US1803160A - Convertible lawn mower, cleaner, and vacuum sweeper - Google Patents

Description

April 28, 1931. H ADAMS 1,803460 CONVERTIBLE LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER Filed Aug. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 JTgl.

z2 ar-I ATTORNEYS.

H. E. ADAMS April 28, .1931.

CONVERTIBLE LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 24

ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1931. H E ADAMS v 1,803,160

CONVERTIBLE LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER NTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

April-28, 192.1.

CONVERTIBLE H. E. ADAMS 60 LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER Filed Aug. 24, 1928 5 SheetsSheet 4 be Hg. 5.

. 1 g 9 i 0 2o 63 21 I I I r 23 w 4 6'3 45 INVENTOR. E. Adams ATTORNEYS.

'Apri l28, 1931 ADAMS 1,803,160

CONVERTIBLE LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER- Filed Aug. 24, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 l M IIWWI MI I {I fi 9) 88 NTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

PatenteclApr. 2s, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARLEY E. ADAMS, or rABxERsBURG, WEST VIRGINIA CONVERTIBLE LAWN MOWER, CLEANER, AND VACUUM SWEEPER Application filed August 24, 1928. Serial No. 301,725.

which may be readily and easily converted into either a lawn mower orvacuum cleaner through the attachment of different units.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction device having features of construction rendering the device adaptable for attachment of diflerent units for performing various kinds of work with the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character embodying a novel arrangement for the fan and suction chambers whereby the material will be eflt'ectively conducted through the device for deposit in a suitable receptacle.

.A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character embodying such features of construction as to permit of a relatively large fan chamber being provided for accommodating arelatively large suction fan with the result in obtaining a good suction through the device without requiring exces sive speed of the driving motor.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a device of this char-.

acter wherein the rotating elements and other moving parts of the mechanism will be protected against the material being gathered by the device.

A still further object of the invention resides in the novel balancing features of themotor drive shaft for preventing wear upon the bearings thereof. a

A further object of the invention is to provide a convertible device of this character embodying novel attaching means for the different units whereby the units will be rigidly held in position when associated with the main housing.

A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a mower attachment of novel construction, and which unit when associated with the main housing permits of the vegetation when out to be drawn through the main housing and gathered in a suitable receptacle associated with the discharge opening of the device.

Other objects and advantages of this invention'willbe apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompan ing drawings, forming a part of this speci cation, and in which drawings,

' Figure 1 is a side elevation of the main housing or casing for attachment of the various units.

' Figure 2 is a front elevation of the main casing or housing.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top' plan view of the main casin or housingand showing the suction fan an various other, elements within the housing in their dotted positions.

Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section through the housing and the mower unit shown attached to the housing.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the mower unit and showing the same broken away at various places for illustrating details of construction.

Figure 6 is a detail plan view illustrating features of construction of the mower units.

Figure 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig ure 6. v

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of the forward portion of the main housing shown with the mower unit attached thereto.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through the housing and showing the sweeper units applied thereto.

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the sweeper units showing fragmentary portions broken I away.

Referring to the drawingsin detail, and wherein imilar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates the main body portion of the device with which may be detachably associated a mower unit B or the sweeper unit C.

Referring first to the main body portion A the same includes a main casing or housing 5 including an upper wall 6 which is upwardly bulged intermediate its ends with a motor housing 7. secured in any-preferred manner thereto for enclosing a suitable electric motor mounted to revolve about a vertical axis. The forward portion of the cover wall 6 projects to each side of the casing and is curved.

within the casing 5 at a point substantially I midway the height of the casing, is a part1- tion plate 12 dividing the easing into an upper suction chamber 13 with a fan chamber. 14 arranged beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber 13. true circular formation as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, and communicates with the discharge port 11 at the rear end of the chamber. The partition plate 12 partially overlies the chamber 14 and is provided wltn an opening 15 which opens into the chamber 14 at the axial center thereof. 1 The casing 5 is provided with a fiat front wall 16 which extends transversely of the casing beneath the forward edge of the partition plate 12 so that the partition plate provides a flange 17 along the upper edge of the wall 16. As will be observed, the forward edge of the partition plate 12 terminates in spaced relation rearwardly of the rib 9 and thus provides a downwardlyopening suction inlet 18 which extends throughout the length of the hood 8.

