Lawn mower blade clutch and brake

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by the blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum, an engine drivingly connected to the drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in the blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to the drive shaft, a clutch shoe connected to the cutter blade for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with the clutch drum, a spring urging the clutch shoe into the position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to the clutch shoe, and a brake member movable between a first position wherein the brake member is spaced from the brake surface, and a second position wherein the brake member engages the brake surface to brake rotation of the cutter blade and to displace the clutch shoe from the position of engagement against the action of the spring.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum .Iadd.located in radially outward relation from said drive shaft, .Iaddend.an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, a clutch shoe connected to said cutter blade for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, biasing means urging said clutch shoe into said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch shoe, .[.and.]. a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said cutter blade and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means.Iadd., and means biasing said brake member to said second position and normally overpowering said clutch shoe biasing means..Iaddend. .[.2. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 and further including means biasing said brake member to said second 
     
     
        position..]. 3. A lawn mower in accordance with claim .[.2.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.and further including manual means for overpowering said brake member biasing means so as to displace said brake member to said first 
     
     
        position. 4. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cutter 
     
     
        blade is supported for rotation from said drive shaft. 5. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clutch shoe is connected to said 
     
     
        cutter blade for pivotal movement relative to said cutter blade. 6. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 5 wherein said cutter blade carries thereon an abutment and wherein said .Iadd.clutch shoe .Iaddend.biasing means 
     
     
        comprises a spring acting between said abutment and said clutch shoe. 7. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clutch shoe is connected to said cutter blade for translatory movement relative thereto. 
     
     
         . A lawn mower in accordance with claim 7 and further including a second clutch shoe located in diametrically opposite relation to said first mentioned clutch shoe and connected to said cutter blade for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, and wherein said .Iadd.clutch shoe .Iaddend.biasing means also biases said second clutch shoe to a position of engagement with said clutch drum and comprises a pair of springs acting, at one end, against said first mentioned clutch shoe and acting, at the other end, 
     
     
        against said second clutch shoe. 9. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 1 wherein said clutch drum is located radially outwardly of said clutch shoe and extends in generally parallel relation to the axis of drive shaft rotation and wherein said brake surface is located radially outwardly of 
     
     
        and in generally parallel relation to said clutch drum. 10. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 9 wherein said brake surface constitutes one leg of an L shaped member including a second leg extending radially inwardly and fastened to said clutch shoe. .[.11. A combined brake and clutch mechanism comprising a drive member mounted for rotation and including thereon a clutch drum, a driven member carried for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive member, a clutch shoe connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, biasing means for urging said clutch shoe toward said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch shoe, and a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages brake surface to brake rotation of said driven member and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means..]. .[.12. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 11 and further including means biasing said brake member to said second position..]. .[.13. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 12 and further including manual means for overpowering said brake member biasing means so as to displace said brake member to said first position..]. .[.14. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 11 wherein said driven member is supported for rotation from said drive member..]. .[.15. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein said clutch shoe is connected to said driven member for pivotal movement relative to said driven member..]. .[.16. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 15 wherein said driven member carries thereon an abutment and wherein said biasing means comprises a spring acting between said abutment and said clutch shoe..]. .[.17. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 11 wherein said clutch shoe is connected said driven member for translatory movement relative thereto..]. .[.18. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 17 and further including a second clutch shoe located in diametrically opposite relation to said first mentioned clutch shoe and connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, and wherein said biasing means also biases said second clutch shoe to a position of engagement with said clutch drum and comprises and pair of springs acting, at one end, against said first mentioned clutch shoe and 
     
     
        acting, at the other end, against said second clutch shoe..]. 19. A combined brake and clutch mechanism .[.in accordance with claim 11 wherein.]. .Iadd.comprising a drive member mounted for rotation and including thereon a clutch drum, a driven member carried for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive member, a clutch shoe connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum,.Iaddend.said clutch drum .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.located radially outwardly of said clutch shoe and .[.extends.]. .Iadd.extending .Iaddend.in generally parallel relation to the axis of drive shaft rotation .[.and wherein.]..Iadd., .Iaddend.said brake surface .[.is.]. .Iadd.being .Iaddend.located radially outwardly of and in generally parallel relation to said clutch drum.Iadd., and a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said driven member and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing 
     
