Abstract: A rotary mower cutting deck has a downwardly opening space and rear discharge opening. A center blade and a first side blade rotating in one direction and a second counter-rotating side blade are within the space. A front flow control baffle has a first V-shaped apex located between the unidirectional blades and a second V-shaped apex between the center blade and the counter-rotating side blade. A first V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the first apex points downwardly to cause many grass clippings from the first side blade to be directed to the rear discharge opening without passing to the center blade. A second V-shaped flow deflector mounted to the second apex points upwardly to disrupt the convergence of the air flows and clipping streams from the center and second side blades to maintain the quality of cut and reduce blow out.

Abstract: A rotary mower cutting deck has a rear discharge opening across a rear end thereof and a center blade and a first side blade rotating in one direction and a second side blade counter-rotating in the opposite direction. A front flow control baffle has a first, rearwardly facing V-shaped apex located between the unidirectional blades and a second, rearwardly facing V-shaped apex between the center blade and the counter-rotating side blade. A first V-shaped flow deflector is mounted to the first apex with the first flow deflector pointing downwardly to cause many grass clippings from the first side blade to be directed to the rear discharge opening without passing to the center blade. A second V-shaped flow deflector is mounted to the second apex with the second flow deflector pointing upwardly to disrupt the convergence of the air flows from the center and second side blades.

Abstract: A turf implement has a frame that carries a rotatable turf slicing reel. A height adjustment lever pivots in opposite directions on the frame to raise and lower the slicing reel relative to the turf. A slot on the frame has a plurality of spaced notches. The adjustment lever carries a pin that is received in the slot and in any one of the notches to provide a desired adjusted position for the slicing reel height. A clamp is provided having a quick release locking lever that is selectively rotated between a locked position in which the clamp is in a tightly compressed condition relative to the frame to hold the adjustment lever in the desired adjusted position and an unlocked position in which the clamp is in a loosely expanded condition to permit the adjustment lever to be moved to change the desired adjusted position.

Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a housing supported by a plurality of wheels that include a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the housing to move between operational and transport positions thereof. A control is used to so move the housing with the control having a hand grip whose height above the ground is easily adjustable to accommodate users of different effective heights. A foot guard maintains a relatively constant disposition relative to the ground whether the housing is in its operational or transport position. The housing of the aerator has a vent system and an air gap relative to a prime mover deck which cool a traction drive system contained within the housing.

Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a housing supported by a plurality of wheels that include a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the housing to move between operational and transport positions thereof. A control is used to so move the housing with the control having a hand grip whose height above the ground is easily adjustable to accommodate users of different effective heights. A foot guard maintains a relatively constant disposition relative to the ground whether the housing is in its operational or transport position. The housing of the aerator has a vent system and an air gap relative to a prime mover deck which cool a traction drive system contained within the housing.

Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a housing supported by a plurality of wheels that include a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the housing to move between operational and transport positions thereof. A control is used to so move the housing with the control having a hand grip whose height above the ground is easily adjustable to accommodate users of different effective heights. A foot guard maintains a relatively constant disposition relative to the ground whether the housing is in its operational or transport position. The housing of the aerator has a vent system and an air gap relative to a prime mover deck which cool a traction drive system contained within the housing.

Abstract: A rotary mower cutting deck has a downwardly opening space and rear discharge opening across a rear end thereof. Three cutting blades are located within the space with a center blade and a first side blade rotating in one direction and a second side blade counter-rotating in the opposite direction. A front flow control baffle has a first, rearwardly facing V-shaped apex located between the unidirectional blades and a second, rearwardly facing V-shaped apex between the center blade and the counter-rotating side blade. A first V-shaped flow deflector is mounted to the first apex with the first flow deflector pointing downwardly to cause many grass clippings from the first side blade to be directed to the rear discharge opening without passing to the center blade.

Abstract: A walk aerator comprises a housing supported by a plurality of wheels that include a pair of drive wheels. The drive wheels are pivotally mounted to the housing to permit the housing to move between operational and transport positions thereof. A control is used to so move the housing with the control having a hand grip whose height above the ground is easily adjustable to accommodate users of different effective heights. A foot guard maintains a relatively constant disposition relative to the ground whether the housing is in its operational or transport position. The housing of the aerator has a vent system and an air gap relative to a prime mover deck which cool a traction drive system contained within the housing.

Abstract: A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane.

Abstract: A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane.

Abstract: A mower carrying a rotary cutting deck has a height of cut system for adjusting the vertical position of the deck relative to the mower frame for changing or adjusting the height of cut. The height of cut system comprises a pair of parallel cross shafts that carry a plurality of pivotal suspension linkages that connect to the deck, the cross shafts and linkages pivoting jointly with one another and with a pivotal control lever. One of the cross shafts carries a torsion spring to counterbalance the weight of the deck. The control lever is maintained in a plurality of adjusted pivotal positions by a height selection bracket fixed to the frame with the height selection bracket being capable of having its position changed or adjusted relative to the frame by a single adjustment bolt. Each suspension linkage has its effective length adjusted by turning a threaded adjuster carried at the upper end of a connecting rod that is part of each linkage to allow the deck to be leveled relative to a reference plane.

Abstract: A riding mower carries a grass collector at the rear of the mower frame. A mounting system for the grass collector comprises a mount that pivotally couples the lower portion of the grass collector to the mower frame. The pivotal mount comprises a pair of hooks each of which is inserted onto a pivot rod. In addition, the mounting system comprises a quick connect fastening system that includes a pair of spring biased retaining pins that can be latched in a retracted, non-operative position or unlatched so that the spring bias on the pins is able to move the pins into an extended, operative position. In the extended, operative position of the retaining pins, the pins fasten or secure the grass collector to the mower frame in a substantially upright, operative position of the grass collector.