Thus it will .be seen that material when drawn in through the opening 18 will travel rearwardly through the suction chamber 13 and then be directed downwardly into the" center portion of the fan chamber 14 for exit through the discharge ort 11.

Closing the lower si e of the fan chamber 14 is a plate 20 conforming to the general outline of the rear portion of the casing 5. This cover plate 20is provided with a de-' pending substantially triangular shaped flange 21, the side walls of which converge to a point rearwardly of thegaxial center of the fan chamber 14 and with the flat front wall 22 extending flush with the front wall 16 of the. casing 5. Closing the lower end of the triangular shaped flange or extension 21' is a cover plate 23 for providing a substantially flat ar compartment 24 arranged beneath the orward portion of the fan chamber 14. The rear portion of the plate 20 may carry an adjustable bracket 25 upon which are mounted suitable ground engaging wheels 26 acting as a support for the rear portion of the casing.

The motor shaft 28 of the motor contained in the casing 7 extends vertically through a tube 29arranged to extend verticall through v the suction chamber 13, and has its ower end' journalled in the plate 23 of the rear com partment'24. The tube or sleeve 29 is pref erably cast as an integral part of the casing This fan chamber 14 is of' 5 and it will therefore be seen that the motor shaft 28 is fully protected against dirt and foreign matter being drawn through the suc- Mounted adjacent the lower end of the drive shaft 28 within the forward portion of the gear compartment 24.,is a drive gear 30 which meshes with a larger idler gear 31 mounted in the gear com artment 24 rear wardly of the shaft 28. he idler gear 31 meshes with a gear 32 rigidly mounted upon a fan shaft 33 j ournaled vertically in the plates 20 and 23 at the axial center of the fan chamber 14.

Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 33 is a fan 34 of improved construction and embodying disc-like plate 35 from the upper face of which projects radially extending blades or fins 36. These blades or fins 36 extend tan entially of a circle concentric to the axis of t 1e disc 35 as shown in Figure 3 and have their outer ends slightly curved as is also shown by dotted lines in Figure 3. The blades are ofgreatest height at their ends adjacent the peripheral edge of the disc 35 and have their medial or inner portions tapering toward the disc so that in effecta pocket is formed at the center of the fan directly beneath the opening 15 in the partition plate 12. The material drawn through the suction chamber 13 will be directed downwardly through the opening 15 upon the center of the fan 34 and through centrifugal action of the fan be thrown thru the discharge port 11. The disc 35 will receive the material entering the opening 15 and allow for the blades to effectively direct the material through the discharge port. With the arrangement of the gears 30, 31 and 32 it will be seen that the gears are also protected from grit and dirt as is the motor shaft 28. B observing Figures 3'and 4 it will be seen t at the fan shaft 33 is mounted in a line directly to the rear of the motor shaft28.

A concavity 37 is provided in the front face of the gear compartment wall '22, and this concavity orarcuate shaped recess preferab y extends also in the forward edge of the plates 20 and 23 as'shown in Figure 2. The lower portion of the concavity in the forward edge of the plate 23is recessed as at 38 in Figure 2 to 'providea'shoulder for a purpose which will be subsequently set forth. The wall- 22 is provided in the concavit'y 37 withan opening thru'which a portion'o'f the drive gear 30 projects for a distance at least equal to the width of the teeth on the gear. 7

' Provided at each end of the wall '22 are notches 40 which extend to the lower edge of the plate 23. Projecting into each. of the notches 40 is a spring ejected latch 41 which may be retracted by means of knobs 42 having sliding movement in slots provided in the side walls of the flange 21. By sliding the knobs rearwardly the ends of the latches 41 may be retracted from positions projecting into the notches 40. These spring latches 41 serve as means for detachably connecting either of the units B or C in operative relation upon the main body portion A. It will readily be apparent the object in so having the casing provided with the removable bottom plate 20, since such will permit of ready and easy assembling of the fan 34. within the fan chamber 14 and will permit of the upper portion of the casing being easily cast as an integral structure.

