Self-propelled mower

Claim 1

A self-propelled lawn mower that includes a power unit having a deck for supporting a drive motor and a mowing means, a pair of drive wheels supported upon an axle at the back of the deck and at least one idler wheel mounted on the front of the deck, said deck being rotatable about said axle between a first mowing position wherein the idler wheel rides upon the ground and a second elevated position wherein the idler wheel is raised above the ground whereby substantially the entire weight of the deck is carried by the axle, a riding unit having a frame pivotally attached at its front end to the back of the deck, said riding unit further including a pilot wheel movably mounted in the frame for directing the mower over the ground, a linear actuator pivotally supported at one end in the frame and having an extendable rod reciprocally mounted therein for moving the deck between said first and second positions, a link pivotally connected at one end to said actuator rod and at the other end to said deck so that the link is angularly offset in relation to the linear rod when the deck is in said first position, whereby the deck is free to rotate about the axle in response to changes in terrain, and is axially aligned with the rod when the deck is moved to said second elevated position, and means for controlling the linear actuator to extend and retract the rod whereby the deck is selectively moved between the first and second positions.