Floatational front mounted mower assembly for power vehicles

Claim 2

A propelled mower apparatus of the type employing a power vehicle including a frame, said vehicle having a front end and a back end, mower head support brackets pivotally mounted on said frame at each side thereof and pivotable both vertically and transversely, with respect to said frame at a pivot point substantially removed from said front end of said vehicle, force absorbing means coupling said brackets at said pivot point to said frame, said brackets extending beyond said front end of said frame, and a cylindrical mowing assembly rotatably secured at each front end of said brackets and adapted to cut vegetation in an undulating surface due to the pivoting of said support brackets with respect to said frame.

Claim 3

The mower apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said power vehicle is an all terrain vehicle of the type employing crawling tracks.

Claim 4

The mower apparatus according to claim 1 further including a hydraulic cylinder assembly coupled to said support brackets and adapted to raise or lower the same when a source of power activates said cylinder.

Claim 5

Apparatus for mowing vegetation on undulating terrains including a power driven vehicle of the type including a frame assembly having a front end and a back end, in combination therewith apparatus for providing a front, floatational mower assembly, comprising: a. first and second rails rigidly secured to a first and second side of said frame, b. a first and second support bracket, each respectively pivotally secured to one said first and second rails, and pivotable with respect thereto in both a vertical and horizontal direction, said support brackets positioned on said rails at a point removed from either end of said rail, c. a pivot juncture means secured to said first and second rails at a point on said rail nearer said back end of said vehicle, d. force absorbing means coupling said first and second support brackets to said respective pivot juncture to cause extraneous forces to be absorbed about said juncture, and e. a vegetation cutting assembly mounted on said support brackets at said front eNd of said vehicle.

Claim 6

Apparatus for mowing vegetation on undulating terrains including a power driven vehicle of the type including a frame assembly having a front end and a back end, in combination therewith apparatus for providing a front, floatational mower assembly, comprising: a. first and second rails rigidly secured to a first and second side of said frame, b. a first and second support bracket, each respectively pivotally secured to one said first and second rails, and pivotable with respect thereto in both a vertical and horizontal direction, said support brackets positioned on said rails at a point removed from either end of said rail, c. a pivot juncture means secured to said first and second rails at a point on said rail nearer said back end of said vehicle, d. force absorbing means coupling said first and second support brackets to said respective pivot juncture to cause extraneous forces to be absorbed about said juncture, and e. a vegetation cutting assembly mounted on said support brackets at said front eNd of said vehicle.

Claim 7

The appartus according to claim 4 wherein said power driven vehicle is an all terrain vehicle incorporating crawling tracks for propelling the same.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said support brackets as pivotally secured to said rails includes a bearing coupling means operative to function as a knuckle joint.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said force absorbing means includes a cylinder having a piston portion and a cylindrical housing portion, said piston portion coupled to said support bracket and said cylindrical housing portion coupled to said pivot juncture means, and b. a source of power coupled to said cylinder and operative to move said piston with respect to said housing portion to raise or lower said support bracket in a relatively vertical plane.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said vegetation cutting assembly comprises a rotatable cylinder incorporating on a surface thereof, a plurality of moveable cutting knives adapted to cut upon rotation of said cylinder.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 4 further including a steel spring coupled at one end to said juncture point and adapted to contract and expand thereabout to absorb rapid perturbations due to undulations of said terrain.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said cylinder is hydraulic.

Claim 13

Apparatus for mowing vegetation on undulating terrains, including a power driven vehicle of the type including a frame assembly having a front end and a back end, the improvement therewith of apparatus for providing a front, floatational mower suspension assembly, comprising: a. first and second L-shaped support brackets pivotally mounted on a respective side of said frame of said vehicle and pivotable vertically and transverse to said side; with the one arm of said ''''L'''' extending towards the front end of said frame and the other extending relatively upward therefrom, b. pivot juncture means secured to said frame nearer said back end thereof, c. force absorbing means coupling said upward extending arm of said L-shaped bracket to said pivot juncture to cause forces exerted on said support bracket to be directed towards said pivot juncture means and, d. a cylindrical cutting head rotatably mounted between said first and second support brackets and beyond said front end of said frame, said head including a plurality of cutting blades on a surface thereof.

Claim 14

Apparatus for mowing vegetation on undulating terrains, including a power driven vehicle of the type including a frame assembly having a front end and a back end, the improvement therewith of apparatus for providing a front, floatational mower suspension assembly, comprising: a. first and second L-shaped support brackets pivotally mounted on a respective side of said frame of said vehicle and pivotable vertically and transverse to said side; with the one arm of said ''''L'''' extending towards the front end of said frame and the other extending relatively upward therefrom, b. pivot juncture means secured to said frame nearer said back end thereof, c. force absorbing means coupling said upward extending arm of said L-shaped bracket to said pivot juncture to cause forces exerted on said support bracket to be directed towards said pivot juncture means and, d. a cylindrical cutting head rotatably mounted between said first and second support brackets and beyond said front end of said frame, said head including a plurality of cutting blades on a surface thereof.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said cutting blades on said surface of said cylinder nearest said support bracket include a vegetation deflection shield to prevent cut vegetation from interferring with the rotation of said cylinder.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said L-shaped support brackets as pivotally mounted include a bearing knuckle joint coupling said bracket to said frame.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said force absorbing means includes a hydraulic cylinder.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 11 further including a spring having one end coupled to said pivot juncture means and extending outwardly therefrom towards said back end of said frame to further absorb forces directed at said juncture means.