Rotating Cutting Reel Patents (Class 56/7)
  • Patent number: 6705065
    Abstract: A greens mower having internally powered cutting units. The motor to power the cutting units is located inside the cutting unit thus eliminating the need to balance the weight of the motor outside the cutting unit and also eliminating the need for belts, chains, gears or couplers to transfer power from the motor to the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Saiia
  • Patent number: 6698171
    Abstract: A lawnmower with a tractor and a gang of mowers pivotally supported by the tractor for up and down motion when moving on the ground is provided. A mower support arm is pivoted on the tractor and has a pivot axis for each of the mowers, and a camming action is created by the up and down mower movement and that causes the pivot axis to move horizontally relative to the tractor to thereby avoid having the mowers move horizontally, and it maintains a constant spacing between the mowers and avoids having the mowers collide when moving up and down. Shorter length mowers can thus be used in the gang, thereby following the ground contour more closely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Doerflinger
  • Patent number: 6688094
    Abstract: A rotatable brush is located adjacent to and in contact with a ground engaging roller of a cutting unit of a mower to clean debris from the roller surface. The brush includes a brush shaft having at least one flight of brush bristles releasably secured to the brush shaft by a pair of fasteners. This permits easy replacement of the flight of brush bristles without having to replace the brush shaft. One end of the brush shaft is driven by a belt drive system with the driven end of the brush shaft passing through an elongated slot in a pivotally adjustable tensioning plate. The plate can be pivoted to adjust the tension in the drive belt without moving the driven end of the brush shaft, thus not affecting or changing the position of the brush relative to the roller. Drive can be imparted to the belt drive system using a hardened cap screw that is threaded into one end of the shaft of a rotatable reel on a reel cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Dennis J. Berndt, Scott M. Coffin
  • Patent number: 6658828
    Abstract: A mowing arrangement includes a tractor carrying a front-mounted mower unit and towing a mobile carrier frame having left and right mower units mounted to opposite sides of the carrier frame. In a first embodiment, the carrier frame is box-shaped in plan view. A pair of mower unit support arms are respectively mounted to forward outer locations of the carrier frame for pivoting vertically between horizontal first positions, wherein they dispose the mower units in respective operating positions, and vertical second positions, wherein they dispose the mower units in raised transport positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Roger Franet
  • Publication number: 20030177746
    Abstract: A mass damper is carried on the frame of an reel mower by a pair of elastomeric couplers, one at each end of the mass damper. Each coupler is threadedly secured to one end of the mass damper with the coupler received in a cavity at that end of the mass damper. Each coupler is also clamped to a bracket on the frame of the reel mower. The mass damper can move relative to the frame of the reel mower by shearing the elastomeric material forming the couplers. The weight of the mass damper and the stiffness of the couplers is chosen to damp or lessen the vibration induced in the frame of the reel mower by an internal combustion engine carried on the frame of the reel mower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald E. Goman, Ronald L. Eichten, Michael J. Gilberg, Donald A. Keeney
  • Publication number: 20030079451
    Abstract: A greens mower is described having cutting units powered internally. The motor to power the cutting unit is located inside the cutting unit thus eliminating the need to balance the weight of the motor outside the cutting unit and also eliminating the need for belts, chains, gears or couplers to transfer power from the motor to the cutting unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventor: Anthony J. Saiia
  • Publication number: 20030024223
    Abstract: A novel construction for a body for a vehicle in which two elongate decks are provided supported in alignment one on top of the other and spaced from each other with rib members extending from each side of the decks outwardly to the side joining the sides of the decks and defining a cavity between the decks and inside the rib members. The ribs are preferably tubular members for strength but reduced weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Willem Jager, Craig Shoemaker
  • Publication number: 20030019195
    Abstract: A plurality of annular collars are provided formed from collar halves. The collar halves are at least partially separable from one another to allow the collar halves to be slipped into and around a groove in a grooved roller for a reel-type cutting unit. The collar halves can then be abutted and secured together to substantially fill in the roller groove. When collars are placed into the last two or three grooves on each end of a grooved roller, a non-shouldered grooved roller is thereby converted into a shouldered grooved roller without having to remove and replace one set of rollers with another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Dennis J. Berndt, David S. Klis, Richard M. Olson, Gerald J. Pomerening
  • Publication number: 20020184865
    Abstract: A walk behind gang mower includes a frame with a plurality of reel-type mowers attached to the frame. The user, along with motors and propulsion wheels, propel the walk behind gang mower forward and rotate the cutting reel. The rear rollers of the reel-type mower unit support the majority of the frame's weight such that the motor indirectly operates the cutting reel by rotation of the propulsion wheel. Movement of the mower rotates the forward drive wheels of the reel type mower(s), which in turn, rotate the cutting reel(s). The user uses a steering controller to adjust the power delivered to the propulsion wheels so that the walk behind gang mower can be easily turned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Jay Short
