Simplicity Manufacturing, Inc.

Allis-chalmers Corporation

Simplicity Inc.

Edward Freier, Jr

Igor Kamlukin

Daniel W Schaefer

Kenneth H Klas

Gary A Hays

John F Brackin

Michael P Schemelin

James F Peterson

Donald G Penkoske

Gerald C Burmesch

John F Jacque

A differential having variable traction control and permitting preferably infinite planet or side gear braking adjustment during differential operation. In some preferred embodiments, an actuation element is movable during differential operation to exert braking force upon a side or planet gear. The braking force can be exerted directly or indirectly upon a gear surface by a braking element. The amount of braking force is preferably controlled via the actuation element through a range of positions. The actuation element is preferably a lever or similar element movable either to drive a brake element in harder or lighter frictional engagement with a planet or side gear or to drive a planet or side gear in harder or lighter frictional engagement with a brake element. Alternatively, the actuation element can be a set of cables movable to actuate a brake element. In other embodiments, actuation of the brake elements is inherently generated by differential operation. The brake element actuated by the actuator can be a brake pad located between the differential housing and the side or planet gear for generating braking force when sandwiched therebetween, a wedge-shaped brake block which can be wedged between two planet gears, a cone clutch element mating with the planet or side gears, a band brake fitted around an axle, a surface or portion of an element thrust into abutting relationship with the gear by the actuation element, or a friction element against which the gears press when moved by the actuation element.

Differential and method for variable traction control

A steering and suspension system for a ride-on mower. A wheel is connected to a spindle and rotates about a first axis of rotation. The spindle is coupled to a frame and rotates about a second axis of rotation that is inclined from vertical backward substantially along a longitudinal axis of the ride-on mower. A level adjusting device is coupled to a steering component of the ride-on mower and is also coupled to a lawn mower accessory. The level adjusting device offsets vertical displacements caused by the inclined spindles, thereby allowing the accessory to stay level when turning the ride-on mower.

Ride-on mower steering and suspension system

A rear suspension device for a ride-on mower that includes a pivoting assembly coupled to the ride-on mower. The pivoting assembly is coupled to a torsion bar and the torsion bar is coupled to a rear portion of the ride-on mower. The coupling to the rear portion is accomplished by insertion of a portion of the torsion bar that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the ride-on mower into an aperture coupled to the rear portion. The device is callable of transferring weight from one portion of the: ride-on mower to another portion of the ride-on mower, thereby enhancing stability.

Torsion bar rear suspension for ride-on mowers

Mowing tractor

A two blade mower deck for lawn and garden tractors having a continuous height adjustment feature. The mower deck includes a primary cutting blade and a smaller diameter secondary cutting blade. The secondary cutting blade is positioned to the side and slightly to the rear of the primary blade so that the cutting swaths of the blades overlap when the tractor moves forward. A continuous roller across the rear end of the mower deck follows the ground contour to prevent scalping or uneven cutting. The vertical position of the roller relative to the mower deck housing can be continuously adjusted by a crank handle to permit continuous adjustment of the cutting height.

Two-blade mower deck with infinite height adjustment

Self-propelled riding tractor

A unitized frame for a self-propelled lawn mower and fabricated from stamped sheet steel and steel beams welded together. The frame includes a stamped sheet steel component having a forward end that includes an upwardly and forwardly inclined portion which forms an operator's footrest and having a pair of downwardly extending side portions formed integrally therewith to form front wheel axle supports. The sheet steel component also forms an intermediate stepped portion that forms a transmission mounting, and it also has a rearward stepped portion forming an engine mounting. The unitized frame also includes a rear wheel mounting member welded to and between the rear ends of the pair of steel beams; the rear wheels mounting member is of generally U-shaped cross-section fabricated sheet steel and on which can be pivotally mounted a pair of rear steerable wheels about a fore-and-aft extending axis. The frame also has sheet reinforcing gussets stamped into the downwardly extending opposite side portions of the frame and which act to reinforce the front wheel axle supports.

Unitized frame for a self-propelled lawn mower

An impeller is mounted above the top wall of the housing of a mower carried by a riding vehicle, near the side of the mower at which it has its clipping outlet. The rotor of the impeller rotates on a vertical axis that is between the clipping outlet and the vertical axis of the mower blade nearest that outlet and is driven by a belt engaging a pulley on the spindle for that blade. Flat paddle-like blades of the rotor have a portion of their orbit in an upwardly and rearwardly extending passage defined by the front portion of a clipping duct that communicates the mower clipping outlet with a receptacle at the rear of the vehicle. The impeller draws air and clippings out of the mower housing and propels them rearward through the duct.

Clipping propulsion means for tractor mower

The four-wheel lawn and garden tractor has an underslung two blade mower unit and a rear mounted grass catcher. The multiple spindle mower unit incorporates special baffling to improve lateral movement of cut grass from the mower housing. The conduit between the mower housing discharge opening and the rear mounted grass catcher includes a unique elbow part having a configuration which facilitates efficient movement of the grass from the mower to the catcher. The grass catcher is vented so that there is very little back pressure in the interior of the grass catcher. Venting is accomplished by provision of a downwardly facing opening along the rear of the grass catcher cover, the latter being molded of an impervious plastic material. The grass catcher cover has a downwardly extending skirt at the front thereof with a pair of laterally spaced semicircular notches adapted to receive a discharge conduit. Thus the cover may be used on tractor mowers discharging to either their left or right side.

Grass collecting multiple blade mower without auxiliary blower means

The carriage for the friction driving disc of a friction disc planetary transmission is shiftable axially on a pivot shaft by a manually operated cam to change the contact path of a pair of driven friction wheels connected to input gears of a planetary unit to effect infinitely variable forward and reverse speeds and neutral. The pivot shaft is transverse to and spaced from the axis of the driving disc. The driving disc is driven by a belt which, when placed under driving tension urges the carriage to pivot about its pivot shaft in a direction urging the friction driving disc against the driven friction wheels. Additionally, the carriage is urged by a pair of springs in the same direction to insure proper frictional engagement of the driving disc with the driven wheels. In order to insure proper proportioning of pressure exerted by the driving disc against the driven wheels, the driving disc support is pivoted to the carriage on an axis lying in the plane of the friction face of the driving disc and intersecting the axis of the driving disc. The biasing springs are connected to the driving disc support and are oriented in relation thereto in such a way as to insure normal driving pressure between the driving disc and the driven wheels throughout the range of axial shifting of the carriage on its pivot shaft. The carriage pivot shaft is connected at its opposite ends to spaced walls of the transmission housings in a manner permitting vertical adjustment of either or both ends. These adjustments permit proper alignment of the driving disc with the driven wheels. A clutching device is provided to disengage the driving disc from the driven wheels to provide free wheeling. The planetary unit is carried on a shaft mounted on the spaced walls of the transmission housing in a manner permitting removal of the planetary unit and shaft as an assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Port Washington, WI, United States of America

Edward Freier, Jr