87  indicates the necessary extension cord. The components of the electric generator are mounted on a platform  89  which has a front caster wheel  88 .  
     [0036]FIG. 9 represents an implement in the form of an air compressor. Again, the basic power unit is shown with its front wheel  5  and the female splined connection shaft  12  and the male splined connection shaft  20  which is located on the implement to be able to drive the individual components of the air compressor implement. Also, there is shown the front connector plate  10  on the basic power unit which will be clamped to the connector plate  90  on the implement. The male splined drive shaft  20  drives a belt pulley  93  of a smaller diameter which by way of a belt  95  drives a belt pulley  94  having a larger diameter. It is a well known fact that an air compressor power shaft is driven at a somewhat lower speed but requiring more power. This is what is shown in the transmission belt drive. All of the components of the air compressor are mounted on a support frame  91  having a front idler wheel  92 .  
     [0037]FIG. 10 shows the use of a wagon box wherein the basic power unit is shown with its front wheel  5  and the front connecting plate  10  which will be connected to the connector plate  100  on the wagon box by way of clamping which will be described below. The drive  120  on the wagon box could be used to drive a continuous loop conveyor belt  1   10  in the bottom of the wagon box to transport materials therein from one end to the other. The drive for the loop belt  110  can be derived from the drive shaft  120  by way of a sprocket drive and chain  106  and  107  to drive a lower miter gear  108  which in turn will drive a drive shaft  109  to drive the continuous belt  110 . The wagon box could be constructed of removable side boards  101  and if removed would leave just a bare bottom bed frame  102  so that odd shaped items could be transported thereon. It is helpful to include the front caster wheel  105  on the wagon box to stabilize the bottom frame  102  when not in use. It is also helpful to have the rear gate  103  which is hinged at  104 . This rear gate  103  is useful as a ramp when in a down position so that other items can be wheeled onto the bottom bed frame  102   
     [0038]FIG. 11 shows the male spline connector in an enlarged version. It stands to reason that it the spline connection were not modified, as will be explained, the splines  111  would be damaged after a prolonged use, that is, the end faces of the splines would be hitting head on with the spline end faces on the interior of the female connector. Therefore, the splines  111  are reduced in their width direction as is shown at  112 . In this manner, whenever the male splined connector shaft is introduced into the female splined connector, no flat faces of the splines will hit head on but, because of the modifications made, the splines will automatically pass each other, that is, self-adjust without causing any damage to each other.  
     [0039]FIG. 12 shows a clamping mechanism in a perspective view. To this end, the forward clamping plate of the basic power unit  1  is shown at  10  and the rearward clamping plate of all of the implements is shown at  21  and in FIG. 2. The reference character for this clamping plate  21  changes from implement to implement but can easily identified in the various views. In FIG. 12, a clamping bracket  120  is mounted on the clamping plate  10  at various locations around the periphery of the the basic power unit. It stands to reason that at least two such clamps must be used if not more to assure a secure clamping of the clamping plates to each other. The clamping bracket  120  is fastened to the to the clamping plate  10  by of bolts  121 . There is a clamping claw  122  connected to the clamping bracket  120  by way of various intermediate and movable parts as will be explained below. The clamping claw  122  wraps itself around the edge of the clamping plate  21  so that the plates  10  and  21  are in a tight engagement when clamped together. On each side of the clamping bracket  120  there located two sliding blocks  124  with each having a groove  125  therein which face each other. At the bottom of the rear end of the clamping claw  122  there is a plate  123  having slight extensions as shown at  123 . These extensions slide into the grooves  125  when the clamping claw  122  is moved relative to the two slide blocks  124  and over the clamping plate  21 . The movement of the clamping claw is effected by the handle  126  which is pivotally mounted at  127  on both the sliding blocks  124 . The handle  126  has a plate  128  mounted thereon at  129 . The other end of the plate  128  is attached to the clamping claw  122  by way of the pivot sleeve  120   a  and a pin  131  passing through the pivot sleeve  120   a  and the clamping claw  122 .  
     [0040]FIG. 13 shows the clamping mechanism of FIG. 12 in a side view with like reference characters of FIG. 12 applied to the same elements in FIG. 13. The operation of the clamping mechanism of both Figs. will now be described. The handle  126  is moved around its pivot and as is shown by the arrow A. As a consequence the link  128  is moved in its own path because of its off-center connection  129  with pivot  127  of the handle. In view of its connection at  131  with the clamping claw  122 , the claw  122  starts to move toward the plate  21 . A continued movement of the handle  126 , arrow A, results in the claw  122  making tight contact with the clamping plate  21  in a clamping manner. At this point the handle has reached a position as shown in dot-dash lines (FIG. 13). In this position a pin  132  is inserted through the openings in the bracket  120 . This will prevent the handle  126  from leaving this position either on its own because of the clamping pressure or because of the vibration caused by the operation of the power unit and the implement attached thereto.