Some of the advantages to be gained in the construction of the main body portion A as shown, are that the arrangement will permit of relatively large suction and fan chambers without necessarily increasing the overall height of the casing, and that the arrangement permits of a free passage of the grass, dirt, or other material, since the arrangement of the chambers 13 and 14 provides but a slightly curved passageway thru the device from the suction inlet to the discharge opening. The arrangement further eliminates the motor shaft from the center of the fan and fan chamber thus allowing full action of the fan, and relieves pressure on the motor ing thesuction fan 34. The mower unit B includes a flat base plate 45 to the forward end walls forming closures for each end of the mouth 49. The mower unit is of greater width than that of the hood.8, and cover plates 50 extend from the ends of::the unit inwardly for closing the inlet opening be- The ends of the mower unityond the ends of the hood The inner ends of the cover plates 50 are provided with up I wardly from the lower portion of the rear casing wall 47 of the mower unit is a pair of lugs or projections 53 having beveled upper edges as shown in Figure 8, and each being provided with a slot 54 extendingtransversely of the lugs. These lugs 53 are intended when the mower unit is applied to the casing 5, to engage in the notches 40 with the latches 41 engaging in the slots 54 whereby the rear portion of the mower unit is rigidly secured in position. The intermediate portion of the rear edge of the plate 45 is outwardly arcuated as at 55 in Figure 5, and this arcuate projection55 engages the shoulder 38 on the cover plate 23 for further anchoring of the rear portion of the mower unit and also closing the lower portion of the concavity 37 provided in the wall 22. With the arcuate pocket 52 hooked upon the roll 9, and the latches 41 engaging in the slots 54 of the lugs 53 it will be seen that the mower unit will be rigidly but detachably held in position beneath the suction inlet 18 with the wheels 48 serving tosupport the-forward portion of the device.

Rotatably mounted upon a vertical axis within the iearwardly projecting central portion of the unit is a mower drive gear 58, the lower end of the shaft of which is journalled in the base plate 45 while the upper end of the shaft is journalled in a bearing forming bracket projecting below the inclined guide plate 46. This horizontally mounted gear 58 has a portion of its peripheral teeth projecting through an opening in the rear wall 47. so that the teeth of the gear may. mesh with the pinion 30 carried by the motor drive shaft '28. It will-readily be seen that the object in so providing the concavity 37in the wall27 is to permit of ready upward movement of the projecting portion of the gear 58 so that the same may readily meshwith the teeth of the gear 30. When the gears 30 and 58 are so meshing the lower portion of the concavity 37 is fully closed by the arcuate projection ,55 provided at therear edge of the base plate 45 so that no dirt or foreign matter may interfere with operation of the gears. Rigidly carried by the shaft u on which the gear 58 is rigidly mounte and arranged beneath the gear, is

a pair of upper and lower drive discs 60 and 62 respectively, and which discs are mounted eccentrically upon the shaft 59 so that the discs extend in direct opposite directions 5 diametrically of the shaft as clearly shown in Figure These discs or eccentrics 60 and 62 act as operating means for cutter and balancing plates 63 and 64 respectively.

Referring first to the specific formation of m the cutter plate 63, the same includes an elonated fiat body portion 65 provided along its orward edge with a series of triangular shaped blades 66 of a number one less the number of guard fingers 46 so that the body portion 65 is of a length shorter than the length of the guard finger carrying base plate 45 fora distance equal to the width of one-guard finger. This length of the body portion 65 will permit of reciprocatory movement of the cutter plate for a distance equal to the width of one of the blades 65 without the cutter plate projecting beyond the end walls of the mower unit when moved in either direction. Each end portion of the nally formed guide slot 68 through which extend stud bolts 69 which are threaded into the base plate 45. Projecting rearwardly from the central portion of the body portion 65, and in a like plane therewith is a bifurcated extension providing a pair of plate-like arms 70 having parallel spaced apart confronting edges which are engaged by the peripheral edge of the eccentric 62 whereby a reciprocating motion is imparted to the cutter plate upon rotation of the shaft 59.

