Patents by Inventor James W. Lancaster

James W. Lancaster has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9003751
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 8919087
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster
  • Publication number: 20140260162
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster
  • Publication number: 20140260161
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 8438822
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster
  • Publication number: 20090183481
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: James W. Lancaster, Gary L. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 7451586
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Exmark Mfg. Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Clark S. Papke, Justin L. Pryor, James W. Lancaster, Patrick D. Sands, Tim D. Andre
  • Patent number: 4844431
    Abstract: A pneumatically powered test fixture for bracing, holding and/or handling solid, bulky objects such as gas meters or the like. The fixture readily permits service or repairs and renders meters readily accessible and easily maneuverable. A rigid frame is adapted to be secured to a stable workbench or support, and an optional support plate may couple the frame to the support surface. A rigid mounting spacer secured to the frame mounts a pneumatically powered trunnion. When an optional frame mounting plate is omitted, the trunnion mounting spacer will be affixed directly to the workbench. A rigid, U-shaped cradle captivates a meter to be repaired or serviced. The cradle is rotatably suspended above the supporting surface by the trunnion, and the cradle can be manually rotated into a variety of user-selectable positions to readily expose all structural portions of the meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Arkansas Lousisiana Gas Company
    Inventors: Marion L. Camp, James W. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 4327760
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for exchanging a gas meter without interrupting customer service. The apparatus preferably comprises a rigid frame for temporarily securing a meter to be exchanged independently of its mounting nuts, and an isolating enclosure adapted to be selectively removeably coupled about a portion of the meter loop terminal to provide a fluid flow bypass around the meter. A rigid conduit is adapted to be positioned within the enclosure means until the meter is removed, at which point it will be inserted in the meter loop to bypass the meter to facilitate enclosure removal. Purging apparatus is included to remove air from the enclosing volume and the replacement meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Inventor: James W. Lancaster