Seven gang hydraulic reel mower

Claim 2

A hydraulically operated gang mower assembly for mounting on a tractor including: a generally U-shaped frame having the open portion thereof adapted to extend toward the front of said tractor, means to fasten the frame at the open end thereof to the tractor at a location forward of the rear drive axle of the tractor, means to suspend said frame from said rear drive axle of said tractor, a hydraulic circuit having means for connection to a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure, mower arms pivotally mounted on said frame and operated by hydraulic cylinders and pistons mounted on said frame and connected to said hydraulic circuit.

Claim 3

The gang mower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that at least one of said mower arms extends forwardly relative to said tractor and is pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation about a transversely extending generally horizontal axis and at least one rearwardly extending mower arm is pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation about a transversely extending generally horizontal axis, and said forwardly and rearwardly extending mower arms are connected to a single hydraulic cylinder and piston for simultaneous operation.

Claim 4

The gang mower assembly of claim 2 further characterized in that one of said arms is connected to said cylinder and piston by means including a bell crank and a chain and the other of said arms is connected to said cylinder and piston by means including a lug attached to said mower support arm and a pivotal finger which engages said lug, said chain and said finger being arranged to provide lost motion connections between the piston and the mower arms.

Claim 5

The gang mower assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that at least one of said mower arms extends forwardly relative to said tractor and is pivotally mounted on said frame beneath said tracTor for rotation about a transversely extending, generally horizontal axis and at least one of said mower arms extends rearwardly of said tractor and is pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation about the transversely extending, generally horizontal axis, said forwardly and rearwardly extending arms are connected to a single hydraulic cylinder and piston for simultaneous operation, a first pair of laterally spaced mower arms are attached to he frame, one on each side of said tractor with each arm being pivotally mounted for rotation about a separate longitudinally extending generally horizontal axis, a separate hydraulic cylinder and piston is provided in said circuit for raising and lowering each laterally spaced mower arm of said first pair, a second pair of laterally spaced mower arms are mounted on said frame and are located rearwardly of said tractor with each arm being pivotally mounted for rotation about a separate longitudinally extending, generally horizontal axis, a separate hydraulic cylinder and piston are provided in the circuit for raising and lowering each rearwardly located mower arm of said second pair, and all of said hydraulic cylinders and pistons are connected in said circuit in series and are extendable to lower said mower arms and are retractable to raise said mower arms.

Claim 6

The gang mower assembly of claim 4 further characterized by a lifting mechanism for each of said first pair of side mounted mower arms including: a crank arm fastened to said arm adjacent the pivotal mounting of said arm, a pivotally mounted lever located on the opposite side of said pivotal mounting from said arm, a link connecting the free ends of said lever and said crank arm, and a hydraulic piston rod connected to said lever.

Claim 7

The gang mower assembly of claim 4 further characterized in that said second pair of laterally spaced mower arms each includes a first member pivotally attached to said frame for rotation about a generally horizontal axis, a second member pivotally connected to said first member at the free end thereof for rotation about an axis extending at right angles to said first member''s pivotal axis, means pivotally connecting said second member to a mower for rotation of said mower about the longitudinal axis of said second member and about an axis extending at right angles to said second member, and stop means to limit folding movement of said second member relative to said first member.

Claim 8

A hydraulic drive assembly for a plurality of hydraulic motor operated reel mowers carried by a tractor having a power take-off, including: a hydraulic pump driven by said power take-off, at least two hydraulic fluid circuits connected to said hydraulic pump, at least two of said hydraulic motors located in each of said circuits and connected in series in each of said circuits, and means to provide an equal flow of hydraulic fluid in each circuit.

Claim 9

A hydraulic drive assembly for a plurality of hydraulic motor operated reel mowers carried by a tractor having a power take-off, including: a hydraulic pump driven by said power take-off, at least two hydraulic fluid circuits connected to said hydraulic pump, at least two of said hydraulic motors located in each of said circuits and connected in series in each of said circuits, and means to provide an equal flow of hydraulic fluid in each circuit.

Claim 10

The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 1 further characterized in that said means to provide an equal flow of hydraulic fluid in each circuit is a proportionator.

Claim 11

The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 8 further characterized in that said hydraulic circuits discharge into at least one reservoir and said proportionator is located therein.

Claim 12

The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 7 further characterized in that said hydraulic circuits discharge to a first nonvented, internally baffled reservoir, said first reservoir is connected to a second reservoir which is atmospherically vented, and said means to provide an equal flow of hydraulic fluid in each circuit is a proportioner which is located in said first reservoir.

Claim 13

The hydraulic drive assembly of claim 10 further characterized in that sufficient baffles are positioned in said first reservoir to create back pressure due to the return of hydraulic fluid from the circuits on the order of at least several pounds per square inch.

Claim 14

The hydraulic drive assEmbly of claim 10 further characterized in that each of said reservoirs has at least one sloping wall to reduce the cross-sectional area of the top surface thereof.

Claim 15

The gang mower assembly of claim 11 further characterized in that the total fluid capacity of said nonvented and vented reservoirs is slightly greater than the total rated output per minute of said hydraulic pump.

Claim 16

Apparatus for mounting a power driven mower on a vehicle to allow the mower to closely follow undulations of the ground during cutting operations, said apparatus including: an arm, means for connecting one end of said arm to a vehicle for rotation of said arm about a generally horizontal axis, means for connecting a power driven mower to the free end of said arm to provide said mower with universal rotation and tilting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes with said movement about said axes being at least sufficient to enable the mower to follow undulations of the type normally encountered while cutting grass, and ground engaging means on said mower for supporting and steering the mower during grass cutting operations.

Claim 17

Apparatus for mounting a power driven mower on a vehicle to allow the mower to closely follow undulations of the ground during cutting operations, said apparatus including: an arm, means for connecting one end of said arm to a vehicle for rotation of said arm about a generally horizontal axis, means for connecting a power driven mower to the free end of said arm to provide said mower with universal rotation and tilting movement about three mutually perpendicular axes with said movement about said axes being at least sufficient to enable the mower to follow undulations of the type normally encountered while cutting grass, and ground engaging means on said mower for supporting and steering the mower during grass cutting operations.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 14 in which said means connecting said mower to said arm is a ball connector.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 14 further characterized in that said ground engaging means includes a pair of caster wheels at the front of said mower and a roller at the rear of the mower.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that said power driven mower is a reel mower.