Mower quick height of cut adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11206759-B2
Application number	US-201816197215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2017
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A mower comprising a vehicle, a plurality of cutting assemblies, and an automatic height of cut control system is described. In some aspects, the automatic height of cut control system is configured to automatically change the height of cut for the plurality of cutting assemblies while maintaining the attitude of each cutting blade as the blade moves from a first height of cut to a second height of cut. In some aspects, the cutting assemblies include a variable-length member linked to a four-bar linkage configured to cause a change in the height of cut in response to a change in length of the variable-length member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mower comprising:
a vehicle;
a plurality of cutting assemblies operably connected to the vehicle and capable of being driven by the vehicle, each cutting assembly comprising:
a carrier frame having a plurality of ground-engaging rotatable members including at least one front rotatable member and at least one rear rotatable member configured to follow a ground surface, wherein the plurality of ground-engaging rotatable members of each carrier frame define a reference plane of the carrier frame;
a cutting unit connected to the carrier frame, wherein the cutting unit has an attitude with respect to the reference plane of the carrier frame, the cutting unit having at least one cutting blade,
a first four-bar linkage connecting a first side of the cutting unit to a first side of the carrier frame,
a second four-bar linkage connecting a second side of the cutting unit to a second side of the carrier frame,
a connector member linking the first four-bar linkage to the second four-bar linkage; and
a manually-driven, variable-length member having a first end linked to a top surface of the cutting unit between a center of the cutting unit and one of the first and second sides of the cutting unit and a second end linked to the connector member between a center of the connector member and an end of the connector member, each manually-driven, variable-length member configurable to cause movement of the cutting unit in relation to the carrier frame in response to a change in length of the manually-driven, variable-length member;

wherein the manually-driven, variable-length member of each cutting assembly is capable of moving each of the cutting units with respect to each respective carrier frame to move the cutting units from a first height of cut to a second height of cut; and
wherein each cutting unit is configured to maintain the attitude with respect to the reference plane of each respective carrier frame as the cutting unit is moved from the first height of cut to the second height of cut.

2. The mower of claim 1 , wherein each of the ground-engaging rotatable members are independent of the vehicle.

3. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the first four-bar linkage and the second four-bar linkage each comprise:
a side link; and
a first crank assembly and a second crank assembly, each crank assembly having:
a pivot attached to the carrier frame,
a first arm pivotably connected to the cutting unit, and
a second arm pivotably connected to the side link.

4. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the first four-bar linkage and the second four-bar linkage each comprise a first crank assembly and a second crank assembly, a first end of the connector member attached to one of first crank assembly and the second crank assembly of the first four-bar linkage, and a second end of the connector member attached to one of the first crank assembly and the second crank assembly of the second four-bar linkage.

5. The mower of claim 1 , further comprising a height of cut indicator comprising:
a gauge located on the cutting unit, the gauge comprising markings indicating a plurality of heights of cut of the cutting unit; and
an indicator member configured to move with respect to the gauge as the first and second four-bar linkages move in relation to the cutting unit, wherein the indicator member indicates a height of cut position of the cutting unit.

6. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the manually-driven variable-length member comprises a draw bolt that can be rotated to extend and retract the manually-driven, variable-length member.

7. The mower of claim 1 , further comprising a height of cut gauge positioned on a top surface of each cutting assembly and configured such that an operator can view the height of cut gauge from above.

8. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the cutting blade is not parallel to the reference plane.

9. The mower of claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the cutting blade is lower than a back portion of the cutting blade relative to the reference plane.

10. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the manually-driven, variable-length member is secured to a first opening in a top surface of the cutting unit, wherein the first opening is located between a center of the cutting unit and one of the first and second sides of the cutting unit.

11. The mower of claim 1 , wherein the cutting unit further comprises a first opening and a second opening, wherein each of the first and second openings is configured to facilitate attachment of the first end of the manually-driven, variable-length member such that the first end of the manually-driven, variable-length member is configured to link to the cutting unit at either one of first opening and the second opening, providing a first attachment location and an alternate second attachment location for the manually-driven, variable-length member.

12. The mower of claim 11 , the connector member comprising a first bracket between the first side and the center of the cutting unit and a second bracket between the second side and the center of the cutting unit, the first bracket and second bracket configured to attach to the second end of the manually-driven, variable-length member to provide alternate attachment points, wherein the first bracket attaches to the second end of the manually-driven, variable-length member in the first attachment location and wherein the second bracket attaches to the second end of the manually-driven, variable-length member in the alternate second attachment location.

13. The mower of claim 12 , the first bracket and second bracket configured to pivotally connect the second end of the manually-driven, variable-length member to the connector member.

14. The mower of claim 1 , the manually-driven, variable-length member comprises a threaded draw bolt, wherein the threaded draw bolt is pivotably connected to a trunnion attached to the cutting unit;
wherein threads of the threaded draw bolt are configured to engage a washer of the trunnion such that rotation of the threaded draw bolt causes the threaded draw bolt to move horizontally through the washer.

15. A mower system comprising:
a vehicle;
a plurality of cutting assemblies operably connected to the vehicle and capable of being driven by the vehicle, each cutting assembly comprising:
a carrier frame having a plurality of ground-engaging rotatable members including at least one front rotatable member and at least one rear rotatable member configured to follow a ground surface, wherein the plurality of ground-engaging rotatable members of each carrier frame define a reference plane of the carrier frame;
a cutting unit connected to the carrier frame, wherein the cutting unit has an attitude with respect to the reference plane of the carrier frame, the cutting unit having at least one cutting blade,
a first four-bar linkage connecting a first side of the cutting unit to a first side of the carrier frame,
a second four-bar linkage connecting a second side of the cutting unit to a second side of the carrier frame,
a connector member linking the first four-bar linkage to the second four-bar linkage; and
a manually-driven, variable-length member configured to be removably attached to the cutting assembly, having a first end linked to a top surface of the cutting unit between a center of the cutting unit and one of the first and second sides of the cutting unit and a second end linked to the connector member between a center of the connector member and an end of the connector member, each manually-driven, variable-length member configurable to cause movement of the cutting unit in re

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Gust Jackie Ray
• Pizano Miguel Angel
• Wadzinski Chris Allen
• Van Beek John R
• Conry Kevin T

Classifications

• A01D34/74 Primary

  Cutting-height adjustment · CPC title

• A01D2034/645

  Lifting means for the cutter of the lawnmower mounted at the front of the vehicle for inspection and maintenance · CPC title

• A01D34/006

  Control or measuring arrangements · CPC title

• A01D34/64

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01D34/662

  to the front of the vehicle · CPC title