  • Publication number: 20020184866
    Abstract: A lawnmower with a tractor and a gang of mowers pivotally supported by the tractor for up and down motion when moving on the ground. A mower support arm is pivoted on the tractor and has a pivot axis for each of the mowers, and a camming action is created by the up and down mower movement and that causes the pivot axis to move horizontally relative to the tractor to thereby avoid having the mowers move horizontally, and it maintains a constant spacing between the mowers and avoids having the mowers collide when moving up and down. Shorter length mowers can thus be used in the gang and they follow the ground contour more closely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: David A. Doerflinger
  • Publication number: 20020174633
    Abstract: A mowing arrangement includes three mowing units with which are associated a drive system including transmissions associated with each unit that are alike to the extent that the mowing units may be easily exchanged with one another. Specifically, one of the mowing units has an angle drive transmission while the transmissions on the other two mowing units are belt or chain drive transmissions. All transmissions are mounted for easy replacement whereby the angle drive transmission may be replaced by a belt or chain drive transmission like the other mowing units if it is desired to use the front mowing unit as a side mowing unit. Also disclosed is an embodiment where two angle gear boxes are used as a power-receiving transmission, with the result that all of the mowing units can be constructed exactly the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Roger Franet, Lionel Guiet, Hubert Defrancq, Daniel Kem
  • Publication number: 20020174634
    Abstract: A mowing arrangement includes a main, mobile frame to which a base or first carrier part or frame is mounted for being pivoted vertically by a remotely operable hydraulic motor. Mounted to the base carrier frame is a second carrier part to which arms supporting opposite side and front mowing units are attached. The front-mounted mowing unit is mounted to the second carrier part through the agency of a fourth carrier part, in the form of a parallelogram linkage that includes the support arm for the front-mounted mowing unit. The second carrier part is mounted for pivoting about a transverse, horizontal axis so that the cutting angles of each of the mowing heads can be remotely adjusted by pivoting the second carrier part. A third carrier part is fixed for movement with the second carrier part and supports a drive transmission having output shafts respectively coupled for supplying power to the three mowing heads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Roger Franet, Lionel Guiet, Hubert Defrancq, Daniel Kem
  • Patent number: 6481191
    Abstract: A gang mower and tractor assembly includes a tractor with a forward section attached to a rear section by a pivot. A frame is attached to the forward section. A plurality of reel type mowers are attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas Jay Short
  • Publication number: 20020157370
    Abstract: A reel mower includes a bearing system having a spring that biases a plurality of ball bearings toward a cone. The cone is fixedly mounted on the reel shaft. The cone can be conically constructed, and used in combination with a washer that is fixedly attached to the reel shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: Richard W. Beckman, Robert E. Kersey
  • Publication number: 20020157367
    Abstract: A modular unit for mounting on at least two different designs of self-propelled grass treatment machine, each machine having a main frame provided with a number of mounting locations for mounting respective modular units and in which the mounting locations of one machine are different in type or design from the mounting locations on the other machine, and in which the modular unit is operative to carry out a required grass treatment action when mounted in position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Marcus Oliver
  • Patent number: 6430902
    Abstract: A greens mower having cutting units powered internally. The motor to power the cutting unit is located inside the cutting unit thus eliminating the need to balance the weight of the motor outside the cutting unit and also eliminating the need for belts, chains, gears or couplers to transfer power from the motor to the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony J. Saiia
  • Patent number: 6412258
    Abstract: A lawnmower with a tractor and a gang of mowers pivotally supported by the tractor for up and down motion when moving on the ground. A mower support arm is pivoted on the tractor and has a pivot axis for each of the mowers, and a camming action is created by the up and down mower movement and that causes the pivot axis to move horizontally relative to the tractor to thereby avoid having the mowers move horizontally, and it maintains a constant spacing between the mowers and avoids having the mowers collide when moving up and down. Shorter length mowers can thus be used in the gang and they follow the ground contour more closely.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: David A. Doerflinger
  • Patent number: 6397568
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting grass is provided which is capable of being attached to a motor unit (1,1a) and comprising a carriage (30) having a shaft (31) supporting associated wheels (32) and helical blades (33) rotating about the shaft (31), at least one support frame (10) including a pin (12) having a rotational axis substantially perpendicular to the ground to be cut, pin (12) having mounted thereon a first end (20a) of an arm (20) which is substantially parallel to the ground, a second end (20b) thereof pivotably mounted on the carriage (30) that is supported by the arm (20) so that the end (20a) of the arm (20) mounted on pin (12) is in front of shaft (31) of the carriage (30) in the direction of forward movement of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Officine Bieffebi S.r.l.