     
        means..Iaddend. 20. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 19 wherein said brake surface constitutes one leg of an L shaped member including a second leg extending radially inwardly and 
     
     
        fastened to said clutch shoe. .Iadd.21.  A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum located in a given radial plane, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried by said cutter blade for common rotation therewith and movable relative thereto in said plane into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, spring means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and a brake band for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum and to stop rotation of said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said brake band said spring being generally disposed in and acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.22. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 21 wherein said brake band for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum and to stop rotation of said cutter blade provides for overcoming the bias of said spring means to effect a 
     
     
        disengagement from said drum and may be selectively actuated.ep .Iadd.23. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 21 wherein said spring means are disposed adjacent to said clutch shoes to bias said shoes into engagement with said drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 21 wherein said brake band extends around said clutch shoes and has one end thereof secured to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, means to move said movable anchor to contract said brake band into contact with said shoes to brake said cutter blade, said brake band being self-energizing upon initial contact with said clutch shoes when the direction of rotation for said clutch shoes in relation to said brake band is from said movable anchor toward said fixed anchor..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried on said cutter blade and being movable relative thereto into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum and to stop rotation of said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said clutch shoes being provided with radially spaced, generally circumferential inner and outer surfaces, said inner surface of each shoe being engageable with said drum and said outer surface being engageable by said means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.     A lawn mower in accordance with claim 25 wherein said inner surface of each shoe for engaging the drum is generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members in the outer drum engaging position of the shoes and the outer surface of each shoe for engagement by the means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum is generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members in the inner position of the shoes..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum located in a given radial plane, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried on said cutter blade, said clutch shoes being connected to said cutter blade and being movable radially in said plane relative to said cutter blade into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and brake means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said selectively engageable brake means for effecting disengagement of said shoes from said drum being 
     
     
        generally disposed in and acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.28. A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum located in a given radial plane, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried on said cutter blade, said clutch shoes being connected to said cutter blade and being movable radially in said given plane relative to said cutter blade into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said clutch shoes and said drum and to stop said cutter blade comprising a brake band generally disposed in said given 
     
     
        plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.29.  A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located on said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried on said cutter blade, said clutch shoes being connected to said cutter blade and being movable radially relative to said cutter blade into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and a brake band radially aligned with said clutch drum and selectively engageable with said clutch shoe to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said brake band extending around said clutch shoes and having one end thereof secured relative to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, said brake band being extended in one position of said movable anchor to avoid contact with said clutch shoes and thus provide for engagement between said shoes and said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade and being contracted in a second position of said movable anchor to move said clutch shoes inwardly against the force of said biasing means to thus effect disengagement between said shoes and 
     
     
        said drum and to stop said cutter blade..Iaddend. .Iadd.30.  A lawn mower in accordance with claim 30 wherein said clutch shoes have a generally arcuate recess that opens in the direction of said drum and receives the circumferential flange of said drum, said recesses having a radially outward facing surface for drivingly engaging said drum flange and which are symmetrical with respect to the axes of said drive shaft and said cutter blade to generally match the curvature of said drum flange when said shoes are moved outwardly into driving engagement with said drum flange, said clutch shoes further having an outer arcuate surface engageable by said brake band, said outer arcuate surface of said clutch shoes being generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of said drive shaft and said cutter blade when said clutch shoes are moved to their inward position by said contracted brake band..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 29 wherein said movable anchor for said brake band is carried by a pivotally mounted lever movable between a brake band extending position and a brake band contracting position..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 31 wherein said pivotally mounted lever carrying said movable anchor for said brake band is biased by spring means toward the brake band contracting position, and control means connected to said lever for selectively moving and holding said lever against the bias of said spring means in the brake band extending position, the biasing force of said spring means serving to return said lever to the brake band contracting position when said control means 
     
     
        connected to said lever is selectively released..Iaddend. .Iadd.33.  A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, clutch shoes carried on said cutter blade and being movable relative thereto into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive shaft and said cutter blade, and means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum and to stop rotation of said cutter blade without interrupting the rotation of said drive shaft, said clutch shoes being provided with a pair of radially spaced, generally circumferential surfaces, one of said pair of surfaces being engageable with said drum and the other of said pair of surfaces being engageable by said means for effecting movement of said 
     
     
        shoes out of engagement with said drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.34.  In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member and being movable relative thereto in said given plane into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, spring means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch the drive and driven members together, and a brake band for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum and to stop rotation of the driven member without interrupting the rotation of the drive member, said brake band and said spring means for effecting movement of the shoes into engagement with the drum being generally disposed in and acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.35. The structure as set forth in claim 35 wherein the brake band for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum and to stop rotation of the driven member provides for overcoming the bias of the spring means to effect a disengagement from the drum and may be selectively actuated..Iaddend. .Iadd.36. The structure as set forth in claim 34 wherein said spring means are disposed adjacent to the clutch 
     
     
        shoes to bias the shoes into engagement with the drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The structure as set forth in claim 34 wherein the brake band extends around the clutch shoes and has one end thereof secured to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, means to move the movable anchor to contract the brake band into contact with the shoes to brake the driven member, said brake band being self-energizing upon initial contact with the clutch shoes when the direction of rotation for the clutch shoes in relation to the brake band is from the movable anchor toward the fixed anchor..Iaddend. .Iadd.38. In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member, clutch shoes carried on said driven member and being movable relative thereto into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch the drive and driven members together, and means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum and to stop rotation of the driven member without interrupting the rotation of the drive member, said clutch shoes being provided with radially spaced, generally circumferential inner and outer surfaces, the inner surface of each shoe being engageable with the drum and the outer surface being engageable by the means for effecting movement of said shoes out of 
     
     
        engagement with the drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.39.  The structure as set forth in claim 38 wherein the inner surface of each shoe for engaging the drum is generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members in the outer drum engaging position of the shoes and the outer surface of each shoe for engagement by the means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum is generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members in the inner position of the shoes..Iaddend. .Iadd.40. In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member, said clutch shoes being connected to the driven member and being movable radially in said given plane relative to the driven member into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch the drive and driven members together, and brake means selectively engageable with the clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and the drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said biasing means for effecting movement of the shoes into engagement with the drum and said selectively engageable brake means for effecting disengagement of the shoes from the drum being generally disposed in and acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.41. The structure as set forth in claim 40 wherein the means biasing said shoes into engagement with the drum comprises spring means which exerts its 
     
     
        biasing force outwardly on the clutch shoes..Iaddend. .Iadd.42.  In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member, said clutch shoes being connected to the driven member and being movable radially in said given plane relative to the driven member into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch together the drive and driven members, and means selectively engageable with the clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and the drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said means selectively engageable with the clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between the clutch shoes and the drum and to stop the driven member comprises a brake band generally disposed in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.43. In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member, clutch shoes carried on said driven member, said clutch shoes being connected to the driven member and being movable radially relative to the driven member into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch together the drive and driven members, and a brake band selectively engageable with the clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and the drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said brake band radially aligned with said clutch drum and extending around the clutch shoes and having one end thereof secured relative to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, said brake band being extended in one position of the movable anchor to avoid contact with the clutch shoes and thus provide for engagement between said shoes and the drum to drivingly clutch together the drive and driven members and being contracted in a second position of the movable anchor to move the clutch shoes inwardly against the force of the biasing means to thus effect disengagement between said shoes and the drum and to stop said driven member..Iaddend. .Iadd.44. The structure as set forth in claim 45 wherein the clutch shoes have a generally arcuate recess that opens in the direction of the drum and receives the circumferential flange of the drum, said recesses having a radially outward facing surface for drivingly engaging the drum flange and which are symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members to generally match the curvature of the drum flange when the shoes are moved outwardly into driving engagement with the drum flange, said clutch shoes further having an outer arcuate surface engageable by the brake band, said outer arcuate surface of said clutch shoes being generally symmetrical with respect to the axes of the drive and driven members when the clutch shoes are moved to their inward position by the contracted brake band..Iaddend. .Iadd.45. The structure as set forth in claim 45 wherein the movable anchor for the brake band is carried by a pivotally mounted lever movable between the brake band extending position and a brake band contracting position..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd.  .  The structure as set forth in claim 45 wherein the pivotally mounted lever carrying the movable anchor for the brake band is biased by spring means toward the brake band contracting position, and control means connected to the lever for selectively moving and holding the lever against the bias of the spring means in the brake band extending position, the biasing force of the spring means serving to return the lever to the brake band contracting position when the control means connected to the lever is selectively released..Iaddend. .Iadd.47. In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member, clutch shoes carried on said driven member and being movable relative thereto into and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch the drive and driven members together, and means for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with the drum and to stop rotation of the driven member without interrupting the rotation of the drive member, said clutch shoes being provided with a pair of radially spaced, generally circumferential surfaces, one of said pair of surfaces being engageable with the drum and the other of said pair of surfaces being engageable by the means for effecting movement of said shoes out of 
     
     
        engagement with the drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.48.  A clutch mechanism compressing a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable relative thereto in said given plane into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and a brake band for effecting movement of said shoes out of engagement with said drum and to stop rotation of said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said brake band and means for effecting movement of said shoes into engagement with said drum being generally disposed in and acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable radially in said given plane relative to said driven member into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and brake means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, and said selectively engageable brake means for effecting disengagement of said shoes from said drum being generally disposed in and 
     
     
        acting in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.50.  A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, clutch shoes carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable radially relative to said driven member into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said means selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said clutch shoes and said drum and to stop said driven member comprising a brake band generally disposed in said given plane..Iaddend. .Iadd.51. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member, clutch shoes carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable radially relative to said driven member into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoes into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and a brake band radially aligned with said clutch drum and selectively engageable with said clutch shoes to effect a disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said brake band extending around said clutch shoes and having one end thereof secured relative to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, said brake band being extended in one position of said movable anchor to avoid contact with said clutch shoes and thus provide for engagement between said shoes and said drum to drivingly clutch said drive and driven members together and being contracted in a second position of said movable anchor to move said clutch shoes inwardly against the force of said biasing means to thus effect disengagement between said shoes and said drum and to stop said driven 
     
     
        member..Iaddend. .Iadd.52.  In a clutch mechanism for disposition between rotatable drive and driven members, a drum carried on said drive member, a clutch shoe carried on said driven member and movable relative thereto and out of clutching engagement with the drum, means for effecting movement of said shoe into engagement with the drum to drivingly clutch the drive and driven members together, and means for effecting movement of said shoe out of engagement with the drum and to stop rotation of the driven member without interrupting the rotation of the drive member, said clutch shoe being provided with a pair of radially spaced, generally circumferential surfaces, one of said pair of surfaces being engageable with the drum and the other of said pair of surfaces being engageable by the means for effecting movement of said shoe out of engagement with the drum..Iaddend. .Iadd.53. A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member and located in a given radial plane, a clutch shoe carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable in said given plane relative to said driven member into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means for effecting movement of said shoe into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and means for disengaging said shoe and said drum and for stopping rotation of said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said means for disengaging said clutch shoe and said drum and for stopping said driven member comprising a brake generally disposed in said given plane..Iaddend. 
     
     
        .Iadd. 4.  A clutch mechanism comprising a rotatable drive member, a driven member, a drum carried on said drive member, a clutch shoe carried on said driven member for common rotation therewith and movable relative to said driven member into and out of clutching engagement with said drum, means biasing said shoe into engagement with said drum to drivingly clutch together said drive and driven members, and a brake band radially aligned with said clutch drum and selectively engageable with said clutch shoe to effect a disengagement between said shoe and said drum and to stop said driven member without interrupting the rotation of said drive member, said brake band extending around said clutch shoe and having one end thereof secured relative to a fixed anchor and the opposite end thereof secured to a movable anchor, said brake band being extended in one position of said movable anchor to avoid contact with said clutch shoe and thus provide for engagement between said shoe and said drum to drivingly clutch said drive and driven members together and being contracted in a second position of said movable anchor to move said clutch shoe inwardly against the force of said biasing means to thus effect disengagement between said shoe and said 
     
     
        drum and to stop said driven member..Iaddend. .Iadd.55.  A combined brake and clutch mechanism comprising a drive member mounted for rotation and including thereon a clutch drum, a driven member carried for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive member, a clutch shoe connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, said clutch drum being located radially outwardly of said clutch shoe and extending in generally parallel relation to the axis of drive shaft rotation, biasing means for urging said clutch shoe toward said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch shoe, said brake surface being located radially outwardly of and in generally parallel relation to said clutch drum, a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said driven member and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means, and means biasing said brake member to said second position and normally overpowering said clutch shoe biasing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.56. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 55 wherein said brake surface constitutes one leg of an L shaped member including a second leg extending 
     
     
        radially inwardly and fastened to said clutch shoe..Iaddend. .Iadd.57.  A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch drum, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, a clutch shoe connected to said cutter blade for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch, said clutch drum being located radially outwardly of said clutch shoe and extending in generally parallel relation to the axis of drive shaft rotation, biasing means for urging said clutch shoe toward said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch shoe, said brake surface being located radially outwardly of and in generally parallel relation to said clutch drum, and a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said cutter blade and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 57 wherein said brake surface constitutes one leg of an L shaped member including a second leg extending radially inwardly and fastened to said 
     
     
        clutch shoe..Iaddend. .Iadd.59.  A lawn mower comprising a blade housing supported for travel over the ground, a drive shaft mounted for rotation by said blade housing and including thereon a clutch input located in radially outward relation from said drive shaft, an engine drivingly connected to said drive shaft for rotation thereof, a cutter blade located in said blade housing and mounted for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive shaft, a clutch output connected to said cutter blade for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch input, biasing means urging said clutch output into said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch output, a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said cutter blade and to displace said clutch output from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means, and means biasing said brake member to said second position and normally overpowering said clutch output biasing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.60. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 59 further including manual means for overpowering said brake member biasing means so as to displace said brake member to said first position..Iaddend. .Iadd.61. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 59 wherein said cutter blade is supported for rotation from said drive 
     
     
        shaft..Iaddend. .Iadd.62.  A combined brake and clutch mechanism comprising a drive member mounted for rotation and including thereon a clutch drum located in radial outward relation from said drive member, a driven member carried for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive member, a clutch shoe connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said clutch drum, biasing means for urging said clutch shoe toward said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said clutch shoe, a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said driven member and to displace said clutch shoe from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means, and means biasing said brake member to said second position and normally overpowering said brake shoe biasing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.63. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 62 and further including manual means for overpowering said brake member biasing means so as to displace said brake member to said first position..Iaddend. .Iadd.64. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 63 wherein said driven member is supported for 
     
     
        rotation from said drive member..Iaddend. .Iadd.65.  A combined brake and clutch mechanism comprising a drive member mounted for rotation and including thereon a first clutch member, a driven member carried for rotation coaxially with and relative to said drive member, a second clutch member connected to said driven member for common rotation therewith and for movement relative to a position of engagement with said first clutch member, biasing means for urging said second clutch member toward said position of engagement, a brake surface fixed to said second clutch member, a brake member movable between a first position wherein said brake member is spaced from said brake surface, and a second position wherein said brake member engages said brake surface to brake rotation of said driven member and to displace said second clutch member from said position of engagement against the action of said biasing means, and means biasing said brake member to said second position and normally overpowering said brake shoe biasing means..Iaddend. .Iadd.66. A combined brake and clutch mechanism in accordance with claim 65 and further including manual means for overpowering said brake member biasing means so as to displace said brake member to said first position..Iaddend. .Iadd.67. A lawn mower in accordance with claim 65 wherein said driven member is supported for rotation from said drive member..Iaddend.