Rail-mounted automated grass cutter

摘要

The automated grass cutter is a sickle mower that is driven along a rail in order to autonomously cut grass. The automated grass cutter places a rail of an undefined length or track, which is supported via fence posts. A drive wheel system is engaged onto the rail in order to drive the sickle grass mower along the rail. The fence posts may include a fence rail spanning between consecutive fence posts. The sickle grass mower extends laterally from the rail, and relies on a drive motor to drive the drive wheel system and sickle mower along the rail. The sickle mower includes a reciprocating blade that reciprocates back and forth via movement of guide wheels.

主权项

1. An automated grass cutter comprising:
a rail onto which a drive wheel system engages thereon so as to propel both the drive wheel system and a sickle mower blade; wherein the rail is supported in place via fence posts; wherein the rail is further defined with a top surface, bottom surface, inner surface, and outer surface; wherein the rail is generally squared-shaped, and is of an undefined length; wherein the rail is constructed of individual rail segments that attach to one another via a male end and corresponding female end provided on distal ends of each of the rail segments; wherein the rail is held in place via the fence posts; wherein the fence posts are configured to be inserted into a ground surface, and include a rail arm that is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the fence post; wherein the drive wheel system includes a series of inner guide wheels as well as a series of outer guide wheels; wherein the inner guide wheels engage the inner surface of the rail whereas the outer guide wheels engage against the outer surface of the rail; wherein the outer guide wheels include an outer bracket that linearly connect to all of the outer guide wheels; wherein the inner guide wheels include an inner bracket that connects across all of the inner guide wheels; wherein the drive wheel system includes a drive wheel that is engaged against two adjacent outer guide wheels; wherein the drive wheel is responsible for propelling the drive wheel system along the rail; wherein the drive wheel is in mechanical connection with a drive motor via a drive wheel belt; wherein a plurality of spring members traverse between the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels to insure adequate contact of the drive wheel system to the rail; wherein the spring members ensure that the inner guide wheels and the outer guide wheels are able to maintain traction to the rail; wherein the spring members span across and above the rail so as to not interfere with the rail arms that are periodically spaced along the length of the rail.