Patent ID: 7712556

Claim:
A mowing machine ( 502 ) comprising: a segmented and articulated frame having the shape of a circle defined about a vertical axis ( 110 ); first and second drive wheels ( 2 ) mounted on said frame along a first horizontal axis ( 120 ) that intersects said vertical axis, said first and second drive wheels capable of independent rotation in forward and backward directions; a power source ( 4 ) mounted to said frame and coupled to said first and second drive wheels for powered rotation of said first and second drive wheels; a first control arrangement ( 7 ) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said first drive wheel; a second control arrangement ( 7 ) for controlling speed and direction of rotation of said second drive wheel; a first cutting blade assembly ( 22 ) rotatively mounted on said frame about a first vertical blade axis; a second cutting blade assembly ( 22 ) rotatively mounted on said frame about a second vertical blade axis; a third cutting blade assembly ( 22 ) rotatively mounted on said frame about a third vertical blade axis; a first frame section ( 520 ) carried by said first and second drive wheels; a second frame section ( 530 ) pivotably connected to said first frame section, said first cutting blade assembly carried by said second frame section; a third frame section ( 522 ) pivotably connected to said first frame section, said second cutting blade assembly carried by said third frame section; a fourth frame section ( 524 ) pivotably connected to said first frame section, said third cutting blade assembly carried by said fourth frame section; wherein said second frame section is disposed forward of said first frame section and is pivotable about a second horizontal axis that is parallel to and located forward of said first horizontal axis; said third frame section is disposed to the left side of said first frame section and is pivotable about a third horizontal axis that is perpendicular to said first horizontal axis; and said fourth frame section is disposed to the right side of said first frame section and is pivotable about a fourth horizontal axis that is perpendicular to said first horizontal axis and located to the right of said third horizontal axis.