The invention relates generally to a mowing apparatus including a mowing device supported on and retained by one or more support tracks during a normal mowing operation. In particular, the invention relates to an automated mowing apparatus for an automated mowing operation. The invention also relates a grass maintenance system.
Green roofs have become a growing trend of environmentalism. For example, green roofs can include a layer of vegetation covering building rooftops to provide insulation to the building, absorb rainwater, and create natural habitat. Some cities have approved by-laws or regulations mandating green roofs on residential and industrial buildings.
One problem in maintaining green roofs is mowing the grass on the building roofs. For example, when green roofs are applied to residential houses, the grass on the house roofs is not easily accessible. Consequently, mowing the grass on the house roofs or maintaining the green roofs can be a challenge, especially to the house owners.
The embodiments below describe a mowing apparatus that addresses the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, the mowing apparatus described below allows for automated grass mowing operation.
The embodiments described herein provide a mowing apparatus including a mowing device supported on and retained by one or more support tracks during a normal mowing operation. In particular, the embodiments relate to an automated mowing apparatus for an automated mowing operation. The embodiments described herein also provide a track module for constructing a support track used in a mowing apparatus. The embodiments described herein further provide a grass maintenance system including various grass maintenance devices, which can be interchangeably used on a support track.
According to the first aspect of the invention, a mowing apparatus is provided and comprises at least one support track adapted to be mounted to an area to be maintained and a mowing device adapted to be supported on the support track. The mowing device of the mowing apparatus can comprise a power supply for moving the mowing device along the support track and for operating the mowing device to carry out a mowing operation. The support track of the mowing apparatus is configured to guide the mowing device to move along the support track during a normal mowing operation.
The mowing device of the mowing apparatus can comprise a mowing unit and a rolling unit, which is rotatably supported by the mowing unit and can be driven by the power supply to drive the mowing unit along the support track. In one example, the rolling unit can comprise a driving unit rotatably supported on the support track. In another example, the rolling unit can comprise a guiding unit rotatably supported on the support track and a driving unit supported on the area to be maintained. In a further example, the rolling unit of the mowing device can comprise a longitudinal moving portion movably supported on the at least one support track and a transverse moving portion movably supported by the longitudinal moving portion of the rolling unit. The transverse moving portion of the rolling unit is configured to support the mowing unit to move along the longitudinal moving portion of the rolling unit.
The support track of the mowing apparatus can comprise an elongated channel wall for preventing the mowing device from being separated from the support track in a lateral direction of the support track. In one example, the elongated channel wall on the support track can have a C-shaped cross section for receiving at least part of the mowing device. In another example, the support track comprises a pair of support tracks arranged to be parallel to each other. The elongated channel walls on the pair of support tracks can be arranged to open toward each other to thereby retain the mowing device on the support track.
In a preferred embodiment, the support track of the mowing apparatus can comprise a plurality of first track modules, each of which can comprise a base portion, sidewall sections connected with the base portion, and a support section formed on each of the sidewall sections. The support sections of each first track module are capable of joining with the respective support sections of another first track module to form at least part of a supporting surface of the support track. In one example, the first track modules can form a linear portion of the support track.
Additionally or alternatively, the support track comprises one or more second track modules. In one example, the second track module can comprise a base portion, a sidewall section connected with the base portion of the second track module, and a support section formed on the sidewall section of the second track module. The support section of the second track module is capable of joining with one of the support sections of a first track module to form at least part of the supporting surface of the support track. The second track modules can form a curved portion of the support track.
According to another aspect of the invention, a track module is provided and comprises a base portion formed with one or more water openings, at least one sidewall section connected with the base portion, and a channel wall formed on the sidewall section and forming a channel section for receiving at least one of a driving wheel and a guiding wheel of a grass maintenance device. The channel section of the channel wall extends in a longitudinal direction to allow at least one of a driving wheel and a guiding wheel of a grass maintenance device to move inside the channel section along the longitudinal direction of the channel section.
In one example, the sidewall section of the track module can comprise a pair of sidewall sections. In another example, the channel walls on the pair of sidewall sections have a C-shaped cross section and open toward each other. In a further example, the channel section of the track module is curved along the longitudinal direction of the channel section.
