Patent US3678836A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3777459A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3777459A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mowing device
Assignee: Harrington Manufacturing Co Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-08
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1991-07-08
Abstract
Abstract My invention pertains to a mowing device that can easily and continuously operate on slopes as great as 40 degrees without danger of overturning. My mowing device comprises a wheel supported framework and a cradle section supported by said framework so that the cradle section can swing through at least a limited arc with respect to its supporting framework as the mower unit moves from level to sloping ground, to thus maintain the cradle section in an essentially level attitude at all times. The invention also includes other novel features useful on a mowing device, including steering mechanism, etc.
Inventors
- 👤 B Elliott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:52
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D34/00; A01D34/835; A01D34/86; A01D34/866
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
392 words
A mower device which is particularly well adapted to operate on slopes that are at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal which device comprises in combination: a. four spaced apart wheel units, each of which includes a wide tread tire mounted on a wheel and wheel support means, b. a hydraulic motor for driving said wheels, c. a main framework interconnecting said wheel support means, said main framework comprising a front axle section connecting the front wheel units and a rear axle section interconnecting the rear wheel units, said front axle section being mounted so that it can pivot through a vertical plane, d. at least one mower section supported by said main framework, each said mower section being adapted to cut grass, weeds or brush therebeneath, e. two spaced apart cradle unit support means located at spaced apart points on said main framework and extending above the level of the wheel units, f. a cradle unit pivotally supported by said spaced apart cradle unit support means, in such a manner that said cradle unit can swing under the influence of gravity through a limited arc with respect to said main framework so that the cradle unit can be maintained in an essentially ''''level'''' attitude at all times, the center of gravity of said cradle unit being lower than the level of the points from which it is pivotally supported by said cradle unit support means, g. a seat for the operator of said mower, said seat comprising a part of said cradle unit so that said seat can also maintain an essentially level attitude at all times, and h. a steering control unit located on said cradle unit which is adapted to be manipulated by the operator, i. a wheel turning mechanism located on a portion of the mower device other than the cradle unit which is capable of turning at least one of said wheels, j. a motor driven pump for generating a pressurized hydraulic fluid system,said motor driven pump being located on said cradle unit, k. one portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting said hydraulic motor with said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, l. a second portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting the said steering control unit, the said wheel turning mechanism and said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
392 words
A mower device which is particularly well adapted to operate on slopes that are at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal which device comprises in combination: a. four spaced apart wheel units, each of which includes a wide tread tire mounted on a wheel and wheel support means, b. a hydraulic motor for driving said wheels, c. a main framework interconnecting said wheel support means, said main framework comprising a front axle section connecting the front wheel units and a rear axle section interconnecting the rear wheel units, said front axle section being mounted so that it can pivot through a vertical plane, d. at least one mower section supported by said main framework, each said mower section being adapted to cut grass, weeds or brush therebeneath, e. two spaced apart cradle unit support means located at spaced apart points on said main framework and extending above the level of the wheel units, f. a cradle unit pivotally supported by said spaced apart cradle unit support means, in such a manner that said cradle unit can swing under the influence of gravity through a limited arc with respect to said main framework so that the cradle unit can be maintained in an essentially ''''level'''' attitude at all times, the center of gravity of said cradle unit being lower than the level of the points from which it is pivotally supported by said cradle unit support means, g. a seat for the operator of said mower, said seat comprising a part of said cradle unit so that said seat can also maintain an essentially level attitude at all times, and h. a steering control unit located on said cradle unit which is adapted to be manipulated by the operator, i. a wheel turning mechanism located on a portion of the mower device other than the cradle unit which is capable of turning at least one of said wheels, j. a motor driven pump for generating a pressurized hydraulic fluid system,said motor driven pump being located on said cradle unit, k. one portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting said hydraulic motor with said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, l. a second portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting the said steering control unit, the said wheel turning mechanism and said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein said cradle unit includes an internal combustion engine that will swing through a limited arc with respect to the main framework at the same time that the cradle unit swings through a limited arc with respect to the main framework.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mower device according to claim 2 wherein said cradle unit also includes a reservoir for hydraulic fluid and a hydraulic pump driven by said internal combustion engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein there are three mower sections, two being disposed forwardly in a side-by-side manner and one disposed rearwardly and centrally of said two forwardly disposed mowers, all of said mowers being located behind the front wheels and in front of the back wheels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein said wheel turning mechanism includes: a. drag rods connected at their outer ends to wheel units in such a manner that both vertical and horizontal movement is possible, b. the inner ends of said drag rods being attached to a centralized lever device located intermediate the sides of the mower device and intermediate the front and back ends of said mower device; c. said lever device being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis; d. at least one double-acting hydraulic cylinder for causing said lever means to pivot about its axis; and e. means for hydraulically interconnecting said at least one double-acting hydraulic cylinder to the steering control unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein at least one mower section is suspended from said main framework by means of at least two hangers that can be pivoted around a fixed point connected to the main framework.