It may here be well to state that the guard fingers 46' and co-acting blades 66 project beyond the forward edge of the inclined gulde plate 46 and are arranged to extend throughout the length of the lower portion of the mouth 49. v 1

Referring now to the plate 64, and which plate is intended to act as a counterbalancing means for the reciprocating cutter plate 63, the same includes an elongated body ortion 70' having guide slots 71 provided a djacent each end thereof and through which the shanks of the bolts 69 extend for retaining the body portion 70 in sliding overlying relation to the cutter plate body portion 65. Projecting rearwardly from the central portion of the body 'portion70 is a bifurcated extension providing a pair of spaced arms eliminating possible contact of the arms 72 with the companion arms 70 when being reciprocated. The balancing plate 64 is not provided with any teeth, and therefore the body portion 65 is provided with a longitudi- 72 having straight parallel inner edges'to be plate is formed considerably thicker so that the weight of the balancing plate will balance the weight of the cutter plate carrying the mitted through provision of the slots 68 and A flat tension spring 7 5 is provided for retaining the balance plate in sliding contact with the cutter plate 63 and the cutter plate in sliding contact with the upper surface of the plate 45, so that the blades 66 will co-act efliciently for cutting vegetation with the fingers 46. This spring 75 which extends across the upper surface of the body portion 70' of the balance plate 64 has a normal tendency to arch upwardly at its end as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, and when the spring is disposed in position with its ends engaging beneath the heads of the bolts 69 it will be seen that the spring will act to retain the plates 63 and 64 in assembled relation and in frictional contact with one another upon the base plate 45.

By observing Figure 3 it will be seen that the mower unit drive gear 58 meshes with the drive shaft pinion 30 at a point diametrically opposite to the point at which the idler gear 31 engages the pinion so that power from the drive shaft is taken from diametrically opposite sides of the shaft with the result that the motor armature and shaft are practically in a floating state, and which will.

reduces the wear on the motor bearings and thereby materially adding life to the-machine as a whole. 4

When the mower attachment is applied to the main casing 5, the projecting ends of the mower attachment are closed at all sides except the front of the unit so that material entering the ends of the unit will be directed inwardly and then rearwardly over the in- Ice clined guide plate 46 into the suction chamber 13. i r

a In attaching the mower unit to the body portion A it will be necessary to position the unit beneath the suction inlet 18 with the then the unit swung upwardly about the roll as a pivot until the rear upper face of the 1nclined guide plate 46 engages beneath the fiange 17 formed at'the forward end of the partition plate 12. Whenso swinging the larcuate pockets 52- receiving theroll 9 and the latches 41 engaging in the slots 54 wheren by the unitis held in position at its forward edge by the roll-9 and at its rear edge bythe latches 41. When the device is in operation, it will be seen'that the motor will operate for simultaneously operating the mower unit i has been found that when-employing two sets of co-acting reciprocating cutter blades that the grass beingcut is laid by the double blade owing to thespeed required for double cutting blades. It has been found that by employing a single set of cutting blades operating at a slower speed, thatthe grass is cut in a neat manner and is not merely laid down by the mower.

Referring now to the sweeper unit C,the same is of such construction as to permit of the same being readily detachably associated with the main portion A in place of the mower unit B when itis desired to use the device as an ordinary vacuum cleaner. The unit C includes aframe 7 5' embodying front and rear walls 76 and 77.1'espectively and end walls 78 which are offset inwardly adjacent the rear wall 77. Extending across the inwardly'offset end wall sections 7 8 is a bottom plate? 9, the rear edge of whichconnects with the rear wall 77 so that the plate 79,

forms a shelf across the lower rear portion of the sweeper frame. The central portion of the plate 7 9 is provided with an upwardly I .ofi'set boss 80 forming a chamber for receiving a sweeper drive gear 81. A cover plate 82 is removably connected beneath the chamber forming boss 80 for enclosing the near 81, and this plate 82 is provided wlth h a an arcuate extension 83 whlch pro]ects rearwa'rdly of the wall 77 for engaging the shoulder 38 of the main body portion cover plate 23 in a like manner as does the extenslon 55 of the mower unit. The shaft 84 of the gear 81'is journalled in the plate 82 and boss and carries at its upper end a sheave 85 about which is trained a suitable belt 86. Carried by the rear wall 77 are lugs 87 being transversely slotted for latching engagement with the latches 41. Provided ad acent each end and at the upper edge of the front wall 76, are arcuate shaped pockets 88 beingclosed at their outer ends by the projectlons 89 which extend beyond the outer faces of the end walls 78. These arcuate shaped pockets 88 are intended to receive the roll 9 with the ends of the roll engaging the projections 89 so that the unit is held against movement longitudinally of the roll. I