    Inventor: Maurizio Negri
  • Patent number: 6351929
    Abstract: A triplex trim mower (100) including a vehicle (102) having two front drive wheels (104) and one rear steerable wheel (106). Mounted generally forward of the front wheels (104) are two reel-type cutting units (108a) laterally offset about the longitudinal axis (110) of the vehicle (102). Mounted between the front and rear wheels and substantially centered between the forward cutting units (108a) is a rear reel-type cutting unit (108b). A lateral support frame (137) is incorporated into the main frame of traction vehicle (102). The cutting units (108) are supported by a lateral carrier frame (144) which is slidably engaged to lateral support frame (137) such that carrier frame (144) can move laterally relative to support frame (137). A hydraulic cylinder (158) permits carrier frame (144) to be laterally displaced under operator command. Second and third hydraulic cylinders (131) permit cutting units (108) to be moved between a transport position and an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jack R. Gust, Daniel M. Treu
  • Publication number: 20020017086
    Abstract: A mower includes a traction frame that supports at least one cutting unit and a grass catcher associated with each cutting unit. The cutting unit and grass catcher are both operatively coupled to the traction frame such that they both jointly are able to steer or yaw together during turns of the traction frame. This permits the gap between the cutting unit and a grass basket which is part of the grass catcher to remain constant whether the traction frame is travelling straight or is turning. This ensures that the grass clippings will be properly retained in the grass basket without dribbling out of the grass basket. In addition, a system is provided for keeping the grass catcher level as it is lifted up out of engagement with the ground into a raised, transport position, also to better retain the grass clippings within the grass basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: STEVEN A. SALLSTROM, GARY R. LAMUSGA, HOWARD H. BOHM
  • Patent number: 6341478
    Abstract: A mower includes a traction frame that supports at least one cutting unit and a grass catcher associated with each cutting unit. The cutting unit and grass catcher are both operatively coupled to the traction frame such that they both jointly are able to steer or yaw together during turns of the traction frame. This permits the gap between the cutting unit and a grass basket which is part of the grass catcher to remain constant whether the traction frame is travelling straight or is turning. This ensures that the grass clippings will be properly retained in the grass basket without dribbling out of the grass basket. In addition, a system is provided for keeping the grass catcher level as it is lifted up out of engagement with the ground into a raised, transport position, also to better retain the grass clippings within the grass basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steven A. Sallstrom, Gary R. Lamusga, Howard H. Bohm
  • Patent number: 6253534
    Abstract: A motor for powering a cutting unit in an electric mower. The motor is mounted above the cutting unit. A second motor is provided to drive one or more accessories and is also mounted above the cutting unit. The motors are symmetrically placed toward opposite ends of the cutting unit. The second motor acts as a counterbalance to the first, so the cutting unit has similar weight on both of its ends. This eliminates the need for a torsion spring counterbalance system, allows increased mobility of the cutting unit, and facilitates servicing of the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Hunter, Dean A. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6237313
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for supporting a clippings collection container for collecting grass clippings cut by a cutting unit carried on a mowing vehicle. The assembly includes a laterally extending member operatively coupled to the cutting unit for movement therewith. The laterally extending member is supported on a lift arm of the vehicle for movement with respect thereto. A container such as a basket is positioned adjacent the cutting unit for receiving clippings cut by the cutting unit. First and second laterally spaced engagement members are coupled with the container for engaging the laterally extending member to couple the container to the cutting unit. The engagement members are secured to the laterally extending member for providing movement of the container with the cutting unit and independent from the lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Nathan M. Leden
  • Patent number: 6131379
    Abstract: A reel-type lawn mower and tractor assembly which includes a pivotally-mounted lift arm on the tractor. A lawn mower is pivotally attached to the laterally extending end of the lift arm and is caster-connected relative to the lift arm by a device of an intervening link which is angulated to be at one elevation at the top of the mower and at a lower elevation to the rear of the mower where the connection is made with the tractor lift arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Byron N. Ehn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6131378
