Abstract: A mechanism for coupling a mower deck to a powered vehicle and having push arms pivotally connected to the vehicle between the front wheels of the vehicle and coupled to the front portion of the deck for pushing the deck in front of the vehicle. A member or outrigger extends outwardly from the rear of one of the push arms and supports a rear side portion of the deck and thereby establishes a pivot point for the deck outwardly from the rear of the push arm such that as the opposite side of the deck rides over a bump in the ground the side of the deck carried by the member or outrigger will not dip an undesirable amount.

Abstract: Lift structure particularly useful with front mounted implements for providing both lift and weight transfer functions from a single valve. The valve acts as an adjustable bleeder for the lift cylinder and includes a control knob which is movable both axially and rotationally to respectively provide lift and adjustable flotation. The valve is normally biased to an adjustable orifice position for operating the implement in a lowered, flotation position. To momentarily lift the implement, the operator moves the control knob against the bias to direct flow to the lift cylinder thereby raising the implement off the ground. When the operator releases the valve, it automatically returns to the preset orifice position to provide the desired flotation.

Abstract: A clutch and brake control circuit includes first and second relays connected to an interlock circuit and to the brake and clutch coils on a vehicle. The relays are interconnected with the coils so that the clutch coil cannot be energized unless the brake coil circuit is complete. Preferably, the brake coil circuit includes a delay timer for assuring that the brake is energized for a preselected time period after the clutch coil is deenergized. The circuit is constructed such that if the clutch coil is reenergized during the time period, power to the brake coil is interrupted and the clutch coil turns on immediately without delay. Any time after the clutch coil is deenergized, a clutch switch connected to the interlock circuit and the relays must be actuated before the clutch will engage. The interlock circuit, which may include such elements as transmission, parking brake and seat switches, is fully integrated with the brake and clutch control.

Abstract: Pivoting seat structure for a front mounted mower includes a main support plate pivotally connected to the lower frame for rotation about a first transverse axis and a seat including a mounting plate connected to the support plate for rotation about a second transverse axis offset in the fore-and-aft direction from the first axis. Latch and prop rod structures secure the seat in position offset above a portion of the vehicle wherein access is provided to drive structure located below the operator station. In one embodiment, the seat moves rearwardly over the engine hood and is supported in a position offset from the hood. In a second embodiment, the seat moves forwardly and upwardly over the steering column.

Abstract: Lift structure particularly useful with front mounted implements for providing both lift and weight transfer functions from a single valve. The valve acts as an adjustable bleeder for the lift cylinder and includes a control knob which is movable both axially and rotationally to respectively provide lift and adjustable flotation. The valve is normally biased to an adjustable orifice position for operating the implement in a lowered, flotation position. To momentarily lift the implement, the operator moves the control knob against the bias to direct flow to the lift cylinder thereby raising the implement off the ground. When the operator releases the valve, it automatically returns to the preset orifice position to provide the desired flotation.

Abstract: Lateral sway of vertically movable hitch arms is prevented by an anti-sway link which has one end pivotally mounting one of a pair of lift arms and its opposite rigidly attached to the other of the pair of lift arms.

Abstract: A power take-off shaft stabilizer unit for maintaining a relatively constant distance between an engine crankshaft and a PTO shaft has a bracket attached to the engine. The bracket receives a bearing unit comprising a casting having a bearing seat or a bearing mounted therein and a plurality of taps formed in the casting. The bearing unit receives the PTO shaft. At least three studs are connected to the casting via taps formed therein. The studs are utilized to connect the bearing unit to the bracket through a plurality of holes formed in the bracket. A first spring loaded bracket arrangement for maintaining an approximately constant belt tension between the engine output shaft and the PTO shaft during rotation thereof is operatively connected to the bearing unit via the two studs. A second spring loaded bracket arrangement for maintaining the position of the PTO shaft relative to the bracket approximately constant is operatively connected to the bearing unit via the other stud.

Abstract: A control lever communicates with a plurality of additional levers and an electrical circuit. A PTO brake and electric clutch are responsive to the control lever and circuit for engagement and disengagement. The linkage system includes an electrically responsive inductor and magnetically responsive plate. When the PTO brake is disengaged and the clutch is engaged, the electrical circuit supplies current to the inductor which creates a magnetic field to capture the plate holding the brake and clutch in their respective modes. Upon actuation of the control lever or full application of an associated vehicle's wheel brakes, the circuit is disrupted to the inductor allowing a spring to act upon the linkage assembly to engage the PTO brake and causing the PTO clutch to be disengaged.

