The Toro Company

David J Scherbring

Jackie Ray Gust

Robert C Comer

Benjamin A Street

Jesse Richard Gamble

Henry B Tillotson, Iii

Dana R Lonn

John M Beattie

Rex R Bergsten

Charles C Holley

Kelly S Meemken

Benjamin A Bricko

Jack R Gust

Jeffrey W Stern

Keith A Goetz

Gaylord M Pahl

André A Sheats

Paul H Olin

E Smith Reed, Jr

Donald A Keeney

Dean A Podevels

Reta Comer Wee, Legal Representative

Dan Comer, Legal Representative

Steve Comer, Legal Representative

Michael T Schmidt

Garrett V Pommeranz

Jeffrey J Barkow

Brandon J Anderson

A vehicle combining the attributes of a tractor and a utility vehicle includes a three point linkage and other locations to which a plurality of attachments for performing grooming or working operations on a ground or turf surface may be couple. The vehicle includes a front mounted engine, a mid-mounted operator compartment and a rear mounted bed or box. A PTO shaft and/or a hydraulic power system of the vehicle power attachments that require power. A control system and a visual display and data entry device linked thereto are provided for allowing an authorized person to setup, store and thereafter use an operational profile for each attachment that is to be coupled to the vehicle. In a rate dependent attachment, the control system maintains the ground speed and the attachment implement in a fixed ratio. A down/up control is used to signal the start and end of an operational sequence to the control system.

Outdoor power equipment vehicle adapted for performing work operations on turf surfaces

A suspension system for use with a grounds maintenance vehicle such as a ride-on lawn mower. In one embodiment, the suspension system provide at least a first suspension apparatus positioned between a chassis of the mower and an operator support platform. The first suspension apparatus may include one or more suspension units that may be quickly reconfigured to provide variable suspension characteristics. The system may also include a second suspension apparatus longitudinally spaced-apart from the first suspension apparatus. A pivot member may be provided to assist in reducing or eliminating all but certain degrees of freedom of the platform relative to the chassis.

Suspension system and ride-on grounds maintenance vehicle incorporating same

A stand-on riding mower has a support platform at the rear thereof for supporting an operator who stands during operation of the mower. The support platform is pivotally connected to the traction frame of the mower by a suspension that includes pivotal support plates at each side of the platform. At least one spring is arranged to push against the pivotal support plates in a direction causing the platform to rise such that the weight of the operator atop the platform causes the platform to lower until increasing biasing force in the spring balances the operator's weight. The spring ensures that impact shocks and the like on the traction frame of the mower are cushioned before reaching the operator's platform. In addition, the operator's platform is pivotal relative to the support plates to allow the operator's platform to be disposed in both a vertical stowed position and a horizontal deployed position.

Mower with cushioned suspension for operator support platform having stowed and deployed positions

An all-wheel steering system and vehicle, e.g., riding lawn mower, incorporating the same. The system may include a linkage system that operatively connects the vehicle wheels for simultaneous turning. The system, in one embodiment, includes a power steering unit having fixed or variable output for a given steering input. The system may further include a mechanism for reducing speed based upon mower steering angle.

All-wheel steering system and vehicle incorporating the same

A mobile turf instrument apparatus has a wheeled frame that may be propelled over the ground by a motive device, such as by a separate vehicle or by its own engine and drive train. A driven arm is carried on the frame and revolves in circles to periodically insert the probe(s) of a probe assembly into the ground during motion of the frame. The drive to the arm is momentarily disengaged when the probe(s) of the probe assembly are inserted into the ground. The probe assembly comprises two parts that rock relative to one another. Two soil measurement devices are connected to the probe assembly. A soil moisture sensor is coupled to the probe assembly for measuring soil moisture when the probe(s) are inserted into the ground. A load cell is responsive to the amount of rocking of the two parts of the probe assembly to measure soil compaction.

Mobile turf instrument apparatus having droppable hammer type accelerometer carried on rotating arm

Mobile turf instrument apparatus having driven, periodically insertable, ground penetrating probe assembly

A core processor comprises a frame that supports a housing. The housing carries a rotary pulverizer inside a semi-cylindrical drum and a rotary pick up brush in a pick up head below the drum. The drum is open at the rear to form a rear discharge opening. The pick up head includes a full width rear roller behind the brush to support the housing for rolling movement over the ground in a work mode of the processor. In the work mode, the brush picks up aeration cores from the ground, delivers them to the rotary pulverizer which comminutes or pulverizes the aeration cores, and the particle debris so created exits through the rear discharge opening beneath a hood or shroud. A powered roller is located at a junction between the orbits of the brush and the pulverizer to help keep the junction free of a build up of core material. In a transport mode of the core processor, a pair of transport wheels are lowered into engagement with the ground until the pick up head is lifted out of engagement with the ground.

Aeration core processor

A line marker has a wheeled frame on which an outrigger arm is pivotally carried. The outrigger arm carries a spray nozzle. The spray nozzle can be placed in a rear spray position or in a front spray position depending upon whether the outrigger arm extends rearwardly or forwardly from a pivot hub therefor. The outrigger arm can be placed in the front or rear spray positions along either side of the frame. The line marker includes a reservoir for holding a marking liquid that is sprayed from the spray nozzle. The reservoir includes a drain outlet that is positioned to drain unused marking liquid back into a standard five gallon paint bucket.

Line marker with reservoir drain into paint bucket and mult-position spray nozzle with a rear spray position

A sand grooming vehicle comprises a vehicle having zero radius turn capability. The vehicle includes a front caster wheel, two independently driven rear wheels, and twin control sticks for allowing spin turning of the vehicle by driving the outboard drive wheel and stopping or reversing the inboard wheel. A trailing brush rake is towed behind the vehicle to groom the sand. The brush rake includes a center brush and two pivotal side brushes connected to opposite ends of the center brush. The pivots connecting the side brushes and the center brush are elevated above the plane of engagement of the bristles of the side brushes and the sand. Thus, during a spin turn of the vehicle, the side brush on the inside of the turn lifts to avoid pushing a ridge of sand behind that side brush. This permits the vehicle and the brush rake to groom the sand surface without leaving any ungroomed teardrops at the inside of turns and without leaving ridges of sand on the sand surface.

Powered ZRT sand grooming vehicle and method of grooming sand traps

Powered ZRT sand grooming vehicle and grooming brush rake

A turf injector includes a plurality of slitting knives followed by a plurality of nozzles for injecting chemicals into the ground. Each slitting knife is reversible to bring one of two longitudinally extending cutting edges into use, thereby extending the life of the knife. In addition, each slitting knife has dual sets of mounting holes received on a set of fixed mounting pins to further adjust the vertical position of each knife on the frame. This allows for wear of the cutting edge of the blade and further extends the life of the blade. The hole and pin mounting system desirably mounts each knife with its cutting edge held at a 15.degree. angle of inclination relative to the horizontal to minimize disruption of the turf and the length of the knife.

Turf injector with ground slitting knives

A sand trap contouring attachment for a sand trap maintenance machine. A preferred attachment (12) includes a plow blade (30), a pair of blade supports (32) wherein the plow blade (30) is operatively attached to the supports (32) and wherein the supports (32) are pivotally attached to the sand trap maintenance machine (10) frame (18) at pivot points (38). Blade (30) lies at the front of machine (10), pivot point (38) lies at the rear of machine (10), and support arms (32) lie intermediate the blade (30) and pivot points (38). Control member (34) is operatively attached to the supports (32) via links (42) and (44). Control member (34) comprises an operator handle wherein the handle provides an operator gripping surface area right and left of a longitudinal center line of the machine (10). Spring means (36), (37), (39) are operatively connected to the machine (10) and the support arms (32) for biasing the supports (32) and blade (30) away from the ground. Control member (34) is adjustable to two positions. Links (40) and (44) are provided for supporting arms (32) and blade (30) in a transport mode.

Sand trap maintenance machine

Growing community of inventors

Savage, MN, United States of America

David J Scherbring