Patent ID: 7302789

Claim:
A mowing machine comprising: a frame; an engine; a cutting blades rotatably mounted to the frame via an electric blade clutch; a controllable accessory power take off drive (PTO) electrically coupled with the electric blade clutch; a PTO switch associated with the PTO and the electric blade clutch, the PTO switch having “ON” and “OFF” positions such that the PTO may energize the electric blade clutch when the PTO is in the “ON” position and electrical connection between the PTO and electric blade clutch exists; a pair of cut-out switches electrically connected to the PTO and the electric blade clutch; a transmission system governing the speed and rotational direction of corresponding right and left drive wheels; a pair of transmission control levers operatively associated with the transmission system, each of the control levers being selectably movable into one of a forward, neutral or reverse gear position corresponding to a desired speed and direction of travel of the right or left drive wheels; each of the cut-out switches being mounted to the mowing machine for selective contact or non-contact by a corresponding one of the control levers whereby the cut-out switches electrically connect the PTO with the electric blade clutch and engage the cutting blades when either or both of the cut-out switches are in a first position and the PTO switch is “ON” and disconnect the PTO from the electric blade clutch and disengage the cutting blades when both of the cut-out switches are in a second position, and contact or non-contact positioning of the control levers with the switches determines whether the cut-out switches are in the first position or the second position, whereby the cutting blades may be automatically engaged by placing one of said cut-out switches in the first position after both of said switches have been in said second position.