Suspension system for a mower unit

Claim 2

A mower suspension system for a mobile lawn vehicle, comprising in combination: a frame structure; a transversely extending front axle pivotally mounted to said frame structure about a longitudinally extending axis; a transversely extending rear axle mounted to said frame structure and spaced rearwardly from said front axle; wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of said front and rear axles; a mower unit disposed beneath said frame structure intermediately between said front and rear axles, said mower unit including cutting means therein; ground engaging means associated with said mower unit for maintaining said cutting means a predetermiNed height above the ground; support means fixed to said front axle; draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said support means for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle; a lift linkage structure pivotally interconnecting a rear portion of said mower unit with said frame structure, said lift linkage structure being approximately equal in length to said draft linkage means and disposed in a general parallel relationship thereto.

Claim 3

A mower suspension system, as recited in claim 1, wherein said lift linkage structure includes a ball joint attaching assembly for interconnecting a rear mounting bracket fixed to said mower unit with said lift linkage structure.

Claim 4

A mower suspension system, as recited in claim 2, wherein said draft linkage structure comprises a slender U-shaped rod having a base portion connected to said support means and a pair of arms extending from opposite ends of said base portion to said mower unit for connection therewith.

Claim 5

A mower suspension, as recited in claim 3, wherein said support means comprises a generally inverted U-shape support attachment having a back portion fixed to the underside of said front axle, a pair of laterally spaced legs depending downwardly from said back portion, each of said legs including an opening for receiving said base portion of said draft linkage and a flange portion extending from said back portion and rotatively disposed about the longitudinal pivot axis of said front axle.

Claim 6

A mower suspension system for a mobile lawn vehicle comprising in combination: a frame structure having a power source disposed thereon; a pair of laterally spaced front wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of a transverse front axle which is pivotally connected to said frame structure about a generally centrally extending longitudinal axis; a pair of laterally spaced attaching brackets fixed to and extending from said axle; a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of a transverse rear axle, said rear axle being mounted to said frame structure and spaced rearwardly of said front axle; a mower unit tractively coupled beneath said frame structure intermediately between said front and rear wheels, said mower unit including a housing having cutting means therein drivingly interconnected to said power source, said housing further including a pair of laterally spaced front mounting brackets and a rear mounting bracket; ground engaging means associated with said mower housing for maintaining said cutting means a predetermined height above the ground; draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a pair of laterally spaced front connecting arms pivotally interconnecting said front axle attaching brackets and said front mower housing mounting brackets, each arm being pivotally connected about one end to a respective front axle attaching bracket and pivotally connected about the other end to a respective mower mounting bracket; and a rear lift linkage structure having one end pivotally connected to said frame structure about a transverse axis and the other end pivotally connected to said rear mower mounting bracket, said arms and rear lift linkage structure being of approximate equal length and disposed in general parallel relationship such that the longitudinal center line of the mower unit moves up and down generally parallel to said frame structure as said ground engaging means moves over undulations in the ground.

Claim 7

A mower suspension system for a mobile lawn vehicle comprising in combination: a frame structure having a power source disposed thereon; a pair of laterally spaced front wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of a transverse front axle which is pivotally connected to said frame structure about a generally centrally extending longitudinal axis; a pair of laterally spaced attaching brackets fixed to and extending from said axle; a pair of laterally spaced rear wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of a transverse rear axle, said rear axle being mounted to said frame structure and spaced rearwardly of said front axle; a mower unit tractively coupled beneath said frame structure intermediately between said front and rear wheels, said mower unit including a housing having cutting means therein drivingly interconnected to said power source, said housing further including a pair of laterally spaced front mounting brackets and a rear mounting bracket; ground engaging means associated with said mower housing for maintaining said cutting means a predetermined height above the ground; draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a pair of laterally spaced front connecting arms pivotally interconnecting said front axle attaching brackets and said front mower housing mounting brackets, each arm being pivotally connected about one end to a respective front axle attaching bracket and pivotally connected about the other end to a respective mower mounting bracket; and a rear lift linkage structure having one end pivotally connected to said frame structure about a transverse axis and the other end pivotally connected to said rear mower mounting bracket, said arms and rear lift linkage structure being of approximate equal length and disposed in general parallel relationship such that the longitudinal center line of the mower unit moves up and down generally parallel to said frame structure as said ground engaging means moves over undulations in the ground.

Claim 8

A mower suspension system for a mobile lawn vehicle comprising: a mobile frame structure; a front axle pivotally mounted about a longitudinally extending axis to said frame structure and revolvable tHereabout; a rear axle mounted to said frame structure rearwardly of said front axle; wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of said front and rear axles; an attachment support fixed to said front axle and depending therefrom, said attachment support having a pair of laterally spaced legs with attaching openings therein; a mower unit disposed beneath said frame structure intermediately between said front and rear axles, said mower unit including a housing structure having cutting elements therein and a pair of laterally spaced front mounting brackets fixed thereto; a rear mounting bracket fixed to a center rear portion of said mower housing and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper portion of said rear mounting bracket having a ball joint attaching assembly disposed therein; draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a front draft linkage structure interconnecting said legs of said attaching support with the front mounting brackets of said mower housing, said draft linkage structure including a pair of corresponding arms each pivotally connected at one end to a respective leg and pivotally connected at the other end to a respective mower housing mounting bracket; and a rear lift linkage structure having one end pivotally connected to said frame about a transverse axis that extends generally parallel to the two pivot axes formed by the connection of said draft arms with said attaching support legs and mower housing mounting brackets, the other end of said lift linkage being pivotally mounted to said ball joint assembly, said lift linkage structure being of approximately equal length as said front draft linkage structure and disposed in parallel relationship thereto such that the linkage structures interconnecting said frame structure and mower unit defines a general parallel four bar linkage that permits the mower unit to move up and down in a plane generally parallel to said frame structure but further enables the mower unit to tilt to a degree from side to side in response to the pivotal movement of said front axle as said front wheels move over ground irregularities.