Abstract: A mower has a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck. The frame includes a pair of side rails that each extend from a front end in advance of the cutting deck to a rear end substantially behind the cutting deck. The front ends of the side rails support a pair of front caster wheels. The rear ends of the side rails have a raised, upwardly extending arch at which a hydraulic pump/motor assembly is mounted. The pump/motor assembly has an L-shaped configuration with the motor being located towards the bottom of the arch and outboard of the side rail and with the pump extending upwardly and inwardly from the motor to be located inboard of the side rail and within the vertical profile of the arch. The hydraulic motors drive a pair of rear drive wheels to propel the frame over the ground. A cross frame extends between the motors in the pump/motor assemblies to join the assemblies together. The deck is propelled from the frame by a plurality of struts extending between the cross frame and the deck.

Abstract: A rotary cutting deck for a mower has dual, side-by-side cutting chambers that discharge their grass clippings through a common, rearwardly extending exit tunnel. A pair of pivotal flow control baffles are positioned ahead of the mouth of the exit tunnel. The baffles have an open position in which the baffles clear the mouth of the exit tunnel and form guide channels in concert with some of the walls of the cutting chambers which help direct the grass clippings from each cutting chamber towards the mouth of the exit tunnel. The baffles can be pivoted to a closed position in which the baffles block but do not completely close the mouth of the exit tunnel to provide the operator with some way of controlling how long it takes to fill a grass collector attached to the exit tunnel. A mulching plug with a forwardly extending separator vane can be inserted into the mouth of the exit tunnel to convert the deck from a discharge/collection mode of operation to a mulching mode of operation.

Abstract: A mower has a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck. A height of cut system is provided for adjusting the height of cut of the deck. In addition, two longitudinal struts and a lateral strut connect between the frame and the rear of the deck. The longitudinal struts propel the deck in forward and reverse directions while the lateral strut provides lateral stabilization to the deck to prevent excessive side-to-side motion of the deck. Each of the struts is a simple elongated rod or bar having a hub at either end that contains a rubber bushing allowing three-axis motion. Each strut is pivotally connected at each hub to corresponding portions of the frame or the deck.

Abstract: A mower includes a zero turn radius (ZTR) traction unit carrying a front mounted cutting deck. The cutting deck is suspended beneath a carrier frame by a height of cut adjustment system comprising a plurality of pivot links and suspension chains extending between the carrier frame and the cutting deck. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to one of the pivot links can simultaneously lift the chains or permit the chains to lower to change the height of the cutting deck relative to the carrier frame. This same cylinder can also fold the carrier frame and the cutting deck relative to the traction unit about a fold pivot axis when a fold latch is selectively released by the operator. The carrier frame includes a center step for helping the operator mount or dismount the traction unit. The center step has a front viewport for allowing an operator who is seated on the traction unit to view the front edge of the cutting deck.

Abstract: A mower has a rotary cutting deck with a discharge opening covered by a discharge chute. A pivotal gate is placed beneath the discharge chute to pivot relative to the discharge opening between a closed position in which the gate blocks the discharge opening and an open position in which the gate opens the discharge opening, thereby providing discharge and non-discharge modes of operation respectively. A pivotal foot pedal can be depressed by the operator against the force of a biasing spring to move the gate between the closed and open positions thereof. When the gate reaches its open position corresponding to a fully depressed foot pedal, an over center linkage has reached an over center orientation in which the force of the spring now serves to lock the pivotal gate in the open position thereof. Another over center linkage also locks the pivotal gate in the closed position thereof when the foot pedal is in a non-depressed starting position.

Abstract: A rotary cutting deck for a mower has dual, side-by-side cutting chambers that discharge their grass clippings through a common, rearwardly extending exit tunnel. A pair of pivotal flow control baffles are positioned ahead of the mouth of the exit tunnel. The baffles have an open position in which the baffles clear the mouth of the exit tunnel and form guide channels in concert with some of the walls of the cutting chambers which help direct the grass clippings from each cutting chamber towards the mouth of the exit tunnel. The baffles can be pivoted to a closed position in which the baffles block but do not completely close the mouth of the exit tunnel to provide the operator with some way of controlling how long it takes to fill a grass collector attached to the exit tunnel. A mulching plug with a forwardly extending separator vane can be inserted into the mouth of the exit tunnel to convert the deck from a discharge/collection mode of operation to a mulching mode of operation.

Abstract: A mower includes a zero turn radius (ZTR) traction unit carrying a front mounted cutting deck. The cutting deck is suspended beneath a carrier frame by a height of cut adjustment system comprising a plurality of pivot links and suspension chains extending between the carrier frame and the cutting deck. A hydraulic cylinder coupled to one of the pivot links can simultaneously lift the chains or permit the chains to lower to change the height of the cutting deck relative to the carrier frame. This same cylinder can also fold the carrier frame and the cutting deck relative to the traction unit about a fold pivot axis when a fold latch is selectively released by the operator. The carrier frame includes a center step for helping the operator mount or dismount the traction unit. The center step has a front view-port for allowing an operator who is seated on the traction unit to view the front edge of the cutting deck.

Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, is supported for rolling over the ground by a plurality of ground engaging wheels, including a pair of front caster wheels. A ground or turf grooming or working implement, such as a cutting deck, is supported on the outdoor power equipment unit. Removable counterweights can be dropped down or lifted off the tops of the caster wheels. This places the counterweights as far forwardly as possible which is useful when balancing the weight of a rear mounted accessory. In addition, the counterweights can be installed and removed without using a mounting bar or other mounting hardware on the outdoor power equipment unit.