Ransomes America Corporation

Cushman, Inc.

Charles R Toman

A leveling apparatus for a reel type cutting head for use on a gang mower. The leveling apparatus includes a linkage which attaches at an inboard end to the frame of the mower and at an outboard end of a control arm. The control arm in turn attaches to the cutting head to pivot the cutting head about a horizontal axis. As the mower is lowered to engage the ground, the linkage pivots the cutting head to maintain the cutting head level as the cutting head is lowered to engage the ground. In a particular embodiment, the linkage comprises a parallel linkage having an upper and a lower link and inboard and outboard control arms which are arranged to form a parallelogram whose shape changes as the mower is raised and lowered. The parallel linkage connects to the cutting head to pivot the cutting head about a horizontal axis and maintains the cutting head substantially level as the cutting head is raised and lowered. The upper and lower links are generally parallel, and the inward and outward control arms are also generally parallel. Further, the inboard and outboard control arms remained in a generally vertical orientation, while the upper and lower links pivot in a generally vertical direction.

Leveling apparatus for a cutting head of a mower

A latch mechanism which facilities installation and removal of a reel space type cutting head of a gang mower. The latch mechanism includes horizontal slots formed in the vertical plates of a pull frame. The horizontal slots receive bushings attached to the cutting head assembly. When the bushings engage the horizontal slots, locking plates are rotated to engage a horizontal crossrod and fixed in place so that the cutting head is locked in position to the pull frame. The cutting head can similarly be removed from the pull frame by moving the locking plates from a locked to an unlocked position, thereby opening the horizontal slots so that the bushings of the cutting head can be removed.

Release mechanism for cutting head of a gang mower

An interactive braking system for an electric mower is comprised of an directional control that is connected to a cam follower that, in turn, engages a brake lever. A linkage system connects the brake lever to a brake caliper assembly which is operable to engage a disc connected to an input shaft of a transaxle of a riding mower. The interactive braking system is designed to allow the operator to optimize control of the mower during slow speed operation, for example, when traversing the crown of a green or going down a hill. During these conditions, the directional control can be articulated to a slow speed position thus proportionally engaging the brake assembly. Increased braking force is realized the closer the directional control approaches the neutral position, i.e., zero throttle. The interactive braking system provides for enhanced control of the mower during slow speed operation of both forward and rearward movement of the mower. An electronic throttle control system is connected to the directional control and produces a signal proportional to the direction and speed desired by the operator. Alternative embodiments of the interactive braking system include using drum brakes, hydraulically actuated brakes or electronically controlled brakes either alone or in combination with a mechanical brake.

Interactive brake system for electric riding mower

A mulching bar for a turf maintenance machine having a rotating flail reel includes an elongate body substantially triangular in cross section including a base, an upright portion and an inclined portion having lower and upper edge margins, the lower edge margin forming a blade edge with the base, the upper edge margin having a lip projecting beyond the upright portion, the mulching bar adapted to intercept cut or processed particles generated or collected by the rotating reel of the machine and to direct those particles into the reel for more complete comminution and eventual deposition upon the turf.

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Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Charles R Toman