    Abstract: A gang mower mountable on a tractor and having a plurality of independently-cutting mower units whose cutting heads are individually powered by hydraulic motors. Each mower unit is suspended from the end of a support arm which can move vertically through a distance of about 12 inches, each mower unit is itself mounted beneath a swivel ball joint that allows the mower to undergo pitch, roll and yaw motions as well as the up and down movements of the support arm. Moreover, this mower suspension mechanism allows each of the mower units to hold the ground due to its own weight alone and does not require any stabilizing force to be applied through springs or otherwise. The freedom of motion of the suspension mechanism in combination with an independent drive for each mower unit yields a gang mower with a smooth, wide-cut mowing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Earl K. Lees
  • Patent number: 6131377
    Abstract: A deep groove ground-contacting roller for a reel type mower assembly having a plurality of interfitting intermediate roller segments and matching end segments mounted on a transverse bearing mounted axle rod in tight abutment. Stop rings engage the end segments and the axle rod to fix the roller segments on the rod to form a roller body. Each roller segment includes a cylindrical hub and a disc element extending radially therefrom with converging planar annular side surfaces intersecting to form a rounded ground-contacting ridge. The disc elements and the hub sections combine to form a deep groove with angled side surfaces and a right circular cylindrical bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventors: James Rice, Robert E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 6082086
    Abstract: A reel-type cutting unit including a reel blade for cutting grass in cooperation with a fixed blade. The reel blade is rotatable about a horizontal axis extending transversely of a vehicle body, to move from front to rear relative to the fixed blade with respect to a forward traveling direction of the vehicle body. The cutting unit has a main case surrounding the reel blade to define a space for carrying grass clippings in a rotating direction of the reel blade to a top level of the reel blade. A guide member is connected to the main case for receiving the grass clippings carried to the top level. The guide member defines a grass receiving space having a grass discharge opening. The grass discharge opening is connected to a grass catcher through a duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Togoshi, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Yoshihiro Kawahara, Teruo Shimamura, Junichi Kitamura, Osami Fujiwara, Hideya Umemoto, Koji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 6082082
    Abstract: A unique motor for powering a cutting unit in an electric mower is disclosed. The motor is mounted above the cutting unit. A second motor is provided to drive one or more accessories and is also mounted above the cutting unit. The motors are symmetrically placed toward opposite ends of the cutting unit. The second motor acts as a counterbalance to the first, so the cutting unit has similar weight on both of its ends. This eliminates the need for a torsion spring counterbalance system, allows increased mobility of the cutting unit, and facilitates servicing of the cutting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Hunter, Dean A. Meyer
  • Patent number: 6082085
    Abstract: A foliage harvester is provided, as is a mechanical drive arrangement which includes a pivotally mounted main gearbox. An extension assembly extends forwardly with respect to the main gearbox for a relatively short length, and a connection assembly operatively joins the rotating portion near the rear end of the mechanical drive assembly in a manner which prevents substantially any side-to-side or generally horizontal movement between that portion of the mechanical drive assembly and the rotatable main gearbox. At the same time, this operative joining incorporating use of the connection assembly permits limited up-and-down or generally vertical movement of the mechanical drive assembly with respect to the pivotable main gearbox. In an especially preferred arrangement, the implement is a center pivot mower conditioner, and the mechanical drive operates the cutting and conditioning assemblies during operation of the mower conditioner on either side behind the towing vehicle or tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Stelzer, Leroy Kluver
  • Patent number: 6058687
    Abstract: A gang mower for garden tractors includes a frame, a hitch and either three, five or seven reel-type mower units attached to the frame. The frame is attached below the forward wheel axis of each mower unit. In action, the frame leverages the forward drive wheels downward to turn the mower blades when the frame is pulled forward by a garden tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Douglas Short
  • Patent number: 6052973
