Low energy non-interference unbiased shear process employing a thin dull blade
laterally moving between upper and lower stators. Blades and stators are not biased
or pressed together while cutting, as is done with a pair of scissors. Instead,
the dull cutting blade is guidingly supported by said upper and lower stators,
and the upper and lower stators are sized and formed such that a thickness of a
cutting zone (M) formed therebetween exceeds the thickness of a blade zone (VZ)
formed by the dull cutting blade, by a total controlled gap (Z) of preferably between
1 and 5 mils (0.0254-0.127 mm). The cutting blade is preferably thin in relation
to grass cross section, preferably 10 to 50 mils (0.254 mm-1.27 mm). This arrangement
provides two true shearing sites for grass at upper and lower leading edges of
the blade. Adequate blade swipe frequency is provided, with gentle C-shape blade
profiles yielding self-cleaning blades with lower running friction. Tensile failure
of the grass is avoided. A torque management system performs motor load monitoring
and modulation of blade position. To reject obstructions and clean the blade, the
blade can be made to reverse direction, jitter, or reciprocate. Instead of attempting
to slice or slam through obstructions using a high energy, high torque prime mover,
a low energy low torque prime mover is utilized in conjunction with an intelligent
reversing, obstruction clearing, and blade cleaning system that saves energy, reduces
noise, frees and rejects obstructions, avoids high power surges and prevents blade
damage or operator injury.
