Grass collection system with through-shaft PTO

摘要

A grass collection system may have an impeller with a through-shaft that mechanically couples power take off (PTO) energy to the mower deck. The PTO shaft may pass through the impeller and blower housing to power the mower deck, resulting in a compact mechanism. The PTO shaft may pass through a grass tunnel that connects between the blower housing and the mower deck, then may be connected to the mower deck to power the mower blades. The grass collection system may be deployed on a front mounted deck tractor that has front wheel drive. The front wheels may each have a hydrostatic pump and gearbox, and the PTO shaft may pass between or under the front wheel drive systems in connecting to the mower deck.

主权项

1. A grass catching system for a self-propelled tractor comprising:
a grass catching tunnel having an input end to receive grass clippings from a mowing deck, said grass catching tunnel further having an output end connected to a blower housing, said input end being a first hole in said grass catching tunnel, said output end being a second hole in said grass catching tunnel; an impeller mounted in said blower housing, said impeller rotatable about an impeller axis; and a power take off shaft having a rotation axis coincident with said impeller axis, said power take off shaft protruding through a third hole in said grass catching tunnel; said grass catching tunnel connecting to a center discharge mowing deck.