    Abstract: A lawn tractor includes a vehicle body, a center reel-type cutting unit, and side reel-type cutting units arranged laterally of the center reel-type cutting unit with respect to a moving direction of the vehicle body, wherein a cutting track by the center reel-type cutting unit and cutting tracks by the side reel-type cutting units partly overlap one another. A first lift mechanism vertically movably connects the center reel-type cutting unit to the vehicle body, wherein the first lift mechanism is operable to raise and lower the center reel-type cutting unit without displacing the center reel-type cutting unit transversely of the moving direction. Second lift mechanisms vertically movably connect the side reel-type cutting units to the vehicle body, respectively, wherein the second lift mechanisms are operable to raise and lower the side reel-type cutting units without displacing the side reel-type cutting units transversely of the moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Koji Fujiwara, Yoshiyuki Esaki, Kazuo Samejima, Junichi Kitamura, Matsuo Tachibana, Teruo Shimamura, Osami Fujiwara, Yoshihiro Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6050069
    Abstract: A triangularly shaped frame having truncated and flattened vertices serves as a structural load-bearing member for an attachment to a yard tending device, such as a gas powered yard trimmer or leaf blower. A pair of support and maneuvering wheels is affixed to the frame. Affixed centrally to the frame, and rising generally vertically therefrom, is the first end portion of a lawn tending device support bar. At its first end portion, the support bar is of generally straight configuration. This straight portion serves to hold the lawn tending device at a sufficient elevation with respect to the ground. The straight portion of the support bar smoothly transitions to generally declining compound arcuate spanning portion. The spanning portion smoothly transitions to a generally declining straight second end portion. The second end is formed such that it comprises a cradle or channel running centrally and axially according to the length of the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Charles L. Elensky
  • Patent number: 6044631
    Abstract: A linkage for a reel mower cutting unit including upper and lower stop members which abut a yoke for restricting the movement of the yoke and cutting unit when the cutting unit is raised to a transport position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Donald Theodore Michael Anderson, Frank Kenneth O'Toole
  • Patent number: 6032441
    Abstract: A triplex trim mower (100) including a vehicle (102) having two front drive wheels (104) and one rear steerable wheel (106). Mounted generally forward of the front wheels (104) are two reel-type cutting units (108a) laterally offset about the longitudinal axis (110) of the vehicle (102). Mounted between the front and rear wheels and substantially centered between the forward cutting units (108a) is a rear reel-type cutting unit (108b). A lateral support frame (137) is incorporated into the main frame of traction vehicle (102). The cutting units (108) are supported by a lateral carrier frame (144) which is slidably engaged to lateral support frame (137) such that carrier frame (144) can move laterally relative to support frame (137). A hydraulic cylinder (158) permits carrier frame (144) to be laterally displaced under operator command. Second and third hydraulic cylinders (131) permit cutting units (108) to be moved between a transport position and an operating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Jack R. Gust, Walter J. Petersen, Gordon R. Schmidt, Donald T. Lackner
  • Patent number: 6029433
    Abstract: A lawn mower roller brush mounting and drive for a reel type lawn mower. The brush extends along the length of the roller and is rotatable and in contact with the roller for removing grass and like debris from the roller. A belt drive of automatic adjustment arrangement extends between the reel and the brush for rotating the brush. A cover completely encloses the pulleys and belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn G. Westbrook, Gregory J. Chesack
  • Patent number: 6000204
    Abstract: A golf tee marker moving assembly is positioned on the front of a conventional tees mower with a universal mount. The moving assembly includes a pivoting lift arm and a golf tee marker capture assembly located at the free end of the pivoting lift arm. The pivoting arm is coupled to a motor mounted on the universal mount and is controlled by a manual switch to raise or lower the pivoting arm. The motor is coupled to the mower battery. A tee marker with a base and spherical top, separated from the base with a neck, is adapted to be captured by the golf tee marker capture assembly. Once captured, the tee marker is raised out of the path of the mower by pivoting the arm upward. The mower operator can then remove the tee marker from the golf tee marker capture assembly, mow the tee area and then replace the tee marker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Inventor: Jerome D. Lenz
  • Patent number: 5970690
