Grass/lawn debris handling system

摘要

A grass/lawn debris handling system for a lawn mower having a side grass discharge duct includes a rigid hopper mounted on the side of the mower proximate tha grass discharge duct. A substantially vertical chute mounted on the discharge duct communicates at its lower end with the duct and at its upper end with the front end of the hopper. Relative movement of the chute and the hopper as well as the selective disconnection and reconnection thereof is made possible by an oversized opening in the hopper for receiving the chute upper end and flexible seal means in the opening for sealing the space between the hopper and chute end. The hopper is supported on a lift arm pivoted at the rear of the mower. A cylinder provides selective pivotal movement of the lift arm to rotate the hopper into an elevated dumping position. A hinged hopper door of air-permeable material opens automatically when the hopper is elevated to its dumping position to permit discharge of the hopper contents.