Height of cut control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9861035-B2
Application number	US-201615297306-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2016
Priority date	May 1, 2015
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A height of cut control system on a mower deck includes a linear actuator connected to the lift linkage. A height of cut dial has a plurality of operator-selected desired cutting heights, and a deck height control is connected to the electronic controller that commands the linear actuator to lower or raise the mower deck to the desired cutting height when the deck height control is in a down position or an up position. A deck height display provides visual feedback of operator selected cutting height and actual cutting height. If the actual height is at least a specified amount off the operator selected cutting height, the electronic controller may automatically adjust the mower deck by commanding the linear actuator to move the mower deck to the desired cutting height.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A height of cut control system, comprising:
a mower deck having a lift linkage;
an electric linear actuator connected to the lift linkage and to an electronic controller;
a height of cut dial connected to the electronic controller and having a plurality of operator-selected desired cutting heights;
a deck height control connected to the electronic controller that commands the electric linear actuator to adjust the mower deck to the desired cutting height when the deck height control is in a down position or an up position, or when the mower deck shifts away from the desired cutting height while mowing;
a potentiometer connected to the electronic controller and providing signals indicating the actual height of the mower deck;
a deck height display connected to the electronic controller and showing the actual height and the desired cutting height;
wherein the electronic controller counts a number of adjustments to the desired cutting height and discontinues making adjustments upon reaching a pre-specified maximum count.

2. The height of cut control system of claim 1 further comprising a deck lift assist spring connected to the lift linkage and urging the lift linkage to raise the mower deck.

3. The height of cut control system of claim 1 wherein the height of cut dial includes an install position below the desired cutting heights and a locked position above the desired cutting heights.

4. The height of cut control system of claim 1 wherein the deck height display is in an operator station and provides continuous visual feedback.

5. A height of cut control system, comprising:
a mower deck having a lift linkage;
an electronic controller commanding an electric linear actuator connected to the lift linkage;
the electronic controller determining how far the mower deck shifts from an operator selected cutting height during operation; and if the mower deck shifts at least a specified amount off the operator selected cutting height while mowing, the electronic controller automatically adjusts the mower deck by commanding the electric linear actuator to move the mower deck back to the operator selected cutting height until a count of automatic adjustments exceeds a pre-specified maximum during a specified time period.

6. The height of cut control system of claim 5 further comprising a visual display showing the actual height of the mower deck compared to the operator selected cutting height.

7. The height of cut control system of claim 5 further comprising a deck height dial that may be used to set the operator selected cutting height.

8. The height of cut control system of claim 7 further comprising a deck height lever causing the electric linear actuator to move the mower deck to the operator selected cutting height of the deck height dial.

9. A height of cut control system, comprising:
an actuator bell crank attached to a mower rockshaft of a lift linkage supporting a mower deck;
an electric linear actuator connected to the actuator bell crank;
a deck height dial connected to an electronic controller that commands the electric linear actuator to raise or lower the mower deck to a desired cutting height on the deck height dial; and
a deck height display connected to the electronic controller and showing the actual deck height compared to the desired cutting height;
the electronic controller continuously monitoring the actual deck height during operation, and commanding the electric linear actuator to raise the mower deck if the mower deck shifts to an actual deck height that is lower than the desired cutting height until reaching a maximum number of times the mower deck is raised during a specified time period.

10. The height of cut control system of claim 9 further comprising a deck lift assist spring connected to the mower rockshaft and urging the mower rockshaft to rotate in a direction to raise the mower deck.

11. The height of cut control system of claim 9 further comprising a deck height control that may be actuated to cause the electronic controller to command the electric linear actuator to raise or lower the mower deck to the desired cutting height.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kruckeberg John P
• Sarda Tejal

Classifications

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01D34/66

  with two or more cutters · CPC title

• A01D34/008

  for automated or remotely controlled operation · CPC title

• A01D34/74 Primary

  Cutting-height adjustment · CPC title

• A01D34/661

  Mounting means · CPC title