Deere + Company

Christopher Scott Thorman

John B Kuhn

Phillip Orland Swenson

Ronald Paul Holland

Ronald Lee Reichen

Kenneth Edward Hunt

Frank K O'Toole

Harlin J Trefz

Richard David Thier

James A Swartzendruber

John D Sundberg

Robert Neil Fox

Roger W Curry

Ryan A Fergus

Earl E Shore

Robert F Hartwig

James Allen Swartzendruber

Frank Kenneth O'toole

A multi-blade mower deck with mulch/side discharge conversion includes a mulch gate mounted under the mower deck and connected to a vertical hinge under the mower deck. The mulch gate extends to the right and rearwardly around a portion of a perimeter of the right cutting chamber. A mulch gate lever on top of the mower deck is connected to the vertical hinge and pivots the mulch gate between the mulching position and a side discharge position. A baffle is removably attached under the mower deck and blocks a portion of a flow passage through the side skirt at the right of the right cutting chamber.

Multi-blade mower deck with mulch/side discharge conversion

Transport brackets are welded onto the top surface of the mower deck, each transport bracket having vertical plates with holes extending transversely through the plates. Pins extend through at least one hole in the plates and are secured to a rear mounted hitch of a tractor. The mower deck may be lifted and transported in a raised position behind the tractor, and also may be pivoted to a position for servicing.

Transport method and apparatus for mower deck

A washing device is provided for removing debris from an underside of a mower having a multi-chamber cutting deck. The device includes a mounting apparatus allowing the device to be attached to a flange of the deck. Connected to the mounting apparatus is an assembly for dispersing liquid such as water and delivering the water to all portions of the underside of the deck. To accomplish this delivery, the assembly includes first and second liquid dispersion plates attached with each other and also connecting with the mounting apparatus to allow the delivery of water therethrough. Provided in one of the plates is a channel having divided end portions which elevate water upon contact so as to lift the water over an included cutting blade. Coupled with this plate is yet another plate enabling connection of the dispersion assembly to the deck and also providing a vent between the two plates. Creation of this vent then allows an emission of water reaching across the width of each of the included chambers. Interaction between an elevated distribution of water reaching across the width of the deck together with simultaneous engagement of the blades results in a swirling effect permitting water to reach the entirety of the deck underside.

Cleaning device for a mower cutting chamber

A tensioning assembly is provided for a synchronous belt drive on a mower deck. A plurality of idlers are mounted for rotation on bracket. One end of the a bracket engages an abutment surface mounted on the deck which restricts its movement, whereas a second end of the bracket is acted upon by a tensioning member which acts in substantially the same direction as the abutment surface. The bracket includes an elongated slot disposed between one of the idlers and the abutment surface, and a member fixed to the deck is engageable with the slot for confining movement of the bracket.

Synchronous belt drive tensioning assembly

A tensioning assembly is provided for a primary drive employed in supplying rotary power from a vehicle to at least one sheave associated with a blade on a mower deck which, upon being driven, creates a tight side and a backside in a belt on opposite sides of a sheave. A bracket is pivotably supported on the mower deck and carries rotatably thereon first and second idler pulleys on respective first and second portions of the bracket. The first pulley engages the tight side of the belt, and the second pulley engages the backside of the belt. A resilient member is operatively coupled to the bracket for biasing the first and second pulleys mounted thereon toward a tensioning position wherein each of the first and second pulleys effectively lengthen a path of the belt, thereby tensioning the belt.

Tensioning idler assembly for mower deck belt drive

A mechanism for scraping debris from the roller of a reel mower cutting units, and including a rod member having end portions pivotally supported by brackets. A plate member is fixed with the rod member and includes a non-linear edge portion which generally mates with the surface of the roller. The weight of the rod and plate member urges the rod to pivot the plate member toward the roller for wiping debris from said roller. The rod members abut portions of the brackets for limiting pivoted motion of the rod and plate members away from the surface of the roller. The plate member can also be fixed to the rod member so that a straight edge portion of the plate member will wipe debris from a roller having a smooth surface.

