Abstract: A lawn mower for use both as walking operator type and riding type, having a grass cutting unit, an engine located rearwardly thereof, a driver's seat located above the engine, a floor step located over the grass cutting unit to be movable between an open position and a closed position, and right and left rear wheels driven by the engine. The rear wheels have respective stepless transmissions operable independently of each other to transmit engine drive in different speeds to the rear wheels. These transmissions are operable by shift levers located on opposite sides of the driver's seat when the lawn mower is used as the riding type, and by control levers extending rearwardly of the driver's seat when the lawn mower is used as the walking operator type.

Abstract: A lawn mower controllable by a walking operator and having two control levers each for controlling a brake and a propelling clutch. Each control lever is pivotable to a "run" position to engage the clutch and render the brake inoperative, a "neutral" position to disengage the clutch and render the brake inoperative, and a "stop" position to disengage the clutch and operate the brake. Each control lever is constantly urged to the "stop" position by a spring. The lawn mower further includes a locking lever for maintaining the control levers in the respective "neutral" positions and "stop" positions. The lawn mower is driven by an engine to engage in a grass cutting operation with the control levers maintained in the "run" positions by the urging springs. The operator may push the mower to engage in a grass cutting operation with the control levers maintained in the "neutral" positions by the locking lever.

Abstract: A safety system for a lawn mower having an engine, a propelling transmission line for transmitting drive from the engine to drive wheels, and a PTO transmission line for transmitting drive from the engine to a grass cutting unit. An engine start is allowed when the propelling transmission line is inoperative. The engine is stopped when the propelling transmission line is operative and a driver is in a non-driving state. A steering section includes an arch-like steering handle, and an auxiliary handle having a shape substantially corresponding to the steering handle and pivotable from an upper position projecting above the steering handle and a lower position depressed below the steering handle. The driver is determined to be in the driving state when the auxiliary handle is in an intermediate position adjacent the steering handle.

Abstract: A dual tension clutch comprising a drive pulley, a driven pulley, and a transmission belt wound around the drive and driven pulleys. Opposite runs of the transmission belt are pressed inwardly by two spring-loaded tension pulleys supported by tension arms pivoted to each other. A triangular frame, as guided by a fixed pin, acts on the tension arms to spread the tension pulleys apart to relax the transmission belt. In the declutching state so established, the tension pulleys are opposed across and equidistant to a line extending through centers of the drive and driven pulleys.

Abstract: A walking operator type lawn mower comprising a steering handle extending rearwardly thereof, a cutting blade clutch for making and breaking drive transmission to a cutting blade, and a clutch lever pivotable between a clutch engaging position adjacent the steering handle and a declutching position away from the steering handle. A manually operable interlocking member and a control device are provided between the clutch lever and the cutting blade clutch. The control device is constantly urged to a position to disengage the clutch. The interlocking member is switchable between a position to interlock the clutch lever and the control device and a position to release the two components from each other, and is constantly urged to the release position. The cutting blade clutch is engaged only when the interlocking member is maintained in the interlocking position and the clutch lever is moved to the clutch engaging position.

Abstract: A control lever mounting structure for a walking operator type grass cutting vehicle, comprising a steering handle including a grip portion, a right lever support and a left lever support. A first control lever operatively connected to a cutting blade drive clutch is attached to the left lever support to be pivotable in fore-and-aft directions of the vehicle between a clutching position adjacent the grip portion and a declutching position away from the grip portion. A second control lever operatively connected to a wheel drive clutch is attached to and extending between the right and left supports to be pivotable in the fore-and-aft directions of the vehicle between a clutching portion adjacent the grip portion and a declutching position away from the grip portion. The second control lever is pivotable on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the vehicle, whereas the first control lever is pivotable on an axis inclined relative to the horizontal axis.

Abstract: A mid-mounted mower disposed below the body of a tractor is suspended from the tractor body upwardly or downwardly movably by a pair of opposed flexible link assemblies each flexible about an axis extending longitudinally of the tractor body. During mowing the mower is movable up and down following rises and falls of the ground, while when running on a road or the like, the mower is lifted in a substantially horizontal position by a hydraulic cylinder connected between the pair of link assemblies, or by a hydraulic unit in a rear portion of the tractor body through wires.

Abstract: A mower comprising a mower frame attached to the bottom of a vehicle body, cutting blades rotatably supported by vertical shafts on the mower frame, a drive assembly on the frame for rotating the blades, arms supported on the frame and pivotally movable upward or downward, gauge members supported by the free ends of the pivotal arms, an operating member operatively connected to the pivotal arms for pivotally moving the arms, and locking means for disengageably holding the operating member. The mower frame is upwardly or downwardly movable by the movement of the pivotal arms with the gauge members in engagement with the ground to position the cutting blades at the desired level. The blades are retainable at this level by the locking means.