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the hydraulic means for driving each of the wheels consists of a hydraulic motor and associated chain and sprocket means for driving the axle of a wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein said steering control means includes a steering wheel mounted on a steering column and the angular disposition of said column is mounted with respect to the main framework so that its angular disposition can be varied.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the mower device includes three mower sections all of which are under a common hood that can be raised as desired by the operator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the operator''s seat is located on said cradle unit and forwardly of both the front wheels and the mower sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the operator''s seat is locaTed on said cradle unit and rearwardly of both the rear wheels and the mower sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein said wheel turning mechanism causes the wheels that are on the inside of a turn to rotate to a greater extent than the wheels on the outside of the turn.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the hydraulic circuit interconnecting the hydraulic motors that drive the wheels includes a flow divider valve which can be actuated so as to cause a substantially equal flow of hydraulic fluid to all hydraulic motors whereby the wheels will be driven at approximately equal speeds during the time that the flow divider valve is being actuated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mower device according to claim 13 wherein the means for actuating said flow divider valve is located adjacent the operator''s seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein the blades of each mower unit have tips to cause the grass therebeneath to lift up.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein all mower units will raise or descend in unison.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mower device according to claim 1 wherein each mower unit can be raised or lowered individually.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mower unit according to claim 1 wherein the wheel turning mechanism causes the rear wheels to turn in a direction opposite to said front wheels.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
343 words
A mower device which is particularly well adapted to operate on slopes that are at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal which device comprises in combination: a. a plurality of spaced apart wheel units, each of which includes a wheel and wheel support means, b. drive means for at least one of said wheels, c. a main framework interconnecting said wheel support means, d. at least one mower section supported by said main framework, each said mower section being adapted to cut grass, weeds or brush therebeneath, e. two spaced apart cradle unit support means located at spaced apart points on said main framework, f. a cradle unit pivotally supported by said spaced apart cradle unit support means in such a manner that said cradle unit can swing under the influence of gravity through a limited arc with respect to said main framework so that the cradle unit can be maintained in an essentially ''''level'''' attitude at all times, the center of gravity of said cradle unit being lower than the level of the points from which it is pivotally supported by said cradle unit support means, g. a seat for the operator of said mower, said seat comprising a part of said cradle unit so that said seat can also maintain an essentially level attitude at all times, and h. a steering control unit located on said cradle unit which is adapted to be manipulated by the operator, i. a wheel turning mechanism located on a portion of the mower device other than the cradle unit which is capable of turning at least one of said wheels, j. a motor driven pump for generating a pressurized hydraulic fluid system, said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, k. one portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting said hydraulic motor with said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, l. a second portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting the said steering control unit, the said wheel turning mechanism and said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
343 words
A mower device which is particularly well adapted to operate on slopes that are at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal which device comprises in combination: a. a plurality of spaced apart wheel units, each of which includes a wheel and wheel support means, b. drive means for at least one of said wheels, c. a main framework interconnecting said wheel support means, d. at least one mower section supported by said main framework, each said mower section being adapted to cut grass, weeds or brush therebeneath, e. two spaced apart cradle unit support means located at spaced apart points on said main framework, f. a cradle unit pivotally supported by said spaced apart cradle unit support means in such a manner that said cradle unit can swing under the influence of gravity through a limited arc with respect to said main framework so that the cradle unit can be maintained in an essentially ''''level'''' attitude at all times, the center of gravity of said cradle unit being lower than the level of the points from which it is pivotally supported by said cradle unit support means, g. a seat for the operator of said mower, said seat comprising a part of said cradle unit so that said seat can also maintain an essentially level attitude at all times, and h. a steering control unit located on said cradle unit which is adapted to be manipulated by the operator, i. a wheel turning mechanism located on a portion of the mower device other than the cradle unit which is capable of turning at least one of said wheels, j. a motor driven pump for generating a pressurized hydraulic fluid system, said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, k. one portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting said hydraulic motor with said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit, l. a second portion of said pressurized hydraulic system interconnecting the said steering control unit, the said wheel turning mechanism and said motor driven pump located on said cradle unit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |