OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums The History Forum Component Histories VILLAGER MOWERS - Twin Cooling - c1956

Hello ODK History Lovers
Rotary lawnmowers are required to work very hard when compared to an equivalent
engine powering a real reel mower [Freudian slip]. It is surprising that - on
the cusp of vertical shaft shrouded fan cooling becoming popular - Villager
should patent a most unique system for engine cooling.

This system knowingly made an improvement to the Champion system of flywheel
fan cooling and induction. It included a clever, addition system of blade
holder fan design to direct the convection currents of heat to below the
mower base.

This system was patented by the directors of Villager in their lodgement of
6 March, 1957, a calendar year after its introduction. Of course it was less
efficient than fan shrouded systems - but it gave Villager a marketing advantage
over Champion Mowers, and gave it direct competition with the new Victa models,
with their fan shrouds. It was a clever move in the late 1950s.

This was an advanced mower - with much to offer - for 1956: single point height
adjuster, swing-back blades, choice of colours ... and, of course, the 'exclusive'
'Twin-Cooling'. Brilliant!



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART TWO - Introducing Patent 25964 of 1957
A reading of the patent shows that Villager had read and understood the
Champion patent (linked below). Villager increased the cooling power by
incorporating blade holder design in the equation.

If flywheel fins could circulate air across the ribbed cylinder cooling fins,
then that convection could be improved by the use of a fanned blade holder,
acting through an orifice in the mower base.

The 'Twin-Cooling' referred to the radiation of heat from ribbed cylinders,
and the convection currents produced by the rubber fins in the flywheel
'cake tin' cover and the blade holder. As to how efficient it was - over
close shrouded engines - I have no idea - but it would have been less
efficient. Maybe this was all about marketing ...



The patent, lodged in March of 1957, is fairly east reading. But a few
things are worthy of note. The first, as an aside, is that Villager was
an early propagator of swing-back blades.

The second point is that the rubber vanes in the 'cake tin' flywheel cover
are sparse. The third point is that Figure 5 in the illustration depicts
metalware that purports to direct hot air through aperture [17] that is,
through the chassis base.

For me, the real interest is in the blade holder. This is an early example
of the emerging sophistication of air flow in blade holder designs.

The Twin Cooling system had four components [see Photo Record].



TO BE CONTINUED ...

PART THREE - Patent 25964 of 1957

Many thanks to Paul_C for these images from his collection.
They show the four components of Villager's Twin Cooling:

- the flywheel 'cake tin' that accommodated the rubber vanes;
- the under cylinder ducting
- the base venting
- the blade holder

Yes, the rubber vanes have disappeared after half a century ...

VILLAGER COMPANY

VILLAGER STANDARD MODEL

VILLAGER TEMPEST MODEL

VILLAGER HEIGHT ADJUSTER PATENT


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