Abstract: A power take-off system and isolation mounting therefor including an isolation member mounted to a vehicle frame bracket. A support brace is fixably mounted to the isolation member. The support brace has mounted thereto a linear displaceable casting aligned to displace in a radial direction relative to the vehicle's engine torque shaft. The casting is biased in a nominal position. One end of a PTO shaft is rotatably supported within the casting. A first pulley is rotatably mounted to the PTO shaft in close proximity to the casting. The other end of the PTO shaft is rotatably mounted to a frame brace to permit limited pivoting of the PTO shaft thereabout. A second pulley and PTO clutch assembly is drivingly supported on the engine torque shaft and load supported by the support brace such that the belt tension loads between the first and second pulleys are isolated from the engine torque shaft.

Abstract: A vehicle drive system particularly suited for snow blowers includes a main sprocket rotatably carrying a first and second pawl. Each pawl drivably engages a respective sprocket. The first sprocket is fixably mounted to a first axle means such that rotation of the main sprocket causes the first pawl to drivably engage the first sprocket to rotate the first axle means. A second sprocket is fixably engaged to a second axle means such that rotation of said main sprocket causes a second pawl to drivably engage the second sprocket to cause rotation of the second axle means. Friction means supplies sufficient drag to the pawl such that rotation of main sprocket causes each of the pawls to assume an engaging orientation with their respective sprockets. Each of the pawls can be selectively disengaged from a drive orientation by manually advancing the respective axle means, i.e., when an operator maneuvers the vehicle for turning.

Abstract: A self-propelled, walk-behind snowblower includes a pair of deadman control levers respectively pivotally mounted on a pair of handle bars of a guide handle structure. The levers are each spring biased to a normally released position and manually movable to an active position. A switch element is mounted for movement with each lever and completes an ignition circuit by engaging the associated handle bar when the lever is moved to its active position. The ignition circuit is also completed when a further interlock switch is closed by placing a collector-impeller control lever in a drive-disengage position.

Abstract: A "dead man" control mechanism for controlling the propel and tiller drive of a walk-behind rotary tiller includes a flexible control element which extends between and has opposite ends looped about respective Z-shaped crank portions of a control rod and of a belt drive idler pulley arm. When the control rod is operator-held in a drive-engage position, wherein a grip portion of the control rod is gripped together with a grip portion of a handle of the tiller, the control element is tensioned such as to hold an idler pulley, carried by the idler arm, in slack-removing engagement with a slack run of a belt trained about drive and driven pulleys. Upon the operator releasing the grip portion of the control rod, the latter gravitates to a drive-disengage position wherein the control element is slackened such as to permit the idler pulley to move to permit the slack run of the drive belt to slacken to the extent that torque is no longer transferred between the drive and driven pulleys.

Abstract: The rear wheels of a walk-behind, self-propelled lawn mower are fixed to the opposite ends of a drive axle that is rotatably mounted in an axle support frame. The axle support frame is vertically pivotally mounted at the rear of a main frame of the mower and an adjustment mechanism is provided for holding the support frame in selected positions according to the cutting height desired. A cross-shaft is coupled to be driven from the mower engine and is mounted in the support frame, so as to extend along the axis about which the latter is pivotable, and is connected to the drive axle by gearing. A normally disengaged clutch is carried by the cross-shaft for selective engagement to complete a drive connection to the gearing. The drive axle support frame defines a protective guard or shield which extends over the clutch and gearing.

Abstract: A rotary tiller includes a main frame comprising a pair of horizontal, fore and aft extending channel members disposed on opposite sides of a chain case having a lower end, in which a tine-supporting shaft is journalled, and an upper end having a pair of axially aligned cylindrical members fixed to and projecting transversely from opposite sides thereof. A drive shaft is journalled in one of the cylindrical members and projects therethrough into the chain case. Fixed to one end of the shaft is a pulley, which is connected by a belt, to be driven from a pulley fixed to a transverse output shaft of an engine mounted on a forward portion of the frame. The handle includes a pair of legs disposed in straddling relationship to the chain case and respectively connected to the cylindrical members, by a pair of U-bolts. The lower ends of the legs are respectively received in slots provided in the channel members.

Abstract: A walk-behind rotary tiller includes an engine having an output shaft on which is mounted a first pulley. A second pulley is mounted on a countershaft and connected to be driven from the first pulley by a drive belt. The engine is mounted for adjustment toward and away from the counter shaft to compensate for belt stretch and to facilitate belt replacement. A guard encloses the belt and has its forward end pivotally supported on a bracket fixed to the engine by a fastener which also serves to retain a belt guide in place. The rear end of the belt guard is supported for swinging about the forward connection, when the motor is adjusted, by a bent rod having one end pivotally received in the guard and a parallel, axially offset second end serving to pivotally connect a bracket, having a drag stake and wheel assembly fixed thereto, for movement between raised and lowered positions for respectively disposing the drag stake and wheel assembly in transport and working positions.

Abstract: A walk-behind rotary tiller includes a vertically adjustable drag stake releasably held in a selected position through means of a lock member having the form of a ring segment and mounted such that it may be pivoted upwardly and displaced forwardly to release the drag stake for vertical adjustment to another desired position and then displaced rearwardly and rotated downwardly to retain the drag stake in its new position.