US3601958A — Self-propelled rotary mower

Claim 1

Independent Claim 294 words

In combination, a four-wheel traction vehicle having an engine for powering said vehicle and characterized by having a relatively low center of gravity and wide wheel base; a rotary mowing unit having a covering deck and a plurality of cutting blades mounted to said deck for rotation about a vertical axis and located beneath said deck; adjustable suspension means for supporting said deck beneath said vehicle at a predetermined but adjustable height above the ground, said suspension means permitting said mowing unit to be raised when the same encounters a ground obstacle while preventing said unit from being lowered below said predetermined height and including flexible link means interconnecting said mower deck and said vehicle for supporting said mowing unit; lift means carried by said vehicle and coupled to said flexible link means for raising and lowering said mowing unit to said predetermined height; drive means including a belt drive system for coupling power from said engine to drive said blades; first and second side linkage means separately interconnecting said deck with said vehicle for maintaining said deck in parallel relation with a line extending in the direction of travel of said vehicle while permitting said mowing unit to be tilted about said line whereby one side of said mowing unit may be raised in parallel relation and independent of the other side; a wishbone linkage having a neck pivotally connected with the vehicle frame and first and second base portions pivotally interconnecting with the deck of said mowing unit whereby said mowing unit may be raised and lowered relative to said vehicle while stabilized against rotation about a vertical axis; and counterbalancing link mechanism interconnecting said deck of said mowing unit with said vehicle for partially offsetting the weight of said mowing unit.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 294 words

In combination, a four-wheel traction vehicle having an engine for powering said vehicle and characterized by having a relatively low center of gravity and wide wheel base; a rotary mowing unit having a covering deck and a plurality of cutting blades mounted to said deck for rotation about a vertical axis and located beneath said deck; adjustable suspension means for supporting said deck beneath said vehicle at a predetermined but adjustable height above the ground, said suspension means permitting said mowing unit to be raised when the same encounters a ground obstacle while preventing said unit from being lowered below said predetermined height and including flexible link means interconnecting said mower deck and said vehicle for supporting said mowing unit; lift means carried by said vehicle and coupled to said flexible link means for raising and lowering said mowing unit to said predetermined height; drive means including a belt drive system for coupling power from said engine to drive said blades; first and second side linkage means separately interconnecting said deck with said vehicle for maintaining said deck in parallel relation with a line extending in the direction of travel of said vehicle while permitting said mowing unit to be tilted about said line whereby one side of said mowing unit may be raised in parallel relation and independent of the other side; a wishbone linkage having a neck pivotally connected with the vehicle frame and first and second base portions pivotally interconnecting with the deck of said mowing unit whereby said mowing unit may be raised and lowered relative to said vehicle while stabilized against rotation about a vertical axis; and counterbalancing link mechanism interconnecting said deck of said mowing unit with said vehicle for partially offsetting the weight of said mowing unit.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 127 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first and second side linkage means each comprise a scissors linkage including first and second links pivotally interconnected with each other intermediate their ends, a first end of said first and second links being pivotally connected respectively with said mower deck and said vehicle, the other ends of said first and second links defining slots for receiving first and second pins connected respectively to said vehicle and said mower deck spaced apart from said first and second pivotal connections whereby said slots will ride along their associated pins when said mowing unit is raised and lowered relative to said vehicle while maintaining each side of said unit parallel to a horizontal line in the direction of travel of said vehicle.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 131 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mowing unit deck defines an open side for the passage of cut materials and wherein said cutter blades are horizontally mounted at least about 4 inches beneath the top of said deck thereby to provide an enlarged upper cavity between said blades and said deck and communicating with said side opening for passing substantial amounts of cut material above said blades and out said side opening when said combination is cutting at high speeds, said rotary blades arranged in said mower deck including first and second side blades and a forwardly disposed center blade, the swaths of said blades overlapping in the direction of movement of said vehicle, said blades defining an upward draft for moving cut materials thereabove and into said Enlarged cavity.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 89 words

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the forward end of said mower deck includes first and second, forwardly and downwardly projecting plates extending from the top of said deck and inclined relative to each other to define a pilot for said mowing unit, and a rearwardly and downwardly projecting rear plate, whereby heavy objects struck by said rotating blades and deflected by said pilot or rear plate of said deck will be directed downwardly and the cut material directed upwardly of said blades and exhausted through said side opening.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising first and second ground-engaging runners attached to the sides of said mower deck respectively and disposed beneath the same to define a minimum height for the cutter blades when said runners slide along the ground.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising rear roller means pivotally attached centrally of said rear plate of said mower deck and extending beneath the same for engaging ground elevations occuring in the center of said mower deck.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 291 words

In combination, a traction vehicle having a frame and a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels; a cutter unit including a deck beneath said vehicle and between said front and rear wheels; scissors linkage mechanism interconnecting each side of said deck with said vehicle frame for permitting raising of either side of said cutter unit independently of the other while preventing tilt of said cutter unit in a fore-and-aft direction, link means interconnecting said cutter deck and said frame for permitting raising and lowering of said deck while preventing rotation thereof relative to said frame about a vertical axis; adjustable flexible link means interconnecting said cutter deck with said frame for supporting the same and setting the minimum height of the cutter unit above the ground while permitting raising of the same; spring means interconnecting said frame with said mower deck for resiliently urging said deck in an upward direction to at least partially offset the weight of said mower unit; said cutter unit further including a plurality of rotatable cutter blades mounted for rotation about the vertical axes and wherein each of said rotatable cutter mountings include a first plate above said cutter deck top plate, a second plate above said cutter deck top plate, a first bearing in said second plate, an inverted conical-shaped housing secured beneath said second plate and extending downwardly therefrom, a second bearing located at the bottom of said conical housing, a shaft attached to one of said blades and extending vertically through said first and second bearing plates and rotatably received therein and defining a portion extending above said first plate, and a pulley mounted to said shaft above said first plate and said top plate of said cutter deck.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 291 words

In combination, a traction vehicle having a frame and a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels; a cutter unit including a deck beneath said vehicle and between said front and rear wheels; scissors linkage mechanism interconnecting each side of said deck with said vehicle frame for permitting raising of either side of said cutter unit independently of the other while preventing tilt of said cutter unit in a fore-and-aft direction, link means interconnecting said cutter deck and said frame for permitting raising and lowering of said deck while preventing rotation thereof relative to said frame about a vertical axis; adjustable flexible link means interconnecting said cutter deck with said frame for supporting the same and setting the minimum height of the cutter unit above the ground while permitting raising of the same; spring means interconnecting said frame with said mower deck for resiliently urging said deck in an upward direction to at least partially offset the weight of said mower unit; said cutter unit further including a plurality of rotatable cutter blades mounted for rotation about the vertical axes and wherein each of said rotatable cutter mountings include a first plate above said cutter deck top plate, a second plate above said cutter deck top plate, a first bearing in said second plate, an inverted conical-shaped housing secured beneath said second plate and extending downwardly therefrom, a second bearing located at the bottom of said conical housing, a shaft attached to one of said blades and extending vertically through said first and second bearing plates and rotatably received therein and defining a portion extending above said first plate, and a pulley mounted to said shaft above said first plate and said top plate of said cutter deck.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 58 words

The combination of claim 7 wherein each of said first and second plates for said side cutter mountings define slots extending in the direction of travel of said vehicle and said deck defines a slot for receiving said cutter shaft whereby said sitter units may be moved to tighten their associated drive belts as they stretch with wear.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-08-30	1975-03-01	1975-08-31	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-08-30	1979-03-01	1979-08-31	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-08-30	1983-03-01	1983-08-31	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Self-propelled rotary mower

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