Claim 9

A mower suspension system for a mobile lawn vehicle comprising: a mobile frame structure; a front axle pivotally mounted about a longitudinally extending axis to said frame structure and revolvable tHereabout; a rear axle mounted to said frame structure rearwardly of said front axle; wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of said front and rear axles; an attachment support fixed to said front axle and depending therefrom, said attachment support having a pair of laterally spaced legs with attaching openings therein; a mower unit disposed beneath said frame structure intermediately between said front and rear axles, said mower unit including a housing structure having cutting elements therein and a pair of laterally spaced front mounting brackets fixed thereto; a rear mounting bracket fixed to a center rear portion of said mower housing and extending upwardly therefrom, the upper portion of said rear mounting bracket having a ball joint attaching assembly disposed therein; draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a front draft linkage structure interconnecting said legs of said attaching support with the front mounting brackets of said mower housing, said draft linkage structure including a pair of corresponding arms each pivotally connected at one end to a respective leg and pivotally connected at the other end to a respective mower housing mounting bracket; and a rear lift linkage structure having one end pivotally connected to said frame about a transverse axis that extends generally parallel to the two pivot axes formed by the connection of said draft arms with said attaching support legs and mower housing mounting brackets, the other end of said lift linkage being pivotally mounted to said ball joint assembly, said lift linkage structure being of approximately equal length as said front draft linkage structure and disposed in parallel relationship thereto such that the linkage structures interconnecting said frame structure and mower unit defines a general parallel four bar linkage that permits the mower unit to move up and down in a plane generally parallel to said frame structure but further enables the mower unit to tilt to a degree from side to side in response to the pivotal movement of said front axle as said front wheels move over ground irregularities.

Claim 10

A mower suspension system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said front draft linkage structure is comprised of a generally U-shaped rod having a base portion extending between said arms, said base portion being adapted for insertion into the openings of attachment support legs.

Claim 11

A mower suspension system, as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said legs of said attachment support is provided with a latch pivotally mounted adjacent the opening in each leg and adapted to curl therearound and secure said base portion of said U-shaped rod in said openings, each of said legs further provided with a lock pivotally mounted adjacent said latch and having an end portion adapted to engage said latch for locking the same and securing the base portion in said openings.

Claim 12

A mower suspension, as recited in claim 6, wherein said front axle is pivotally mounted about a longitudinally extending shaft and wherein said attachment support which is fixed to said front axle further includes a flange portion rotatively mounted around said shaft, thus tending to stabilize the front axle.

Claim 13

A mower suspension system, as recited in claim 6, wherein said rear lift linkage structure includes a pair of links each pivotally connected to corresponding outside portions of said frame structure and depending generally downwardly and inwardly therefrom to where their lower portions are disposed in spaced apart relationship and have transverse aligned openings therein for receiving a connecting pin which when employed extends through said transverse aligned openings and the ball joint attaching assembly, thereby coupling the rear of said mower unit to said rear lift linkage strUcture.

Claim 14

In a mobile lawn vehicle having a main frame, a transverse front axle pivotally mounted for rocking movement about an axis disposed centrally of said main frame and extending longitudinally with respect thereto, mounting brackets fixed to said front axle and extending therefrom, a rear axle spaced rearwardly of said front axle and disposed transversely across the rear of said main frame, wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of said front and rear axles, a mower unit having cutting elements therein tractively coupled beneath the main frame of said lawn vehicle intermediately between said front and rear axles, the improvement comprising: a three point mower suspension system including draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a pair of generally coplanar laterally spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to said front axle mounting brackets and extending therefrom where the other ends are pivotally connected to front mounting brackets on said mower unit, and a rear linkage structure pivotally secured at one end to said main frame rearwardly of said front axle and extending therefrom where the other end is pivotally connected at a single point to said mower unit, the single point connection being spaced rearwardly of the connection of said arms with said mower unit, said rear linkage structure being approximately equal in length to each of said arms and disposed in general parallel relationship thereto, whereby said mower unit may tilt from side to side while the longitudinal center line thereof remains generally parallel to said main frame.

Claim 15

In a mobile lawn vehicle having a main frame, a transverse front axle pivotally mounted for rocking movement about an axis disposed centrally of said main frame and extending longitudinally with respect thereto, mounting brackets fixed to said front axle and extending therefrom, a rear axle spaced rearwardly of said front axle and disposed transversely across the rear of said main frame, wheels rotatively mounted on opposite ends of said front and rear axles, a mower unit having cutting elements therein tractively coupled beneath the main frame of said lawn vehicle intermediately between said front and rear axles, the improvement comprising: a three point mower suspension system including draft linkage means pivotally interconnecting a forward portion of said mower unit with said front axle for allowing said mower unit to tilt from side to side in response to the pivotable movement of said front axle, said draft linkage means including a pair of generally coplanar laterally spaced arms pivotally connected at one end to said front axle mounting brackets and extending therefrom where the other ends are pivotally connected to front mounting brackets on said mower unit, and a rear linkage structure pivotally secured at one end to said main frame rearwardly of said front axle and extending therefrom where the other end is pivotally connected at a single point to said mower unit, the single point connection being spaced rearwardly of the connection of said arms with said mower unit, said rear linkage structure being approximately equal in length to each of said arms and disposed in general parallel relationship thereto, whereby said mower unit may tilt from side to side while the longitudinal center line thereof remains generally parallel to said main frame.