The track module can further comprise complementary interlocking structures for connecting with a similarly formed track module.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a grass maintenance system is provided and comprises at least one support track adapted to be mounted to an area to be maintained. The grass maintenance system also comprises one or more grass maintenance devices adapted to be supported on the support track. Each of the grass maintenance devices comprises a power supply for moving the grass maintenance device along the support track and for operating the grass maintenance device to carry out a grass maintenance operation. The support track is configured to guide the grass maintenance devices to move along the support track during a normal grass maintenance operation.
The grass maintenance devices of the grass maintenance system can each comprise a grass maintenance unit and a rolling unit rotatable supported by the grass maintenance unit and driving the grass maintenance unit along the support track. The grass maintenance devices can have different grass maintenance units, such as a mowing device, an aerating device, a fertilizing device, a rolling device, and a sweeping device. In another example, the different grass maintenance devices can be formed to have a same driving unit to allow the grass maintenance devices to be used interchangeably with the support track.
The grass maintenance system can further comprises a storage station positioned at least one of an origination location and an end location of the at least one support track. The storage station can comprise a storage housing for enclosing one end portion of the at least one support track. The storage housing in the grass maintenance system is capable of protecting the grass maintenance devices from unauthorized removal from the support track when the grass maintenance devices are locked inside the storage housing.
The following description is set forth in connection with the attached drawing figures, which are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawing figures:
a through 2f illustrate various embodiments of a mowing device of the mowing apparatus;
g is a side view of the mowing device shown in
a through 3g illustrate various embodiments of a support track of the mowing apparatus for supporting the various mowing devices;
a through 5n illustrate various embodiments of track modules configured to form a support track in a mowing apparatus;
a through 7d show various alternative grass maintenance devices in the grass maintenance system.
Various embodiments of the mowing apparatus and the grass maintenance system are described below in connection with the drawing figures. In the following description of different embodiments, similar structures or components are designated with the same numeral reference and redundant description is omitted.
The various units and components forming the mowing apparatus 1 will be described in greater detail below.
a through 2g show various embodiments of the mowing device 10 in the mowing apparatus 1. The mowing device 10 can include a mowing unit 16 configured in various forms to carry out a mowing operation. The mowing unit 16 of the mowing device 10 can be supported on a rolling unit 18. The rolling unit 18 can operate to move along the support tracks 12 during the mowing operation and carry the mowing unit 16 to move along the support tracks 12. In one example, a power supply 14 can be employed to operate the mowing unit 16 to cut or trim grass. Additionally or alternatively, the power supply 14 can operate to drive the rolling unit 18 along the support tracks 12 to automate the mowing operation of the mowing device 10.
The mowing unit 16 of the mowing device 10 can have a cutting member 18 (see
In alternative examples shown in
The rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 can be configured in various forms to support the mowing unit 16 and/or drive the same along the support tracks 12 during a normal mowing operation. For example, the rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 can include a base carrier 20 (
The driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 can be arranged in various forms. In the examples shown in
In the examples shown in
In another example shown in
In a further example shown in
In the example shown in
In a further example, of the mowing device 10 can be formed to comprise one or more track assemblies 32 mounted to the mowing unit 16 as is shown in
As
The various rolling units 18 described in the above embodiments and examples can be configured in various forms to improve motion transmission during a normal mowing operation. In one example, the driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 can be configured to increase traction between the driving wheels 22 and the support tracks 12 to prevent skidding during the mowing operation. For example, the driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 can be formed as rubber wheels. In another example, the driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 can be gear wheels 53 to cooperate with one or more corresponding toothed support tracks 12, as is best shown in
Additional units and components can be provided in the mowing device 10 to control its operation or to protect the mowing device 10. In one example, sensors or other electronic components can be employed in the mowing device 10 to optimize its automated mowing operation. In another example as shown in
The support track 12 in the mowing apparatus 1 can be configured in various forms to support the mowing device 10 during a normal mowing operation. For example, the support track 12 can be formed to have an elongated shape, which can define at least part of the travel path of the mowing device 10 as will be described in great details below. In the example of
The support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 can include a base portion 40 configured in various forms to be mounted to an area to be maintained by the mowing device 10. For example, the base portion 40 of the support track 12 can be formed to have an extended footing 42 to be mounted to a fixture, such as a building rooftop 2. In one example shown in
The support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 can be formed with a supporting surface 44 supported on the base portion 40 of the support track 12. The supporting surface 44 of the support track 12 can support the mowing device 10 in an elevated position from the extended footing 42 of the support track 12. In one example, the supporting surface 44 can be formed in various forms to support the rolling unit 18. For example, the driving wheels 22, the balancing wheels 26, the guiding wheels 30, and/or the track assemblies 34 of the rolling unit 18 can be supported by and move on the supporting surface 44. In the example shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 can be formed to have one or more retaining portions 46, 48 for retaining the mowing device 10 on the supporting surface 44 of the support track 12 during a normal mowing operation. For example, the retaining portions 46, 48 of the support track 12 can be elongated wall sections extending along the supporting surface 44 of the support track 12. As is shown in
In one example, the support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 can be formed to have an elongated channel 50 extending along the support track 12 for receiving at least part of the rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10. For example, the elongated channel 50 in the support track 12 can be formed to support the driving wheels 22, the balancing wheels 26, the guiding wheels 30, and/or the track assemblies 34 of the rolling unit 18. In one example, the elongated channel 50 in the support track 12 can be at least partially defined by the elongated supporting surface 44. In addition, one or more of the retaining portions 46, 48 of the support track 12 can define part of the elongated channel 50 in the support track 12.
In the example shown in
When a pair of such support tracks 12 are used and arranged parallel to each other, such parallel support tracks 12 can retain the mowing device 10 in a predetermined lateral position in relation to the longitudinal direction of the parallel support tracks 12. For example, the two support tracks 12 can be arranged so that their elongated channels 50 face toward each other. After the mowing device 10 is assembled with the parallel support tracks 12, the driving wheels 22, the balancing wheels 26, the guiding wheels 30, and/or the track assemblies 34 of the rolling unit 18 on the mowing device 10 can be retained inside the elongated channels 50 in the support tracks 12. The mowing device 10 is thereby restricted from lateral and upward movement while being allowed to move along the elongated channels 50 in the longitudinal direction of the supporting tracks 12, as will be described in further detail below.
The support tracks 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 can be configured in various other forms to achieve the above-mentioned purpose of supporting and guiding the mowing device 10 during a normal mowing operation, while preventing the mowing device 10 from being separated from the support tracks 12.
Additionally or alternatively, the support track 12 can be formed to include additional traction mechanism to assist the mowing device 10 in moving along the support track 12 during a normal mowing operation. For example, part of the elongated channel 50 can be formed in various forms to enhance the traction between the rolling unit 18 and the support track 12. In one example, the supporting surface 44 can be textured to increase friction between the supporting surface 44 and the driving wheels 22, balancing wheels 26, guiding wheels 30, and/or track assemblies 34 of the rolling unit 18 in the mowing device 10. In an alternative example shown
As one skilled in the art will appreciate, other forms of traction mechanisms can be employed to enhance the traction between the mowing device 10 and the support track 12. For example, the underside of the top retaining portion 48 can be textured. In the example shown in
Various types of power supply 14 can be used to operate the mowing device 10 during a normal mowing operation. For example, the power supply 14 can be employed to carry out a mowing operation and/or drive the mowing device 10 to move along the support track 12 during a normal mowing operation. As is discussed above, the mowing unit 16 of the mowing device 10 can be gas-powered or steam-powered. In another example, the power supply 14 can include solar panels to utilize the solar power. For example, solar panels can be installed on the housing 38 of the mowing device 10 to generate electrical power, which can be applied to operate the mowing unit 16 and/or to drive the rolling unit 18 along the support track 12 during a normal mowing operation.
Additionally or alternatively, the mowing device 10 can be electrically powered. In one example, the mowing device 10 can include one or more batteries, such as rechargeable batteries, which supply power to operate the mowing unit 16 and/or to drive the rolling unit 18 along the support track 12. As will be described in details below, such rechargeable batteries can be charged as needed at a storage unit of the mowing apparatus 1, using the electrical power from a standard power outlet.
In an alternative example, the standard power outlet can be used to supply power directly to the mowing unit 16 and/or the rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 through an electrical cable connected between the mowing device 10 and the standard power outlet or by inductive power transfer. In one example, the electrical cable is formed to be automatically retractable when the mowing device 10 is returning to the standard power outlet to avoid the electrical cable from slacking. In another example, the support track 12 can be employed to transmit electrical power from a standard power outlet to the mowing device 10. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, various other types of power supplies and power transmission can be used to operate the mowing device 10 and achieve the same purpose.
