Claims
- 1. A lawnmower, comprising:
a deck enclosing a blade; an internal combustion engine attached to said deck, said engine including a crankshaft having an output end drivingly connected to said blade; a shroud having at least one air inlet formed therein, said shroud otherwise substantially encasing said engine; and an annular muffler located about said output end of said crankshaft intermediate said deck and said blade.
- 2. The lawnmower of claim 1, wherein said shroud further comprises a pair of side portions and a top portion.
- 3. The lawnmower of claim 2, wherein said air inlets are located in said top portion.
- 4. The lawnmower of claim 2, wherein said air inlets are located in one of said side portions.
- 5. The lawnmower of claim 1, wherein said muffler further comprises a base and a cover, said base having inner and outer walls, and a wall located intermediate said inner and outer walls.
- 6. The lawnmower of claim 5, wherein said intermediate wall is serpentine-shaped.
- 7. The lawnmower of claim 5, wherein said outer wall and said intermediate wall have a plurality of apertures formed therein.
- 8. The lawnmower of claim 7, further comprising an exhaust passage extending between said engine and said muffler, exhaust gas from said engine entering said muffler and passing through said intermediate wall apertures, the exhaust gas exiting said muffler through said outer wall apertures.
- 9. The lawnmower of claim 8, wherein cooling air enters said shroud through said air inlets, the cooling air flowing around said engine and through said deck, whereby the exhaust gas mixes with the cooling air and the overall engine temperature is reduced.
- 10. The lawnmower of claim 1, wherein said engine further comprises an engine mount, said engine mount having at least one stud extending therefrom, said stud received in said deck.
- 11. The lawnmower of claim 10, wherein said muffler includes at least one mounting aperture therein, said mounting apertures aligning with said stud, a fastener extending through said mounting aperture and engaging said stud, whereby said muffler and said engine are secured to said deck.
- 12. The lawnmower of claim 1, wherein said engine further comprises an engine mount, said muffler secured to said engine mount via fasteners, said engine and muffler assembly being mounted to said deck.
- 13. A lawnmower, comprising:
a deck enclosing a blade; an internal combustion engine attached to said deck, said engine including a crankshaft having a first end having a flywheel mounted thereon and a second end drivingly connected to said blade; a shroud having at least one air inlet formed therein, said shroud otherwise substantially encasing said engine; and an annular muffler located about said second end of said crankshaft intermediate said deck and said blade, whereby cooling air is drawn by said flywheel into said shroud through said air inlets, said shroud directing the cooling air through said deck to said muffler, exhaust gas from said engine flowing through said muffler, the cooling air and the exhaust gas mixing to lower the temperature of the engine.
- 14. The lawnmower of claim 13, wherein said muffler is annular and located about the output end of the crankshaft, said muffler further comprising a base and a cover, said base having inner and outer walls, and a serpentine-shaped wall located intermediate said inner and outer walls.
- 15. The lawnmower of claim 14, wherein said outer wall and said intermediate wall have a plurality of apertures formed therein.
- 16. The lawnmower of claim 15, further comprising an exhaust passage extending between said engine and said muffler, exhaust gas from said engine entering said muffler and passing through said intermediate wall apertures, the exhaust gas exiting said muffler through said outer wall apertures.
- 17. The lawnmower of claim 13, wherein said shroud further comprises a pair of side portions and a top portion, whereby said engine is completely encased by said shroud.
- 18. The lawnmower of claim 17, wherein said air inlets are located in said top portion.
- 19. The lawnmower of claim 17, wherein said air inlets are located in one of said side portions.
- 20. In combination:
a lawnmower, comprising:
a deck enclosing a blade; and an internal combustion engine attached to said deck, said engine including a crankshaft having an output end drivingly connected to said blade; and a shroud, comprising:
at least one air inlet, said shroud otherwise substantially encasing said engine; and a muffler, comprising:
an annular housing in fluid communication with said engine, said muffler located about said output end of said crankshaft and disposed intermediate said deck and said blade.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under Title 35, U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/422,732, entitled ENCLOSED LAWNMOWER ENGINE WITH UNDERDECK MUFFLER, filed on Oct. 31, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60422732 |
Oct 2002 |
US |