    Abstract: A leveling apparatus for a reel type cutting head for use on a gang mower. The leveling apparatus includes a linkage which attaches at an inboard end to the frame of the mower and at an outboard end of a control arm. The control arm in turn attaches to the cutting head to pivot the cutting head about a horizontal axis. As the mower is lowered to engage the ground, the linkage pivots the cutting head to maintain the cutting head level as the cutting head is lowered to engage the ground. In a particular embodiment, the linkage comprises a parallel linkage having an upper and a lower link and inboard and outboard control arms which are arranged to form a parallelogram whose shape changes as the mower is raised and lowered. The parallel linkage connects to the cutting head to pivot the cutting head about a horizontal axis and maintains the cutting head substantially level as the cutting head is raised and lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Ransomes America Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Toman
  • Patent number: 5941057
    Abstract: An attachment arrangement and method for mower reel drive wherein the rotating reel has its shaft rotatably mounted on a mower frame, and a rotational drive motor is also mounted on the frame. The facility of making the connection between the motor and the frame and of aligning the parts along a longitudinal axis for the drive relationship, are both involved, and pin connections are employed to achieve those objectives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Chesack, Jeffrey M. Arendt
  • Patent number: 5896734
    Abstract: A lawn mower having a rotation drive connection assembly including a reel shaft having concially shaped opposite ends and an interior threaded length in each of the opposite ends. A drive coupler with a conical shape on one end thereof mates with one of the reel conical ends and has a threaded opening for receiving a screw extending into the shaft for holding the coupler thereon. A spline is on the end of the coupler opposite its one end, and there a drive member with a spline engaged with the coupler spline, all for rotating the shaft. A counter-balance is threadedly attached in the assembly adjacent the end of the shaft opposite the coupler location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Chesack, Kenneth G. White
  • Patent number: 5884461
    Abstract: A disk mower moveable in a cutting direction includes a mower cutter support and a plurality of mowing disks mounted on the cutter support, the mowing disks being aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to the cutting direction. Each of the mowing disks rotate within a working circle having a working circle diameter, the working circle diameter of at least one of the mowing disks being different from the working circle diameter of at least one other mowing disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: H. Niemeyer Soehne GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Josef Ungruh, Hermann Tebbenhoff
  • Patent number: 5865017
    Abstract: A gang mower for garden tractors includes a frame, a hitch and either three, five or seven reel-type mower units attached to the frame. The frame is attached below the forward wheel axis of each mower unit. In action, the frame leverages the forward drive wheels downward to turn the mower blades when the frame is pulled forward by a garden tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Douglas Short
  • Patent number: 5865016
    Abstract: A latch mechanism which facilities installation and removal of a reel space type cutting head of a gang mower. The latch mechanism includes horizontal slots formed in the vertical plates of a pull frame. The horizontal slots receive bushings attached to the cutting head assembly. When the bushings engage the horizontal slots, locking plates are rotated to engage a horizontal crossrod and fixed in place so that the cutting head is locked in position to the pull frame. The cutting head can similarly be removed from the pull frame by moving the locking plates from a locked to an unlocked position, thereby opening the horizontal slots so that the bushings of the cutting head can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Ransomes America Corporation
    Inventor: Charles R. Toman
  • Patent number: 5829235
    Abstract: A deep groove ground-contacting roller for a reel type mower assembly having a plurality of interfitting intermediate roller segments and matching end segments mounted on a transverse bearing mounted axle rod in tight abutment. Stop rings engage the end segments and the axle rod to fix the roller segments on the rod to form a roller body. Each roller segment includes a cylindrical hub and a disc element extending radially therefrom with converging planar annular side surfaces intersecting to form a rounded ground-contacting ridge. The disc elements and the hub sections combine to form a deep groove with angled side surfaces and a right circular cylindrical bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventors: James Rice, Robert E. Erickson
  • Patent number: 5822960
