Deere + Company

Eugene Gary Hayes

Richard D Teal

Barry Joseph Goebert

David Lewis Marchese

Jon M Patterson

Wayne R Hutchison

Michael J Coffey

Steven C Wasson

Earl T Moore

David R Daniel

Luis Lorenzo

Robert J Cleereman

Daniel A Sebben

Mansour Mirdamadi

James Heinrich Weitz

Daniel R Nickles

Terry D Hardesty

Kenneth Edward Hunt

Steven Henry Buss

Cindy Louise Weber

Keni K Prasad

Wayne Robert Hutchinson

Jerry Richard Duncan

John Lee Thompson

Stephen Lee Propson

A mower deck level gauge and procedure are provided to level and align a mower deck suspended from a vehicle and covering at least one rotary cutting blade. The mower deck has a deck height adjustment control indicating the cutting height, and the rim of the mower deck has deck level measuring points marked thereon, and a bracket at the front of the mower deck having a deck level measuring point marked thereon. A one-piece gauge is dimensioned to fit under each deck level measuring point at a specified cutting height.

Mower deck level gauge and procedure

A vehicle such as a front engine tractor is adapted to utilize conventional steering and propel controls with a drive and steer type transmission. The transmission permits the vehicle to be driven and steered through its rear wheels, thereby permitting it to turn about one wheel and/or about an axis between its wheels. A substantial portion of the engine weight is carried on the vehicle frame forwardly of the transmission. Front castered wheels enable the vehicle to be easily steered by the drive wheels. A conventional type steering wheel is provided with a mechanical linkage extending between it and the transmission. Conventional type controls are also provided to propel or power the vehicle in a forward or rearward direction and within a range of speeds. With conventional type steering and propel controls adapted to be utilized with the drive and steer type transmission, operation of spin-turn vehicles is made simple and more efficient as well as reducing the time required to learn to operate and maneuver the vehicle.

Drive and steer vehicle

A lawn tractor vehicle having a front mounted engine and a drive and steer type of transmission having vehicle components supported by the vehicle frame in such a manner to establish a weight distribution between the front and rear pairs of wheels that allows the effective use of a drive and steer type of transmission with a lawn tractor having a front mounted engine, and which enhances the performance, stability and handling of the vehicle.

Lawn tractor vehicle

A vehicle such as a lawn and garden tractor is adapted to utilize conventional steering and propel controls with a drive and steer type transmission. The transmission permits the vehicle to be driven and steered through its rear drive wheels, thereby permitting it to turn about one wheel and/or about an axis between its wheels. Front castered wheels enable the vehicle to easily steered by the drive wheels. A conventional type steering wheel is provided with a mechanical linkage extending between it and the transmission. Conventional type controls are also provided to propel or power the vehicle in a forward or rearward direction and within a range of speeds. With conventional type steering and propel controls adapted to be utilized with the drive and steer type transmission, operation of spin-turn vehicles is made simple and more efficient as well as reducing the time required to learn to operate and maneuver the vehicle.

A drive and steer transmission having primary gears having circumferences approximately four times as large as the respective secondary gears they operatively engage, and an effective gear reduction is thereby established which is beneficial to use of a drive and steer type of transmission with a front engine riding lawn mower.

Effective gear reduction in lawn tractor transmission

A steering linkage coupled with a drive and steer transmission allows a steering wheel to be turned a maximum of between ninety and one-hundred-eighty degrees from a neutral straight forward position, and is adjustable for altering the maximum degree to which the steering wheel is turnable from the neutral forward position.

Steering device for drive and steer transmission

A steering mechanism that controls a drive and steer transmission and that causes the transmission to execute turns in the direction a steering wheel is turned when operating in either the forward or reverse direction of travel. In response to operator engagement of a drive control, an actuation linkage shifts an elongate member within a slot formed in a cam member that pivots in response to turning of a steering wheel. Shifting of the rod member between two positions on either side of the cam member pivot axis causes the drive and steer transmission to steer the vehicle in the desired direction when the vehicle is traveling in both forward and reverse.

Mechanism for correct steering in reverse

A steering mechanism that controls a drive and steer transmission and that causes the transmission to execute turns in the direction a steering wheel is turned when operating in either the forward or reverse direction of travel. In response to operator engagement of a drive control, an actuation linkage shifts an elongate member within a slot formed in a cam member that pivots in response to turning of a steering wheel. Shifting of the rod member between to positions on either side of the cam member pivot axis causes the drive and steer transmission to steer the vehicle in the desired direction when the vehicle is traveling in both forward and reverse.

A pivotable hood structure is provided for use with a vehicle such as a lawn and garden tractor. The structure includes a pair of spaced apart pins carried on the tractor frame near the front end to be receivable in bracket openings carried on the hood. The bracket includes guide surfaces which aid in positioning the pins relative to the openings while also supporting the weight of the hood during installation and removal of the hood. A latching structure is provided between the pins and bracket to secure the pins in place. The pivotable hood structure provides a swingable mounting for the hood as well as quick mounting or removal of the hood without requiring the use of tools.

Pivotable hood structure

Vehicle body

A plastic monocoque body useful with small vehicles, such as lawn and garden tractors. A lower fiberglass reinforced plastic frame member is bonded to two upper body members to form a monocoque body. The assembly incorporates attaching, pivot and support structures for the engine, transaxle and drive wheels, steerable front wheels, steering mechanism, clutch and brake pedals and control linkages, shift and throttle controls and linkages, adjustable mower deck, adjustable seat and battery. Through utilizing the net shape manufacturing process, no metal skeleton is required, thereby reducing the expense and complexity of manufacture, assembly and paint operations.

Vehicle structure

A horizontally extending plate-like member having a power source, transaxle and belt arrangement coupled thereto. The member mounts the power source, transaxle, and belt arrangement to a vehicle frame, and establishes a lever arm between first and second coupling means for transferring relatively small concentrated loads to the vehicle frame. The power source, transaxle, belt arrangement and member can be removed from the vehicle frame for service as a single unit or module.

Engine and transaxle module

A mechanism for coupling a vehicle control such as a foot pedal to a vehicle component such as a brake. The mechanism includes a rod member coupled to shift the component between operating modes, and having a rounded end portion. The control includes a recessed portion in abutment with the rounded end portion of the rod. A spring biases the rod into and against the recessed portion such that the rod is supported or carried by the recessed portion. Guides are formed in the vehicle frame for aligning the rod with the recessed portion during the process of manufacture.

Vehicle control linkage mechanism

A mechanism for coupling vehicle components to a vehicle frame made of a plastic material. A bolt is received by generally aligned openings defined by the frame and the component, and a first nut threaded onto the bolt securely presses the frame and component together. A spacer or second nut carried by the bolt between the first nut and the component is positioned within the opening in the frame. The spacer is slightly smaller in depth than the frame member, and allows the frame to become slightly compress. The spacer limits the travel of the nut on the threads, thereby preventing the frame from being compressed beyond the elastic range of deflection. A module plate having the vehicle engine thereattached is carried between the second nut and the vehicle component. The second nut keeps the module plate and the component securely coupled together when the first nut is removed from the bolt, such that the module plate, the engine and the vehicle component can be removed from the frame as a single unit.

Growing community of inventors

Beaver Dam, WI, United States of America

Eugene Gary Hayes