Deere + Company

James A Swartzendruber

Warren L Thompson

Donald Ray Peck

Wayne R Hutchison

Dale R Dobberpuhl

Christopher Scott Thorman

John Louis Bocksnick

Gary Allen Rehn

Frank K O'Toole

Brian George Held

Andrew T Benko

Gary N Clark

Edwin C Self

Martin W Arndt

A lockable lift assembly for controlling the height of a mower cutting deck is provided. The assembly includes a pedal actuated system including a rockshaft extending the width of the mower frame and having plates on which the deck is carried as a change in height is either performed or maintained. Intermediate these extensions is a toothed plate which cooperates with a handle operated latching system to permit a user to fixedly control the height of the cutting deck. Joint use of the pedal and latching system enables placement of the deck in a position wherein the deck is raised above the highest heighth of cut for travel across the ground or, alternatively, in a removal position in which the deck may be securely and quickly detached from the mower.

Pedal actuated height adjustment mechanism for a mower cutting deck

A thrust washer structure includes a non-rotating washer which bears against the transmission housing. A rotating outer washer is positioned over the axle and includes a tab projecting at a right angle from a portion of the washer face such that the tab engages an existing keyway in the wheel hub or bushing utilized to transmit drive from the axle to the drive wheel.

Keyed anti-wear thrust washer structure

A foot pedal lift system is provided for the mower deck of a lawn or garden tractor. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to the frame of the tractor and is linked to the linkage arms which suspend the mower deck from the frame. The pedal is movable between a depressed forward position to raise the mower deck to a transport position and a retracted rearward position to move the mower deck to a lower removal position. The pedal can be locked in the depressed or retracted positions by a latch pivotally mounted on the exterior of the tractor console. Engagement and disengagement of the latch with the foot pedal is controlled by a handle mounted on the console connected to the latch by an elongated connecting rod. Pulling upwardly on the handle locks the latch into engagement with the foot pedal in both the depressed and retracted positions. Pushing downwardly on the handle disengages the latch from the foot pedal so that the mower deck is free to move upwardly or downwardly.

Pedal lift system for lawn tractor mower deck

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 hydraulic system for a vehicle adapted for operating a plurality of reel mower cutting units and for driving at least one vehicle component such as drive wheels or power steering. The vehicle carries an engine near the front of the vehicle which generates heat. The system includes a fluid reservoir located remote from the engine and near the rear of the vehicle. An input line is coupled with the reservoir, and a first pump is operatively coupled with the input line. A first motor receives fluid from the first pump for driving a reel mower, and a branched line having first and second branches receives fluid from the first motor. The first branch is a first return line extending to the reservoir. A second pump having a lower capacity than the first pump is operatively coupled with the second branch, and a second motor receives fluid from the second pump for driving the vehicle component. A second return line receives fluid from the second motor and is coupled with the input line for allowing fluid from the second motor to flow to the first pump without first flowing to the reservoir.

Hydraulic system for reel mower vehicles

A hinge for removably securing the rear portion of a hood to a powered vehicle. A rod fixed with the hood is pivotally received by a hooked portion of a mounting member fixed to the vehicle. A protruding member fixed to the hood is positioned beneath a finger portion of the mounting member for preventing the rear portion of the hood from shifting vertically during operation on irregular or bumpy ground conditions. When opened, a limiting member abuts the lower portion of the mounting member. The hood is removed from the vehicle when the hood is partially opened by shifting the rod through an opening in the hooked portion.

Hood hinge

Direction and transmission ratio control structure including a direction control lever movable between reverse and forward selecting positions and movable from the forward selecting position to a cruise control position wherein a preselected transmission speed ratio is maintained. The transmission speed ratio is selected by a foot pedal connected through a link and a shuttle pivot to the transmission control rod. The shuttle pivot includes a tooth portion which is engageable by a pawl located at the lower end of the direction control lever. Movement of the lever from the forward to the cruise control position moves the pawl into engagement with the tooth portion of the shuttle pivot. The pawl is automatically disengaged when the lever is moved from the cruise control position or when the brake pedal is operated. The link and shuttle pivot are operably associated with the direction control lever so that the speed ratio of the transmission is increased by depressing the foot pedal regardless of whether the direction control lever is in the forward or the reverse selecting position. A single latch is operable to both lock the brakes in an engaged condition and maintain the lever in a neutral position wherein the speed ratio control is disabled.

Transmission control structure including a combination direction and

Pivoting seat structure for a front mounted mower includes a main support plate pivotally connected to the lower frame for rotation about a first transverse axis and a seat including a mounting plate connected to the support plate for rotation about a second transverse axis offset in the fore-and-aft direction from the first axis. Latch and prop rod structures secure the seat in position offset above a portion of the vehicle wherein access is provided to drive structure located below the operator station. In one embodiment, the seat moves rearwardly over the engine hood and is supported in a position offset from the hood. In a second embodiment, the seat moves forwardly and upwardly over the steering column.

Pivoting seat structure for a front mounted mower

A mounting bracket is provided for supporting a headlight, mirror or similar accessory on the wall of a vehicle panel. The bracket includes two L-shaped clips which can be secured to the wall by inserting part of the clip through an opening in the wall and slipping a jawed portion over the wall section of the wall adjacent the opening. A bolt or similar structure interconnects the two clips to draw them together and assure pinching engagement of each jaw with the inside and outside surfaces of the wall. The brackets are particularly useful for mounting accessories to wall surfaces where access to the inside of the walls is difficult.

Mounting bracket

Frame for a disk harrow or similar implement

A simplified method of assembling a disk from the ground up by first assembling disk gangs and then connecting the disk gangs together to provide a self-standing front and rear main disk gang pairs. The main frame is assembled over main disk gang pairs after which wheel modules are attached. Disks of different sizes are assembled, utilizing generally identical main frame beams with the same connecting locations, by decreasing the distance between the forward and rear gang pairs and moving the main frame beams outwardly as the desired width of the disk increases.

Method of assembling a disk

Plow frame

A gauge wheel arm pivotally connected to an implement frame carries a first slotted plate, and a second slotted plate is fixed to the frame with the slots of the respective plates overlapping to receive a single bolt at the area of overlap. The slots, which provide for continuous adjustment of the arm, are angled with respect to each other to provide a scissors- or ramp-type action on the bolt which positively fixes the arm relative to the frame.

Growing community of inventors

West Bend, WI, United States of America

James A Swartzendruber