    Abstract: A reel mower having side reel mower units and a center reel mower unit connected to a vehicle body to be vertically movable between a lower position for a grass cutting operation and an upper position for a non-operational run. The side reel mower units and center reel mower unit have reels driven by reel drives under control of a control mechanism. A forcible stopping device is provided for forcibly stopping the reel drives of the reel mower units with priority over control of the reel drives by the control mechanism when the side reel mower units and center reel mower unit are all in the upper positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Kitamura, Matsuo Tachibana, Koji Fujiwara, Osami Fujiwara, Kazuo Samejima, Junji Miyata, Yoshikazu Togoshi, Hironori Tsuchihashi, Yoshiyuki Esaki
  • Patent number: 5822966
    Abstract: A reel type lawn mower with an adjustable cutter bar to alter the position and angulation of the bar relative to the reel. Adjustable mountings extend between the cutter bar and the mower frame, and the cutter bar is adjustable along the arc on the circumference of the rotatable reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Textron Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne A. Snell, deceased
  • Patent number: 5794422
    Abstract: Provided is an electric drive riding greens mower. The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The motor generator set includes an internal combustion motor which provides the mechanical energy to an electric generator which provides electrical energy in response to the received mechanical energy. Further, the mower may include a hydraulic system for operation of reel lift assemblies and the steering mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Ransomes America Corporation
    Inventors: Kirk W. Reimers, Dammika Weeratunga
  • Patent number: 5743073
    Abstract: A forage harvester is provided with a rotatable cutterhead (9), a solid cylindrical grinding stone (15), a motor (33) for moving the stone (15) along a path adjacent the cutterhead (9) and an adjustment mechanism for moving the stone (15) towards the cutterhead (9). During the final stage of the sharpening cycle the stone (15) is automatically moved along the path at a substantially lower speed in order to improve the finishing of the cutterhead (9), such that the shearbar (11) can be adjusted closer to the rotating cutterhead (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: New Holland North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Bert Juul Frans Paquet
  • Patent number: 5732538
    Abstract: A mechanism for scraping debris from the roller of a reel mower cutting units, and including a rod member having end portions pivotally supported by brackets. A plate member is fixed with the rod member and includes a non-linear edge portion which generally mates with the surface of the roller. The weight of the rod and plate member urges the rod to pivot the plate member toward the roller for wiping debris from said roller. The rod members abut portions of the brackets for limiting pivoted motion of the rod and plate members away from the surface of the roller. The plate member can also be fixed to the rod member so that a straight edge portion of the plate member will wipe debris from a roller having a smooth surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Christopher Scott Thorman, Phillip Orland Swenson, Ronald Lee Reichen
  • Patent number: 5727372
    Abstract: A self-contained apparatus for charging a battery on an electrically powered turf maintenance vehicle. The charger includes an AC to DC converter for accepting a source of AC power and providing a DC voltage, a sensor for measuring the voltage level of the battery, and a controller for determining the voltage of the battery and for changing the charge rate of the battery. The apparatus also includes visual indicators for warning an operator of normal and abnormal charge conditions of the battery, as well as the remaining charge of the battery. Further, the controller uses a plurality of timers for determining the length of charge times and comparing the values of the timers with count values, wherein if the values exceed the count values, then a visual indicator is lit and charging is terminated. The apparatus is mounted in a box-type shell on-board the turf maintenance vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Allan Dale Kanitz, Jay Jeffrey Kakuk
  • Patent number: 5715664
    Abstract: An improved hydraulic drive system is provided for a vehicle having a plurality of ground engaging wheels which are each individually driven by a hydraulic motor to provide all wheel drive. The ground engaging wheels include a first pair of such wheels at or adjacent a first end of the vehicle and at least one other such wheel at or adjacent a second end of the vehicle. The hydraulic drive system includes a hydraulic flow circuit that connects the hydraulic motors for the wheel(s) at the second end of the vehicle in series to each other, to the fluid source, and to the drive motors for the wheels at the first end of the frame, which latter drive motors are connected in parallel to each other. Such a vehicle will provide superior traction ability as at least one wheel on each end of the vehicle must slip to bring the vehicle to a halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Steve A. Sallstrom, Gerald E. Goman, Joel M. Dunlap