Mower Deck Cleaning System and Method

Abstract

A lawn mower deck cleaning system and method is provided for cleaning mower decks and other interior surfaces that become layered with debris over time. The cleaning system comprises an elongated conduit affixed to the mower deck that provides a means of communicating a solid material from a hopper directly into the mower deck interior. The upper end of the conduit comprises a hopper with upstanding sidewalls and an interior configured to support solid ice material therein. The lower end of the conduit terminates at a junction along the mower deck surface, whereby solid ice moves through the conduit, through the junction and into the mower deck interior to be jettisoned against the walls of the mower deck and ultimately pulverized by the spinning mower blade. The cleaning system is one contemplated for lawn mowers and other reciprocating machinery, as well as both push mowers and ride-on mower decks.

I claim: 
     
         1 ) A mower deck cleaning system, comprising:
 a mower deck having an interior, interior surfaces, an open lower, and a spinning mower blade therein;   a snorkel assembly affixed to said mower deck at a junction;   the snorkel assembly comprising a hopper and an elongated conduit extending between the hopper and said junction;   the hopper comprising a upstanding sidewalls and a lower opening;   the conduit connecting to the lower opening of said hopper, whereby material placed within the hopper readily communicate through the lower opening, through the conduit and into the interior of said mower deck through said junction using a gravity feed.   
     
     
         2 ) The mower deck cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein said material comprises discrete portions of solid water. 
     
     
         3 ) The mower deck cleaning system of  claim 1 , whereby the lower opening, conduit, and the junction include a cross section sized to allow discrete portions of solid water to readily communicate therethrough without substantial interference. 
     
     
         4 ) The mower deck cleaning system of  claim 1 , wherein said snorkel assembly extends above the mower deck. 
     
     
         5 ) A method of cleaning a mower deck interior, comprising the steps of:
 connecting a snorkel assembly to a mower deck at a junction, whereby said snorkel assembly comprises an elongated conduit and the junction comprises an opening through the mower deck to allow solid material to pass therethrough and into an interior of said mower deck;   positioning said conduit in an upstanding position and supporting a hopper at an upper end of the conduit, whereby solid material can be placed within the hopper and the solid material will communicate into the conduit using a gravity feed.   
     
     
         6 ) A method of cleaning a mower deck interior, comprising the steps of:
 introducing discrete portions of solid water into a mower deck interior using a snorkel assembly connected a mower deck at a junction, whereby said snorkel assembly comprises an elongated conduit and the junction comprises an opening through the mower deck that allows said solid water to pass therethrough and into an interior of said mower deck.