Cutting unit for a riding mower

• US 6,341,480 B1
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
• Inventors: Edén, Mikael, Dahl, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Will, Thomas B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US09/334,283
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 56/152, 56/159, 56/156, 56/158, 56/162, 56/163, 562/14, 562/08, 56D/IG.9, 56D/IG.22, 724/57, 724/56, 280/481, 280/481.3, 280/43.12, 280/43.23
• US Class Current: 56/15.9
• 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: Y10S 56/22 Underslung yieldable rotary mower

Abstract

A device for a riding mower having a wheel born chassis (11,12) intended to support the operator, an engine (14) for driving at least one wheel (13) and cutting knives (31) arranged in a front mounted cutting unit (17). The cutting unit is placed such that at least a part of the cutting unit is situated close beneath the front part of the chassis. The mower is provided with a first pivot (26) arranged in front of the chassis and about which the cutting unit (17) is turnably arranged. The cutting unit is adapted to move forward whereby a support (55) arranged on the cutting unit engages the ground and the rear part of the cutting unit is then moved forwardly at the same time as the front part of the cutting unit is turned upwards about the first pivot (26) to a maintenance position.

Claims

1. Device for a riding mower comprising a wheel borne chassis (11, 12) supporting an operator, an engine (14) for driving at least one wheel (13) and cutting means (31) arranged at a front mounted cutting unit (17) that is placed such that at least a part of the cutting unit is situated beneath the front part of the chassis, wherein the mower is provided with a first pivot (26) about which the cutting unit (17) is turnably arranged, the mower further comprising means (21, 24, 25, 26) for moving the cutting unit forward with respect to the chassis such that support means (55) arranged on a rear part of the cutting unit engage the ground and the cutting unit can be moved forward to clear the chassis, wherein the rear part of the cutting unit can then be moved forward at the same time that a front part of the cutting unit is turned upwards about said first pivot (26) to a maintenance position;

wherein said moving means comprise a first and a second link arm (21, 24 and 25) which are joined to one another by said first pivot (26), said link arms in a latched position being blocked with respect to one another by means of a latch means (29), wherein the link arms can be released when the latch means is moved from the latched position to an unlatched position making it possible to push the cutting unit forward when acting on one of the (21,24) is turnably arranged on the chassis and is under the link arms.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the first link arm (21,24) is turnably arranged on the chassis and is under the influence of at least one spring (23) such that the front part of the support frame is lifted by the springs.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the second link arm (25) is connected to the cutting unit (17) via a second pivot (35).

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the second pivot (35) is placed at the front part of the cutting unit (17) and the second link arm (25) extends upward and rearward to the first pivot (26).

5. Device according to claim 2, wherein the second link arm (25) is connected to the cutting unit (17) via a second pivot (35).

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the second pivot (35) is placed at the front part of the cutting unit (17) and the second link arm (25) extends upward and rearward to the first pivot (26).