The one or more support tracks 12 in the mowing apparatus 1 can be configured and arranged to form various patterns on an area to be maintained, so as to allow the mowing device 10 to move along the support tracks 12 and through part or substantially the entire area to be maintained. Various embodiments of forming the track patterns will be described in great detail below.
In one embodiment, the support tracks 12 can be mounted on an area to be maintained, such as a building rooftop 2 where green roof is formed. The supporting tracts 12 can be arranged in various track patterns. For example, the support tracks 12 can be arranged to be parallel to the roof ridge 4 of a house, as is shown in
In another embodiment, one or more support tracks 12 can be arranged in a continuous pattern 12′ on the area to be maintained (e.g., a building rooftop 2) to guide the mowing device 10. Such a track pattern 12′ can be determined according to the building roof structure. For example, the track pattern 12′ can extend from one side of the building rooftop 2, around any ventilation duct, and toward an opposite side of the building rooftop 2. In one example shown in
In one example shown in
In a preferred embodiment, the support tracks 12 and/or the track pattern 12′ can be formed by one or more types of track modules 60, which can be interconnected and assembled to one another to cover the area to be maintained by the mowing device 10.
a and 5b show a first embodiment of the track module 60. The track module 60 can have a base section 62 configured in various forms to support the track module 60 on the area to be maintained. In the example shown in
The base portion 62 of the track module 60 is adjoined to two sidewall sections 64, which extend upwardly from the base portion 62 in the finished track module 60. In the example shown in
The sidewall sections 64 of the track module 60 can be configured in various forms to support and retain a mowing device 10 on the track module 60. On each sidewall section 64 of the track module 60, a support section 66 is formed for supporting the rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 during a normal mowing operation. A top retaining section 68 is formed along the top edge of each sidewall 64 to retain the rolling unit 18 on the support section 66. The sidewall sections 64 and the corresponding support sections 66 and top retaining sections 68 of the track module 60 form channel sections 70, along which the rolling unit 18 can be supported and move. For example, the driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 can be supported in the channel sections 70. For purpose of simplicity, the sidewall section 64, a corresponding support section 66, and a corresponding top retaining section 68 defining the channel section 70 of the track module 60 is referred to as a channel wall 71. Such channel wall 71 can have various cross-sectional shapes. In the examples of
As
In the example of
In a further example shown in
Additional structures, components, and mechanisms can be provided to the track module 60 improve its performance. In one example shown in
The track modules 60 can be formed by various methods. For example, a molding process can be employed to form the track module 60. In one example, the track module 60 can be formed from a module blank 61 shown in
To assemble the track module 60 from the module blank 61, the sidewall sections 64 of the module blank 61 are bent toward each other and positioned substantially perpendicular to the base section 62 of the track module 60 forming a U-shape. In the examples shown in
For example, the supporting structures, components, and mechanisms can be in the form of one or more longitudinal intentions 65i located between the base section 62 and an adjoining sidewall section 64. In the example shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the supporting structures, components, and mechanisms can be in the form of interlocking members. For example, the sidewall section 64 of the track module 60 can be formed with one or more ribs 65m (only one rib 65m is shown in
Multiple track modules 60 can be assembled to one another to form parallel support tracks 12 of the mowing apparatus 1. For example, the track modules 60 can be aligned with one another so that their support sections 66 can form the elongated supporting surface 44 of the support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1. The various adjoining structures, components, and mechanisms can secure the interconnection between adjoining track modules 60.
