Device for height adjusting and swinging a mower deck

• US 8,091,329 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2009
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shivvers Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shivvers Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Schick, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fabian-Kovacs, Arpad
• Application Number:
  US12/383,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20090183480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 56/159, 56/149, 56/158, 56/152, 56/171, 56/172, 563/201, 563/202, 56D/IG.22, 56/156, 56/167, 56/151
• 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: 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;

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

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;

the mechanical advantage device being pivotally joined at a first end to the frame and being selectively movable about a second end into both modes such that the mechanical advantage device is utilized to both adjust cutting height and rotate the deck between cutting and maintenance configurations;

e) said mechanical advantage device in the first mode of operation selectively biasing against the connecting member so as to adjust the mower cutting height; and

f) said mechanical advantage device in the second mode of operation being selectively positioned to engage ground beneath the mower so as to move the deck between the maintenance and cutting configurations when extended and contracted.

2. 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 relative to the frame 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 relative to the frame about a front end of the deck so as to move the deck between the cutting configuration and a maintenance configuration;

the mechanical advantage device being pivotally joined at a first end to the frame and being selectively movable about a second end into both modes such that the mechanical advantage device is utilized to both adjust cutting height and rotate the deck between cutting and maintenance configurations;

e) 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 in the first mode of operation selectively biasing against the connecting member so as to adjust the mower cutting height; and

f) said mechanical advantage device in the second mode of operation being selectively positioned to engage ground beneath the mower so as to move the deck between the maintenance and cutting configurations when extended and contracted.