Springless roller scraper mechanism

A grooved roller scraper having a rod mounted to the reel mower cutting unit frame, and an elongate plate member coupled with the rod member. A plurality of scraper sections having slotted openings are bolted to the elongate plate member for allowing the scraper sections to be adjusted laterally. The scraper sections include protruding portions which extend into the spaces defined between adjacent washers for clearing debris from the grooved roller.

Sectioned grooved roller scraper

A roller mechanism for a reel mower cutting unit, wherein the roller includes a spiral member fixed with a central tube member. The spiral member includes a radially outer edge portion which rolls in contact with the ground during operation.

Spiral grooved roller mechanism

A control structure is provided for the swash plate of a hydraulic transmission pump. The structure is adapted to return the swash plate to its neutral orientation and thereby prevent creep or slight movement in the vehicle when the transmission is returned to neutral. The structure takes the form of a tapered hub adapted to be accurately mounted on a tapered swash plate control shaft and configured to be precisely received in a compatably shaped control lever. The lever, in turn, is actuated by the operator foot pedals and returned to its neutral setting by a V-type neutral cam locator. The hub is produced through a powder metal process and with its unique configuration for being mounted in a lever recess can be utilized with a variety of lever shapes and configurations to permit its use in a variety of vehicles and hydrostatic transmission models.

Hydrostatic transmisison control structure

A mechanism coupling a yoke and cutting unit to a push arm, and having an upright steering pivot mechanism which establishes a relatively large effective steering lever arm for decreasing scuffing of the turf by the rollers of the cutting units, and an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis which is directed generally toward the cutting unit to decrease the effective lever arm between the rollers and the pivot axis and thereby reduce turf scuffing during execution of turns during mowing operations.

Pivot mechanism for reel mower cutting units

A mechanism for mounting a wheel to a mower deck having a mounting arm carrying a bolt. First bushings fitted within the wheel rotate about a sleeve fixed to the bolt. Second bushings adjacent the first bushings transfer axial forces from the wheel to the mounting arm. The second bushing is recessed within the first bushings in one embodiment, and within the wheel in another embodiment. Seals are formed between the second bushing and the first bushing in one embodiment, and between the second bushing and the wheel in the other embodiment in order to keep dirt and debris from coming between the contacting surfaces during operation.

Mower deck wheel bearing seal mechanism

A mechanism for suspending an implement from a vehicle, such as a lawn and garden tractor. The mechanism includes front and rear supports between the vehicle and implement, the supports being adapted for quick and easy connection. The rear supports include spring-loaded J-pins connectable with the tractor lift linkage. The front support includes a U-shaped member, the base of which is receivable in upwardly opening jaws carried on the implement. The sides of the U-shaped member serve as draft links and are adjustably coupled with a cross member that is receivable in similar jaws carried by the tractor. A latch handle is connected to a bell crank which is provided on the cross member for tensioning the draft links and securing them in their tensioned configuration.

Implement suspension mechanism

A mower having a belt tensioner that includes a belt engaging primary pulley swingably supported by a primary arm. A rod coupled to the arm carries a spring that acts to push the pulley into engagement with the belt. The rod acts to pull the pulley away from the belt to release the tension in the belt for removal of the belt. A handle attached to the rod is turned by the operator to positively swing the pulley away from the belt. The handle may also be gripped by the operator's hand to lift that portion of the deck during operation to avoid gouging irregular ground conditions or striking obstructions.

Belt tensioner

A belt driven rotary mower spindle and sheave assembly having a plurality of bushings, spacers and bearings compressed with the sheave on the spindle between a nut and a support or shoulder portion of the spindle. Rotational movement of the belt driven sheave is thereby frictionally transferred to the spindle. The assembly is carried within a housing on a mower deck, and a rotary cutting device is fixed to the lower end of the spindle.

Growing community of inventors

Beaver Dam, WI, United States of America

Christopher Scott Thorman