For example, the track modules 60 can be formed with complimentary structures for interconnecting with adjoining track modules 60 in an assembled support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1. In the example shown in
In one example, the complimentary transverse edges 67f, 67m on the sidewall sections 64 of the adjoining track modules 60 can at least partly restrict relative movement between the adjoining track modules 60 in the transverse direction. In another example, the complimentary transverse edges 67f, 67m on the base sections 62 of the adjoining track modules 60 can at least partly restrict relative movement between the adjoining track modules 60 in the direction that the adjoining track modules 60 are stacked. Additionally or alternatively, the transverse edges 67m, 67f on the track modules 60 can be formed to have a thinned profile comparing to the base section 62 and/or the sidewall sections 64 of the track module 60. Such thinned transverse edges 67m, 67f can overlap with complimentary thinned transverse edges 67m, 67f of an adjoining track module 60 when multiple track modules 60 are assembled together to form the support track 12. As one skilled in the art will appreciate from
In another example shown in
When assembling the track modules 60 to form the parallel support tracks 12 of the mowing apparatus 1, track modules 60 of the same type are chosen. For example, multiple track modules 60 shown in
The above described various complimentary structures 67f, 67m, 67f′, 67m′ on the track modules 60 can be selectively combined to interconnect adjoining track modules 60 in the assembled support track 12. In addition, various locking or retaining structures, components, and mechanisms can be used to retain the adjoining track modules 60 in position in the assembled support track 12, as will be discussed in further details below.
In the assembled support track 12, the adjoining track modules 60 are joined in an end-to-end fashion. For example, the corresponding support sections 66 of the track modules 60 are joined to form the respective elongated supporting surfaces 44 of the assembled support tracks 12. In one example, the assembled support track 12 can contain two parallel elongated supporting surfaces 44. Additionally or alternatively, the corresponding channel sections 70 of the adjoining track modules 60 are communicated with one another to form the respective elongated channels 50 of the support track 12. The elongated channels 50 of the support track 12 face toward each other for receiving part of the rolling unit 18 in the mowing device 10.
As
In the example shown in
The semicircular shaped track module 60c in the track pattern 12′ can be similarly formed with complimentary structures 67m, 67f for interconnecting with adjoining track modules 60 in the assembled support tracks 12. For example, complimentary thinned transverse edges 67m, 67f can be formed at the straight edges on the base section 62 of the semicircular shaped track module 60c. When the semicircular shaped track module 60c is connected to the ends of the adjacent support tracks 12, the straight edges on the base section 62c of the semicircular shaped track module 60c interconnect with the corresponding complimentary structures 67f, 67m on the base sections 62 of the adjacent support tracks 12. The sidewall section 64c of the semicircular shaped track module 60c join with the sidewall sections 64 of the adjacent track modules 60.
In the track pattern 12′ shown in
Additional accessory structures, components, and mechanisms can be incorporated in the assembled support tracks 12. For example, one or more mounting members 75 can be provided and mounted to the support tracks 12 for holding an irrigation water pipe used to water the grass in the area to be serviced. In the example shown in
The track pattern 12′ can be formed to cover the area to be serviced. In the example shown in
The assembled support tracks 12 and the semicircular shaped track modules 60c in the track pattern 12′ can be configured in various forms to be mounted to a fixture, such as a building rooftop 2. In one example, one or more waterproof layers can be used together with the track pattern 12′, as is understood by one skilled in the art, to prevent excess water from leak through the building rooftop 2 and into the interior of the building.
After the track pattern 12′ is mounted on the fixture, grass and earth can be arranged on the base portions 62 of the track modules 60, 60c. The thickness of the grass and earth in each of the track modules 60, 60c is determined so that the support surface 44 of the support track 12 and the support sections 66 of the track modules 60c are clear of any grass or earth. For example, the top surface of the grass and earth is arranged to be below the support surface 44 of the support track 12 and the support sections 66 of the track modules 60c.
During the mowing operation, the mowing device 10 moves in a mowing direction as guided by the support track 12 in the track pattern 12′. For example, the driving wheels 22 on the rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 are retained in the respective elongated channels 50 of the one or more support tracks 12. When the driving wheels 22 of the rolling unit 18 are rotated, such as by the power supply 14, the mowing device 10 travels along the support track 12 in the track pattern 12′.
h is a partial enlarged view of the track pattern 12′ in
When the mowing device 10 enters into the semicircular shaped track module 60c from an adjacent upstream support track 12, one of the track assemblies 34 (see the top track assembly 34t in
The above turning operation is repeated when the mowing device 10 comes to the next turning portion of the track pattern 12′. In the examples shown in
i through 5l show another example of the mowing apparatus 1 comprising a mowing device 10 operating on parallel support tracks 12 formed by the track modules 60. In this example, the track module 60 is similar to that described above except that the channel wall 71 is a curved C shape, thereby defining a channel section 70 having a substantially circular or oval shaped cross section. The mowing device 10 shown in
During a normal mowing operation, the driving wheels 22 in the rolling unit 18 are rotated (e.g., by the power supply 14) to drive the mowing unit 16 to move in a mowing direction. As
m and 5n show another example of the above described track module 60. In this example, the support section 66′ of the track module 60′ is formed to extend in a longitudinal direction between the sidewall sections 64 of the track module 60′. In one example, the support section 66′ of the track module 60′ is located between the two sidewall sections 64 at a center portion in the transverse direction of the track module 60′. In this example, the sidewall sections 64 of the track module 60′ can be free of a support section 66 and a retaining portion 68. In another example, the support section 66′ is elevated from the base section 62 of the track module 60′ by a support wall 69 supported on the base section 62. In the examples shown in
The track modules 60′ shown in
During a normal operation of the mowing apparatus 1 including a support track 12 formed by the track modules 60′, the mowing unit 16 is movably supported on such support track 12. As is shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the mowing devices 10 each can have an additional wheel 76 configured to support or retain the respective mowing unit 16 on the support track 12 during the normal mowing operation. As is best shown in
In an alternative example, the additional wheels 76 can be rotatably supported on respective shafts 78 of the mowing devices 10 to support the mowing unit 16. During a normal mowing operation, such additional wheel 76 can be biased against the undersurface of the support sections 66′, thereby retaining the mowing device 10 on the support track 12 of the mowing apparatus 1 and prevent the mowing device 10 from being separated from the support track 12. In another example, the additional wheels 76 can be offset from the one or more common driving wheels 22 in a longitudinal direction of the support track 12 to balance or otherwise support the mowing units 16. In a further example, the additional wheels 76 can operate to guide the mowing units 16 to move along a mowing direction. The additional wheels 76 of the mowing devices 10 can be in various other forms and/or achieve the same or additional functions.
As
The mowing apparatus 1 can further comprise a storage station 80, as shown in
The storage station 80 can be positioned at various locations in the area to be maintained. For example, the housing 82 of the storage station 80 can be mounted at either the origination location 6 or the end location 8 of the support tracks 12, as is shown in
After maintenance, the mowing device 10 can be reassembled with the support track 12 for further mowing operation. For example, the mowing device 10 placed inside the housing 82 of the storage station 80 to allow the driving wheels 22, balancing wheels 26, or guide wheels 30 to enter into the elongated channel 50 through its open end portion. Additionally or alternatively, a different operation device, such as a fertilizing device 112, a rolling device 114, a sweeping device 116, and/or other operation devices, can be assembled with the support track 12 for a different type of grass maintenance operation, as is further discussed below. After the mowing device 10 is mounted on the support track 12, the housing 82 of the storage station 80 can be closed and locked to safely keep the mowing device 10 inside the housing 82.
In a preferred embodiment, the mowing apparatus 1 is formed so that the mowing device 10 can be removed and separated from the support track 12 only at the storage station 80. When the housing 82 of the storage station 80 is sealed or locked with the mowing device 10 inside the housing 82, the mowing device 10 is secured from unauthorized or unintended removal from the mowing apparatus 1.
The storage station 80 of the mowing apparatus 1 can be equipped with various supplies for maintaining the mowing apparatus 1. In one example, a power outlet can be formed inside the housing 82 of the storage station 80 to supply power to the mowing device 10 through a power cable. For example, the storage station 80 can be equipped with a standard power outlet for charging batteries used in the mowing device 10 to power the same during a normal mowing operation. Various other maintenance equipment or tools can also be stored in the housing 82 of the storage station 80 for the user's convenience.
The mowing device 10 of the mowing apparatus 1′ can comprise a mowing unit 16 movably supported on the support tracks 12 through a rolling unit 18. The rolling unit 18 of the mowing device 10 can comprise a longitudinal moving portion 18a movably supported on the pair of parallel support tracks 12. In the example shown in
Additionally or alternatively, the rolling unit 18 in the mowing device 10 of the mowing apparatus 1′ can comprise a transverse moving portion 18b movably supported by the longitudinal moving portion 18a. For example, the transverse moving portion 18b supports the mowing unit 16 to move transversely between the support tracks 12 in a second direction B during a normal mowing operation. In the example of
The transverse moving portion 18b of the rolling unit 18 can be in various forms to support the mowing unit 16 of the mowing device 10. In one example, the transverse moving portion 18b can be in the form of a movable cable, such as those used in a gondola life to transport a cable car. In another example, the transverse moving portion 18b can be formed to contain driving wheels rotatably supported on a supporting track structure formed on the longitudinal moving portion 18a of the rolling unit 18. For example, the driving wheel of the transverse moving portion 18b and the supporting track structure of the longitudinal moving portion 18a can be formed similarly to the driving wheels 22 and the support tracks 12 described above, allowing the transverse moving portion 18b to move along a supporting track structure formed in the longitudinal moving portion 18a. Various other transporting mechanisms can be employed to configure the transverse moving portion 18b of the rolling unit 18 to carry out the movement of the mowing unit 16.
During the operation of the mowing apparatus 1′, the longitudinal and transverse moving portions 18a, 18b of the rolling unit 18 move in respective longitudinal and transverse directions allowing the mowing unit 16 to carry out the mowing operation to an area between the parallel support tracks 12. For example, the transverse moving portion 18b of the rolling unit 18 carries the mowing unit 16 to move from one support track 12 to the opposite support track 12 to perform the mowing operation in a transverse direction. In one example, the mowing unit 16 is carried by the transverse moving portion 18b to move in the second direction B. The longitudinal moving portion 18a of the rolling unit 18 can remain stationary while the mowing unit 16 moves from one support track 12 to the opposite support track 12 to carry out the mowing operation in or opposite the second direction B.
When the mowing unit 16 reaches the opposite support track 12, the longitudinal moving portion 18a moves in a longitudinal direction and toward the grass area to be mowed. For example, the longitudinal moving portion 18a of the rolling unit 18 is subject to an intermittent movement in the longitudinal direction. In the example shown in
The above mowing operation is repeated until the entire area between the support tracks 12 is serviced.
Although the various embodiments herein are described in connection with a mowing apparatus 1 including a mowing device 10, the invention is not limited to such a mowing apparatus 1. In one embodiment, various grass maintenance devices are formed to be interchangeable with a mowing device 10 described above. For example, an aerating device 110, a fertilizing device 112, a rolling device 114, a sweeping device 116, and/or other operation device can be formed each containing an operation unit 118a-118d configured for a predetermined grass maintenance operation, as is understood by one skilled in the art. In the example shown in
The aerating device 110, fertilizing device 112, rolling device 114, sweeping device 116, and/or other operation device can be formed to have a rolling unit 18 as described above. Accordingly, such aerating device 110, fertilizing device 112, rolling device 114, sweeping device 116, and other operation devices can be supported on the support track 12 when carrying out the intended grass maintenance operation. Additionally or alternatively, the aerating device 110, the fertilizing device 112, the rolling device 114, the sweeping device 116, and/or other operation devices are interchangeable and can be used together with the above discussed support track 12 to carry out the intended grass maintenance.
In addition, the aerating device 110, the fertilizing device 112, the rolling device 114, the sweeping device 116, and/or other operation devices can be formed with various electronic control circuits and components to facilitate automation of the grass maintenance operation. For example, electronic control circuit can be provided for remote control of the operation direction, speed, and/or frequency of one or more of the operation devices.
The combination of the mowing device 10, the support tracks, 12, the aerating device 110, the fertilizing device 112, the rolling device 114, the sweeping device 116, and other operation devices can constitute a grass maintenance system. Depending on the grass maintenance need, the user can choose to use one of the operation devices 10, 11, 112, 114, 116 describe above and/or other operating devices (such as pruning device, a weeding device, a dead-heading device, etc.). The user can then assemble the chosen operation device on the support track 12 in a similar manner described above in relation to the mowing device 10.
The chosen operation device can be operated through the power supply 14 to move along the support track 12 and/or to carry out the predetermined grass maintenance operation. In a preferred embodiment, the various grass maintenance operations can be remotely controlled by a user. After the operation is completed, the chosen operation device can be housed in the storage station 80 or replaced by another operation device for additional grass maintenance operation.
Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.
This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/414,717 filed Nov. 17, 2010.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61414717 | Nov 2010 | US |