Harvesters – Motorized harvester – With selective control of drive means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-09-04
Shackelford, H. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
With selective control of drive means
C056S011600, C474S109000, C474S088000, C474S117000, C474S134000, C474S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282873
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention pertains to belt drive systems and, more specifically, to a belt tensioning mechanism used on a two belt drive system for a riding lawn mower.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the art of lawn mowers to use a two belt drive system. Typically, a first belt provides power from a PTO (power take-off) pulley to a first pulley on a double stacked pulley. As is commonly known in the art, the PTO pulley is driven by the engine of the riding lawn mower. A second belt is used for providing power from the second pulley of the double stacked pulley to the spindle pulleys of the mower deck. The spindle pulleys are used to rotate cutting blades as is commonly known in the art.
Often when a two belt drive system is used the engine is positioned toward the front of the mower, the mower deck is positioned toward the middle of the mower and, the double stacked pulley is positioned toward the back of the mower. This is done so that as the double stacked pulley is moved in one direction, the two belts are simultaneously tensioned. Similarly, movement of the double stacked pulley in the opposite direction simultaneously de-tensions the two belts. De-tensioning of the belts places the belt system into an inoperative condition which is required when, for example, it is necessary to remove one of the belts and/or install a new one.
It is many times desirable however, to position the mower deck toward the front of the lawn mower and position the engine toward the rear of the mower. This necessitates positioning the double stacked pulley between the mower deck and the engine of the mower. This creates difficulties with the two belt drive system because as the double stacked pulley is moved one belt tends to be tightened while the other is simultaneously loosened. Therefore, it is difficult to place the belt system into an in operative condition.
What is needed for such a two belt drive system, is a mechanism and method for tensioning the first and second belts from an operative condition to a inoperative condition using a single tension arm.
Another problem known in the art of riding lawn mowers is related to the fact that typically as the mower deck is adjusted for height (thereby adjusting the distance between the cutting blades and the lawn being cut) the mower deck is also moved along the length of the mower frame. Such a mower deck height adjustment tends to negatively affect the belts of a two belt drive system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,566, Hohnl attempts to minimize the misalignment of the belts that typically occurs when the mower deck is height adjusted. What is still needed, however, is a mechanism and a method for balancing the tension on the two belts of a two belt system as the mower deck is height adjusted.
The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for balancing the belt tensions of a two belt drive system as the mower deck is height adjusted. The present invention also provides methods and apparatuses for simultaneously tensioning the first and second belts from an inoperative condition to an operative condition. The difficulties inherit in the art, are therefore overcome in a way which is simple and efficient, while providing better and more advantageous results.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a belt tension mechanism is provided for tensioning an associated belt drive system on an associated vehicle having a power means. The associated belt drive system includes a double stacked pulley, a first belt for providing power from the power means to the double stacked pulley and a second belt for providing power from the double stacked pulley to an associated implement. The belt tension mechanism includes a first tensioning means for tensioning the first belt, second tensioning means for tensioning the second belt, and, a tension arm. The tension arm can be used to selectively simultaneously tension the first and second belts from an inoperative condition to an operative condition. Likewise, the tension arm can be used to selectively simultaneously de-tension the first and second belts from an operative condition to an inoperative condition.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for tensioning an associated belt drive system on an associated vehicle having a power means. The associated belt drive system includes a double stacked pulley, a first belt for providing power from the power means to the double stacked pulley and a second belt for providing power from the double stacked pulley to an associated implement. The method comprises the steps of moving a tension arm, pivoting a double pulley arm in a first direction, pivoting an idler pulley arm in a second direction and, tensioning the first and second belts from an inoperative condition to an operative condition.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a belt tension balancing mechanism for use with an associated belt drive system on an associated vehicle having a power means. The associated belt drive system includes a double stacked pulley, a first belt for providing power from the power means to the double stacked pulley and a second belt for providing power from the double stacked pulley to an associated implement. The belt tension balancing mechanism includes first tensioning means for tensioning the first belt, second tensioning means for tensioning the second belt and, balancing means for balancing the tension on the first and second belts as the associated implement is position adjusted with respect to the associated vehicle.
According to still another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of balancing belt tensions in an associated belt drive system using a belt tension balancing mechanism. The associated belt drive system is for use on an associated vehicle having a power means, and includes a double stacked pulley, a first belt for providing power from the power means to the double stacked pulley and a second belt for providing power from the double stacked pulley to an associated implement. The belt tension balancing mechanism includes a double pulley arm having first and second ends and a midsection pivotably connected to the associated implement. The first end of the double pulley arm is pivotably connected to the double stacked pulley. The method comprises the steps of moving the associated implement, increasing a biasing force on the second end of the double pulley arm and, balancing torque about the midsection of the double pulley arm.
One advantage of the present invention is that both belts of a two belt drive system can simultaneously be tensioned from an inoperative condition to an operative condition or be de-tensioned from an operative condition to an inoperative condition. This is accomplished using a single tension arm.
Another advantage of the present invention is that belt tensions of a two belt drive system can be balanced as the mower deck is height adjusted. This reduces belt wear.
Still other benefits and advantageous of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
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patent: 4328659 (1982-05-01), Seyerle
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patent: 4743220 (1988-05-01), Berrios
patent: 4798564 (1989-01-01), Benedict
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patent: 5012632 (1991-05-01), Kuhn et al.
patent: 5146735 (1992-09-01), McDonner
patent: 5177942 (1993-01-01), Hager et al.
patent: 5246403 (1993-09-01), Uphaus
patent: 5361566 (1994-11-01), Hohnl
patent: 63-125849 (1988-05-01), None
Bennett Timothy D.
Emerson Roger D.
Emerson & Skeriotis
MTD Products Inc
Shackelford H.
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