The inwardly offset wall portions 78' carry suitable ground engaging wheels 90 serving to support the forward portion of the device when using the sweeper unit. When the wall 16, while the upper edge ofthe rear 7 wall 77 engages-beneath the flange-17 provided at theforward edge of the plate 12. Revolubly mounted in the end walls 78 is a brush of novel construction embodying a brush cylinder92 provided with a circumferentially grooved medial portion-93 for receiving the belt 86. whereby the brush will be rotated. Arranged in V-shaped formation at each side of the groove 93 are'rows of bristles 94, and which bristles act to sweep in two directions is the brush is rotated. With the device in operation, the brush-will act to sweep the surface over which the device is being operated, while the fan 34 will create a suction drawing the dirt through the suction chamber 13'. A portion of the gear 81, of course, projects through an opening in the rear frame wall 77 for meshing with the drive pinion 30.

In actual use of the device as a. mower it has been found that when cutting relatively high grass or other vegetation that such has a tendenc to clogin the suction chamber and fan cham r and for this reason it has been found desirable to provide means for cutting off the suction through the suction cham-.

hung adjacent its upper edge in the side walls of the casing 5 immediately beneath the rear ef the hood 8. This shutter plate when in an elevated or inoperative position rests fiat upon the arcuate upper wall of. the hood 8, and is of such width that when lowered the free edge of the plate will engage the arched guide plate 46, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, while the ends of the plate will engage the inner surface of the side walls of the casing 5 so that suction through the chamber 13 is cut ofl. An operating means is provided for opening and closing the shutter, and this means preferably includes a lever 102 which extends through a slot 103 provided in the upper side of the hood 8 whereby swinging movement of the lever 102 will impart'swmging movement to the plate 100. A pivoted keeper 104 mounted upon the upper side of the hood 8 may be swung into the path of movement of the lever 102 for holding the lever at one end of the slot 103 and retaining the shutter plate in its inoperative position beneath the hood. With the shutter 100 in a closed position it will be seen that suction through the chamber 13 will be cut off and tall grass or other vegetation being out will not be drawn into the mouth 49.

'It will be noted that each of the units or attachments Band C are provided with ground engaging Wheels, thus eliminating the necessity of substituting different wheels when'the diflerentunits are to be used. It

will also be noted that the latches 4142 are carried by the main body portion A, ,and this eliminates the necessity of providlng a set of latches for each of the attachments.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel and improved construction for convertible devices of this character has been provided which will render the device a'useful and efiicient household a of the fan being operated at a slower rate of speed for producing the desired suction. It will still further be apparent that a novel arrangement has been provided wherein themotor drive shaft will be practically balanced by reason of taking power'from diametrical: ly opposite sides of the drive shaft pinion.

Changes in the shape, size, and arrange- 'ment of arts may be made to the form of invention ierein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invcn-' tion or thescope of the following claims.

I claim: 1

1. A convertible device of the class described comprising a casing provided with a suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear end of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet opening through the rear of the casing, said suction chamber at its forward end opening downwardly, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a motor mounted upon the upper side of the casin and including a vertical drive shaft extending through the suction chamber forwardly of the fan chamber, a pinion carried by the lower end of the drive shaft, gear means meshing with the pinion for imparting rotation to the fan, and a work performing unit detachably associated with the casing beneath the forward end of the suction chamber and including a driving gear for meshing with the pinion of the drive shaft when the unit is applied to the casing.

2. In a device of the class described comprising a main casing provided with a suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear end of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet open- 1,sos,ieo.

ing,'a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a motor mounted upon the upper side of the casing and including a drive shaft extending vertically within a tubular casing for detachably coupling the unit with the forward portion of the suction chamber with the drive gear thereof meshing with said pinion of the drive shaft. 7

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet passageway, a tube extending vertically through the suction chamber forwardly of the fan chamher, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a motor mounted upon the upper side of the casing and having its shaft extending downwardly through said tube to a location below the fan chamber, a pinion carried by the lower end of the shaft, gear means beneath the fan chamber and meshing with said pinion for rotating said fan, a work performing unit including a drive gear, and means for detachably coupling the unit in position beneath the forward portion of the suction chamber with the drlve gear in meshing relation with the motor shaft pinion.

4. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet passageway, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a

motor mounted upon the upper side of the casing and having its shaft extendingvertically downwardly thru the suction chamber forwardly of the fan chamber, a pinion car- I.

ried by the lower end of the shaft, gear means beneath the fan chamber for rotating the fan and including an idler gear engaging the pinion at the rear of the shaft, and a Work performin unit arranged beneath the forward portion of the suction chamber forwardly of said shaft and including a drive gear for meshing with the motor shaft pinion at a location diametrically opposite the point at which the idler gear engages the pinion.

5. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet passageway, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber upon a shaft projecting beneath the casing, a pinion on the fan shaft, a motor mounted upon the upper side of the casing and having its shaft extending downwardly through the suction ing a main casing having an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of. the suction chamber and having an outlet passageway thru the rear of the casing, a partition plate between the chambers and having an opening forming a communication between the suction chamber and center of the fan chamber, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber including a base disc and radial blades projecting'upwardly from the disc, a motormounted upon the casing and having its shaft' extending through the suction chamber forwardly of the fan chamber, means for rotating the fan from the lower portlon of the motor shaft, and a working unit arranged beneath the forward portion of the suction chamber forwardlyof the fan chamber and operable also by the motor shaft whereb the unit is operated upon operation of the an.

7. A device of the class described comprising a casing having an upper suction cham her and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and/having an outlet passageway opening through the rear of the casing, said casin along its forward edge being provided Wlfil a cylindrical rib defining the forward margin of the suctioninlet for the suctionchamber, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a working unit having arcuate pockets at its forward portion for interfitting with said rib for removably supporting the forwardportion of the unit upon the casing beneath the forward portion of the suction chamber, latch means carried by the casing and releasably engageable with the rear por tion of the unit for retaining the unit in coupled relation to the casing, a motor mounted upon the casing, and means for operating the fan and said unit from the motor. I v

8. A device of the class described comprising a casing provided with an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet opening at the rear of the casing, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, a detachable work performing unit having interfitting connection at its forward portion with the forward end of the casing beneath the forward end of the suction chamber, spring pressed latches carried by the casing for interlocking engagement with the rear portion of the work performing unit, a motor mounted upon the casing and includinga drive shaft, and means for imparting movement to the fan and said unit from the drive shaft.

9. A device of the class described comtion chamber and a fan chamber beneath the rear portion of the suction chamber in communication therewith and having an outlet opening, a fan rotatable in the fan chamber, adjustable ground engaging wheels for supporting the rear portion of the casing, a work performing unit detachably associated with the casing beneath the forward portion of the suction chamber, ground engaging wheels carried by the unit for supporting the forward portion of the device, a motor carried by the casing and including a shaft extending downwardly through the casing, and means for operating both the fan and said unit from the motor shaft,

10. In suction apparatus, acasing having an upper suction chamber and a fan chamber prising a main casing having an upper sucforwardly of the fan chamber, a motor mounted upon the upper side of the casing and including a shaft extending downwardly through said tube to a location below the fan chamber, and gear means arranged beneath the fan chainber for imparting rotation to the fan from the motor shaft.

11. In a suction lawn mower, a mower unit including a base plate, guide fingers arranged along the forward edge of the base plate, a

drive gear rotatable above the base plate,

oppositely disposed eccentrics mounted in superposed relation upon the shaft for the drive gear, a sickle plate mounted for reciprocatory movement on the base plate including blades for co-acting with the guard fingers and rearwardly extending arms engageable by one of the eccentrics, a balance plate reciprocably mounted in superposed relation above the sickle plate behind the blades thereof and including rearwardly extending arms en ageable by the opposite eccentric whereby t e sickle plate and balance plate will move in opposed relation, and spring means arranged above the balance plate and acting thereupon for normally urging the balance plate into firm contact with the sickle plate and the sickle plate into firm contact with the base plate.

'12. In a suction lawn mower, a mower unit including a reciprocating sickle plate, a reciprocating balance late for the sickle plate, and means for operating the sickle plate and balance plate in opposed relation to one anotlicr, said balance plate being of a Weight to counterbalance the entire Weight of thesickle plate.

HARLEY E. ADAMS.

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