Mower deck placed in maintenance and varying height positions
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
the height adjustment mechanism including a pair of front bell cranks and a pair of rear bell cranks pivotally secured to said frame;
at least one front bell crank and one rear bell crank being joined by a connecting member;
d) a mechanical advantage device 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;
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.e) said connecting member including an abutment first receiver for selectively receiving an abutment end of said mechanical advantage device so as to move said connecting member as the device extends and contracts so as to adjust the deck cutting height; and
f) a second receiver cooperating with said deck and selectively receiving said mechanical advantage device abutment end to move said deck between said cutting and maintenance configurations when said mechanical advantage device extends and contracts while said mechanical advantage device abutment end is against said second receiver.
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Accused Products
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.
71 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A mower comprising:
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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;
the height adjustment mechanism including a pair of front bell cranks and a pair of rear bell cranks pivotally secured to said frame;
at least one front bell crank and one rear bell crank being joined by a connecting member;d) a mechanical advantage device 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;
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.e) said connecting member including an abutment first receiver for selectively receiving an abutment end of said mechanical advantage device so as to move said connecting member as the device extends and contracts so as to adjust the deck cutting height; and f) a second receiver cooperating with said deck and selectively receiving said mechanical advantage device abutment end to move said deck between said cutting and maintenance configurations when said mechanical advantage device extends and contracts while said mechanical advantage device abutment end is against said second receiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A mower comprising:
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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 pair of front laterally spaced bell cranks pivotally attached to the front section;
a pair of rear laterally spaced bell cranks pivotally attached to the frame main section and connected to each other and the front bell cranks so as to rotate together;c) a connecting member joining at least one of said front bell cranks to at least one of said rear bell cranks;
said connecting member including at least one side plate joined to a rearward abutment receiver;d) an abutment plate swivelably joined at an upper end to said frame and pivotally joined to said deck;
said abutment plate having a second abutment receiver therealong located beneath said connecting member;e) said front and rear bell cranks each having arms opposite said connecting member attached to said deck by hangers; f) a support structure mounted on and extending upward from said 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;
said shaft being receivable between said plates;
said abutment end being selectively positionable in said first receiver in a first operating mode so as to adjust the cutting height of said deck upon extension and retraction and in said 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.
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11. A mower comprising:
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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) said height adjustment mechanism includes front and rear bell cranks joined by a connecting member and pivotally mounted on said frame;
said rear bell crank having an outwardly extending engagement arm;e) a mechanical advantage device 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;
said mechanical advantage 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; andf) said mechanical advantage device including an extendable shaft with a stop located therealong and being pivotally joined near a bottom thereof to a rear of said deck;
said device being pivotally mounted on said frame;
said shaft having a first range of extension motion wherein said stop engages said engagement arm and adjust cutting height;
said shaft having a second range of extension motion wherein said stop disengages from said arm and said device moves said deck between said cutting and maintenance configuration thereof.
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Specification