Mower suspension system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10624261-B2
Application number	US-201815861939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Jan 4, 2017
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A system and method for independent suspension for a mower, including a frame having a front structural member and respective side structural members, a first front wheel assembly, and a second front wheel assembly. The system also includes a first suspension arm pair having a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the first wheel front assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm. The system also includes a second suspension arm pair having a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, each pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A mower comprising:
a frame, the frame comprising a front side and a pair of opposite sides, wherein the front side comprises a front structural member and the pair of opposite sides each comprise a side structural member;
a first front wheel assembly;
a second front wheel assembly;
a first suspension arm pair, the first suspension arm pair comprising:
a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the first suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel front assembly, and further wherein the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first front wheel assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm;

a second suspension arm pair, the second suspension arm pair comprising:
a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the third suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly, and further wherein the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm;

a first side suspension arm, the first side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the first front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to one of the side structural members; and
a second side suspension arm, the second side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the second front wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to the other of the side structural members.

2. The mower of claim 1 , further comprising a first shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the first front wheel assembly and a second shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the second front wheel assembly.

3. The mower of claim 2 , wherein the first shock absorber assembly is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first side suspension arm, and further wherein the second shock absorber assembly is pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second side suspension arm.

4. The mower of claim 2 , wherein the first shock absorber assembly and the second shock absorber assembly respectively comprise at least one of a shock absorber and a suspension spring.

5. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the front structural member comprises at least one front plate.

6. The mower of claim 5 , wherein the at least one front plate comprises a plurality of mounting locations to allow for varied mounting points for each of the first suspension arm, the second suspension arm, the third suspension arm, and the fourth suspension arm.

7. The mower of claim 1 , wherein both the first suspension arm pair and the second suspension arm pair are configured to independently pivot about the front structural member at an angle of up to ±45° relative to the frame such that each of the first front wheel assembly and the second front wheel assembly are vertically displaceable relative to the frame.

8. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm are configured to be parallel to one another when pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the first front wheel assembly, and further wherein the third suspension arm and the fourth suspension arm are configured to be parallel to one another when pivotably coupled at one end to the front structural member and at another, opposite end to the second front wheel assembly.

9. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the first front wheel assembly comprises a first caster wheel assembly having a first ground-contacting wheel, a first yoke supporting the first ground-contacting wheel, a first post vertically extending from the first yoke, and a first joint configured to receive the first post, and wherein the second front wheel assembly comprises a second caster wheel assembly having a second ground-contacting wheel, a second yoke supporting the second ground-contacting wheel, a second post vertically extending from the second yoke, and a second joint configured to receive the second post.

10. The mower of claim 9 , wherein one respective end of each of the first suspension arm and the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled to the first joint of the first caster wheel assembly, and further wherein one respective end of each of the third suspension arm and the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled to the second joint of the second caster wheel assembly.

11. The mower of claim 1 , further comprising a cutter deck, wherein the cutter deck is at least partially coupled to the first side suspension arm and the second side suspension arm such that vertical movement of the first side suspension arm or the second side suspension arm enables corresponding vertical movement of at least a portion of the cutter deck.

12. An independent suspension system for outdoor power equipment, the independent suspension system comprising:
a frame, wherein the frame comprises an end structural member and a pair of side structural members, each of the side structural members being located on opposite respective sides of the end structural member;
a first wheel assembly;
a second wheel assembly;
a first suspension arm pair, the first suspension arm pair comprising:
a first suspension arm and a second suspension arm, wherein the first suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel assembly, and wherein the second suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the first wheel assembly such that the second suspension arm is vertically offset from the first suspension arm;

a second suspension arm pair, the second suspension arm pair comprising:
a third suspension arm and a fourth suspension arm, wherein the third suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the second wheel assembly, and wherein the fourth suspension arm is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the second wheel assembly such that the fourth suspension arm is vertically offset from the third suspension arm;
a first side suspension arm, the first side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the first wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to a first one of the pair of side structural members;

a second side suspension arm, the second side suspension arm pivotably coupled at one end to the second wheel assembly and at another, opposite end to a second one of the pair of side structural members;
a first shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the first wheel assembly; and
a second shock absorber assembly configured to absorb shock transmitted from the second wheel assembly.

13. The independent suspension system of claim 12 , wherein the first shock absorber assembly is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the first side suspension arm, and further wherein the second shock absorber assembly is pivotably coupled at one end to the end structural member and at another, opposite end to the second side suspension arm.

14. The independent suspens

Assignees

• Briggs & Stratton Corp

Inventors

• Krajewski Christopher

Classifications

• B60G2200/1442

  including longitudinal rods · CPC title

• A01D34/43

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle · CPC title

• B60G2200/144

  with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram · CPC title

• B60G2200/445

  Self-steered wheels · CPC title

• B60G2300/084

  Ridable lawn mowers · CPC title