Importance

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Abstract

A rotary mower having a drive assembly which provides automatic de-clutching and prompt braking of the mower blade to a stop when the device is left unattended, while the engine keeps running. A blade carrier is mounted on an anti-friction bearing at the lower end of the drive shaft. A driving hub is secured to the drive shaft at a level above the anti-friction bearing. A shiftable shell of upwardly facing bowl shape surrounds the drive hub and defines a clutch space. Mounted on the hub in the clutch space is a stack of clutch discs made up of a set of driving discs keyed to the hub and an interposed set of driven discs keyed to the interior of the shell. The blade holder is keyed to the lower surface of the shell. A set of springs on the blade holder urges the shell upwardly in a direction to apply clutching pressure to the discs for driving of the blade. The shell has an annular lip or flange around its upper edge having a friction surface thereon. A registering annular brake plate presses downwardly against the friction surface for braking rotation and for shifting the shell downwardly to release clutching pressure so that when the device is unattended the blade automatically comes to a stop. A control member arranged for gripping by the operator during active operation holds the brake disc overpoweringly in an upraised position so that the blade is driven only as long as the control member is gripped.

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First Claim