Method of mowing meadows, method of composting grass cuttings, a

Details Method of mowing meadows, method of composting grass cuttings, a Method of mowing meadows, method of composting grass cuttings, a

1997-09-23

2000-01-25

Pezzuto, Robert E.

Harvesters

Miscellaneous

56 169, A01D 4300

Patent

active

060166444

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a method of mowing meadows and the like, a method of composting cuttings, a mowing machine and a cuttings processing device.
It is known when mechanically mowing meadows, garden lawns or the like, for the plant vegetation and in particular grass to be cut down and for the cuttings to be left to lie on the ground as fertilizer. On the other hand the cuttings can also be collected up in an additional working operation or collected in a catch device immediately after the cutting operation and thus removed from the lawn. In that case however the cuttings are withheld from the lawn as a valuable fertilizer (for example upon central composting).
In the case of lawn mowers which are conventional at the present time without a grass collecting device, the cuttings or mowings are frequently ejected on to the mown surface in lump form, in dependence on the moisture contained in the cuttings or mowings, so that it is only with very great difficulty that the rotting procedure starts and the cuttings can go rotten and decay. In addition the cuttings which lie in lumps or layers on the mown lawn can impede and retard further growth, as they prevent light having access to the lawn.
EP 0 526 763 A2 proposed developing a known ride-on lawn mower in such a way that connected to the cutting device is a dehydration device for the mowings, in which a mechanical pressure is applied to the mowings to press liquid out of same. The cuttings are ground and compacted by a screw. In that operation its surface is broken open, that is to say increased, so that the rotting or decomposition process (composting) can start more quickly and can take place at an accelerated rate. The cuttings are then spread out in the area around the mower by means of a spreading disk which rotates in a horizontal plane. Beforehand the cuttings can be chopped up or separated from each other for example by means of a chopping unit. The proportion of liquid in the cuttings is pressed out in the compacting operation in the dehydration device and can issue downwardly towards the ground through bores in the proximity of the outlet of the dehydration device.
Composting fresh grass cuttings gives rise to problems in particular by virtue of the poor structure and the high water content of the cuttings. The cuttings which involve a weak structure stick together, and cowpat-shaped compacted zones are formed, in which gas exchange with the outside air is seriously restricted. That results in anaerobic conditions in the compost pits and results in smells which are a nuisance as well as severely delayed microbial conversion. It is therefore recommended that grass cuttings should be composted in combination with other organic materials which are of a stable structure (for example wood cuttings). However, on meadows on which very large amounts of mowings are produced, chopped wood material is frequently not available to the required extent.
Furthermore the emission of concentrated seepage juices which are formed in static pit composting causes problems.
The object of the present invention therefore is that of providing a mowing method which guarantees that the ground is not deprived of valuable nutrients contained in the grass, in the mowing operation, further plant or grass growth is not impeded, and over-fertilization can be obviated.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a composting method in which the decomposition process is optimized, the nutrients necessary for the mown meadow remain there as fertilizer and substances which are harmful to the environment cannot occur in concentrated form.
A third object of the present invention is to provide a mowing machine with which the mowing method and the composting method can be carried into effect, wherein the cuttings are to be of a surface structure which is advantageous in terms of a decomposition process. The invention further seeks to provide that the mowing machine enjoys improved environmental compatibility in terms of power requirement and the production of noise.
Finally a fo

REFERENCES:
patent: 3846963 (1974-11-01), Pedigo
patent: 4109448 (1978-08-01), Kline
patent: 4379385 (1983-04-01), Reinhall
patent: 5435118 (1995-07-01), Cobile

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