Harvesters – Motorized harvester – Including motorized vehicle causing transit of harvester
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-05
2001-03-27
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
Including motorized vehicle causing transit of harvester
C056S017100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205754
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improvements in the field of lawn mowers with multiple articulating cutting blades, and particularly to a manner of support for the cutting blades to optimize the position of the blades for cutting relative to the ground.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In many applications it is desirable to have a mower which can cut a relatively wide path of grass in order to handle larger lawns and fields. The cost and time of mowing can be substantially reduced by using a mower with a wide cutting path. However, the wider the cutting path is, the more likely it is that a particular path of the mower will encounter irregularities in the terrain. The cutting blades of the mower must be able to articulate over these irregularities, or they will scalp the high areas and miss grass in the low areas.
The articulation of multiple cutting blades poses several issues for a mowing apparatus. The relative movement of the blades should be controlled to provide an even cutting of the grass. At the same time, the manner of articulation requires means for providing movement of the blades while also powering the blades in the cutting action. There are numerous proposals for solutions to problems associated with this articulation, including what kind of articulation to permit, how to implement that articulation, and how to maintain delivery of power to the cutting blades during articulation.
It is also important to optimize the position of the blades for cutting. For example, with a relatively large mowing apparatus the blades may not be maintained at an appropriate height relative the grass. As the mower encounters hills or valleys, the height of the blades must ride over the surface to minimize or avoid having grass which is cut too long or too short. If a single point of support, e.g., a single wheel, is used, the placement of the support may improperly ride over the ground. On the other hand, when multiple support points are used, the grass will still not be appropriately cut if the support wheels do not maintain contact with the ground. There has therefore remained a continuing need for a wheel support system that provides proper positioning of the blades for cutting, even when hills or valleys are encountered.
A further consequence of multiple decks having multiple ground support wheels is the difficulty associated with changing the cutting height. This becomes more important as the number of gauge wheels increases to maintain cutting accuracy. Present systems having multiple decks require each wheel assembly to be adjusted, usually by removing or shifting one or more spacers on the wheel support structure. This can be a time consuming and laborious process. What is needed is a manner of adjusting the cutting height of all or many of the gauge wheels at one time, from one location by the operator of the mower, and preferrably without having to leave the operating seat.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly describing one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for supporting a cutting blade on a mower which facilitates adjustment of the height of the cutting blade relative to the grass to be mowed. The apparatus includes a rotatable shaft secured to the cutting blade; a support member having first and second generally opposing sides and holding the shaft and blade for rotation between the opposing sides, the support member being mounted at the first side to the mower to pivot about a horizontal axis; a rocker arm having first and second ends; a ground support wheel rotatably mounted at each of the first and second ends of the rocker arm; and, linkage coupling the second end of the support member to the rocker arm. The linkage is adjustable to vary the position of the support member relative to the rocker arm to vary the height of the cutting blade from ground. The linkage may be adjustable either directly at each rocker arm or may remotely adjustable from the driver's seat of the mowing vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for supporting a cutting blade on a mower.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for supporting a cutting blade on a mower that improves the position of the cutting blade relative to the grass to be cut.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cutting blade support which is readily adjustable to different heights.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved mower including a support for the cutting blades having the foregoing features and advantages. Further advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description of the preferred embodiment, which follows.
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Kováacs ÁArpáad Fáabiáan
Pezzuto Robert E.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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