Mower apparatus

• US 20090183480A1
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shivvers Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shivvers Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Schick, Scott A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,091,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/15.200
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2034/645 Lifting means for the cutter of the lawnmower mounted at the front of the vehicle for inspection and maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/662 to the front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/74 Cutting-height adjustment

Abstract

An underbelly mower has a cutting deck suspended beneath a frame by a height adjustment mechanism. The deck is adjusted between different cutting heights by extendable mechanical advantage device such as an electric screw and hydraulic ram operating in cooperation with the height adjustment mechanism. The mechanical advantage device also operably moves the deck between a cutting configuration and a maintenance configuration. A deck quick release and attachment mechanism, including hook members, operably allows a user to quickly and easily disconnect and reconnect a rear of deck to the frame when moving between cutting and maintenance configurations.

Claims

1. A mower comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a mowing deck;

c) a height adjustment mechanism operably allowing a user to vary the cutting height of the deck relative to the frame;

d) a mechanical advantage device operably joined with the height adjustment mechanism in a first operating mode so as to operably move the deck between different cutting heights of the deck in a cutting configuration;

said mechanical advantage device in a second operating mode cooperating between the frame and the deck to operably rotate the deck about a front end of the deck so as to move the deck between the cutting configuration and a maintenance configuration whereby the mechanical advantage device is utilized to both adjust cutting height and rotate the deck between cutting and maintenance configurations.

2. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said mechanical advantage device is an electrically driven extendable screw.

3. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said mechanical advantage device is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said height adjustment mechanism includes a connecting member that operably controls cutting height; and

b) said mechanical advantage device is selectively joinable to said connecting member.

5. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said frame is supported in the front by caster wheels that include a circular wheel mounted in a yoke with an outwardly extending rigid rod;

b) said frame including a forward mounted sleeve for each caster wheel;

c) each rod being longer than a respective sleeve and held therein by a cap joined to a respective rod;

d) each cap having a positioned recess and each sleeve having a positioned abutment such that when a caster wheel is on the ground, the respective cap extends above the respective sleeve abutment and the wheel is free to rotate in a respective sleeve;

but when the wheel is raised above the ground, a respective sleeve slides down along a respective rod and a respective cap recess engages a respective sleeve abutment so as to hold the wheel forward and out of binding engagement with the deck.

6. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) said height adjustment mechanism includes a connecting member that operably coordinates height adjustment of the front and rear of the deck;

said mechanical advantage device having a first mode of operation wherein said device selectively cooperatively joins with said height adjustment mechanism to adjust cutting height; and

b) said mechanical advantage device having a second mode of operation wherein said device is selectively positioned to engage ground beneath the mower so as to move the deck between the maintenance and cutting configurations when extended and contracted.

7. The mower in accordance with claim 1 including wherein:

a) said deck includes rear connections between a rear of said deck and said height adjustment mechanism such that said rear connections are disconnected prior to said deck being moved from the cutting configuration to the maintenance configuration thereof.

8. The mower according to claim 1 wherein:

a) at least the front bell clank and rear bell crank has a paired bell crank on an opposite side of the mower.

9. In a mower having a frame and a mowing deck suspended beneath the frame by a height adjustment mechanism;

the improvement comprising;

a) an extendable mechanical advantage device having a first mode of operation cooperating with the height adjustment mechanism to adjust cutting height and a second mode of operation wherein said device operably moves said deck between cutting and maintenance configurations of the deck by swinging one end of the deck relative to the frame.

10. A method of operating a mower having a mowing deck suspended beneath a frame by a height adjustment mechanism including the steps of:

a) providing an extendable mechanical advantage device;

b) using said device in a first mode to adjust cutting height of said deck; and

c) using said device in a second mode to swing said deck about one end thereof relative to the frame between cutting and maintenance configurations thereof whereby the device provides both height adjustment and movement of the deck between cutting and maintenance configurations.

11. A mower comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a mowing deck;

c) a height adjustment mechanism operably allowing a user to vary the cutting height of the deck relative to the frame;

d) the height adjustment mechanism includes at least one front bell crank and at least one rear bell crank that are pivotally secured to the frame and that are joined by a connecting member;

e) a mechanical advantage device connected to the frame and operably joined with the height adjustment mechanism in a first operating mode so as to operably adjust between different cutting heights of the deck in a cutting configuration;

f) the height adjustment mechanism including an abutment first receiver for selectively receiving an abutment end of said mechanical advantage device so as to move the deck relative to the frame as the mechanical advantage device extends and contracts so as to adjust the deck cutting height;

g) said mechanical advantage device in a second operating mode cooperating between the frame and the deck to rotate the deck about a front end of the deck between the cutting configuration and a maintenance configuration; and

h) a second receiver cooperating with said deck and selectively receiving said device abutment end to move said deck between the cutting and maintenance configurations when the device extends and contracts while the device abutment end is against said second receiver.

12. The mower according to claim 11 wherein:

a) the first receiver is on the connecting member and includes a pair of spaced plates joined at one end and the device being swingable while being maintained between the plates to engage the second receiver;

the plates operably preventing side to side movement of the device when the device engages the first and second receiver and when the device moves between the first and second receiver.

13. A mower comprising:

a) a frame supported by ground engaging wheels and having a main section and a front section pivotally joined to the main section;

b) a front bell crank pivotally attached to the front section;

a rear bell crank pivotally attached to the frame main section and connected to the front bell crank so as to rotate together;

c) a connecting member joining the front bell crank to the rear bell crank;

at least one of the connecting member, the rear bell crank and the front bell crank having at least one side plate joined to a rearward first abutment receiver;

d) an abutment plate pivotally joined at an upper end to the frame and pivotally joined to the deck;

the abutment plate having a second abutment receiver therealong;

e) the front and rear bell cranks each having arms opposite the connecting member attached to the deck by hangers;

f) a support structure mounted on and extending upward from the frame;

g) an extendable mechanical advantage device mounted at one end to said support structure and having a shaft with an abutment end at the opposite end;

the shaft being receivable between the plates;

said abutment end being selectively positionable in said first receiver in a first operating mode so as to adjust the cutting height of the deck upon extension and retraction and in the second receiver in a second operating mode so as to swing the deck relative to the frame at the front end of the deck between cutting and maintenance configurations thereof.