Mower convertible into a tracked implement and vice versa
First Claim
1. A mower that converts into a tracked implement, which comprises:
- (a) a drive unit, which comprises;
(i) a drive frame;
(ii) a prime mover carried on the drive frame;
(iii) an operator'"'"'s station on the drive frame for carrying an operator;
(iv) a pair of ground engaging drive wheels on the drive frame with one drive wheel located on each side of the drive frame for driven rotation about a common rotational drive axis; and
(v) a control system on the drive frame adjacent the operator'"'"'s station for operating the drive wheels;
(b) a mower unit, which comprises;
(i) a mower frame;
(ii) at least one ground engaging support wheel carried on the mower frame; and
(iii) a grass cutting unit carried on the mower frame;
(c) a tracked unit, which comprises;
(i) a track frame;
(ii) a plurality of rotatable support idlers carried on the track frame with at least one support idler located on each side of the track frame;
(iii) a device carried on the track frame to perform a ground or turf grooming or working operation other than grass cutting; and
(iv) a pair of endless ground engaging tracks with one track located adjacent each side of the track frame, wherein each track is entrained around and connects a rotatable drive member carried on the drive frame and located on the drive axis on one side of the drive frame to a support idler on a corresponding side of the track frame; and
(d) wherein either the mower unit or the tracked unit are alternatively usable with the drive unit to provide, respectively, either a mower for cutting grass or a tracked implement for performing the non-grass cutting ground or turf grooming or working operation.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a mower and a tracked implement that convert from one to the other by coupling a mower unit or a tracked unit to a common drive unit. The drive unit is thus used in both products to provide cost savings in the purchase of the equipment. In the tracked unit, a cab for enclosing the operator'"'"'s station is part of the tracked unit and gets mounted to the drive unit when the tracked unit is coupled to the drive unit. A pair of idlers rotate on pivot axes that are fixed relative to a pivotal idler support that carries the idlers. The pivot point for the idler support is chosen to prevent track elongation when the tracked unit climbs obstructions such as a curb. In the mower unit, a relatively heavy cutting deck is used and spring biased weight transfer arms transfer some of the deck weight to the mower frame.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A mower that converts into a tracked implement, which comprises:
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(a) a drive unit, which comprises;
(i) a drive frame;
(ii) a prime mover carried on the drive frame;
(iii) an operator'"'"'s station on the drive frame for carrying an operator;
(iv) a pair of ground engaging drive wheels on the drive frame with one drive wheel located on each side of the drive frame for driven rotation about a common rotational drive axis; and
(v) a control system on the drive frame adjacent the operator'"'"'s station for operating the drive wheels;
(b) a mower unit, which comprises;
(i) a mower frame;
(ii) at least one ground engaging support wheel carried on the mower frame; and
(iii) a grass cutting unit carried on the mower frame;
(c) a tracked unit, which comprises;
(i) a track frame;
(ii) a plurality of rotatable support idlers carried on the track frame with at least one support idler located on each side of the track frame;
(iii) a device carried on the track frame to perform a ground or turf grooming or working operation other than grass cutting; and
(iv) a pair of endless ground engaging tracks with one track located adjacent each side of the track frame, wherein each track is entrained around and connects a rotatable drive member carried on the drive frame and located on the drive axis on one side of the drive frame to a support idler on a corresponding side of the track frame; and
(d) wherein either the mower unit or the tracked unit are alternatively usable with the drive unit to provide, respectively, either a mower for cutting grass or a tracked implement for performing the non-grass cutting ground or turf grooming or working operation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification