The Toro Company

Joseph P Hager

David A Murray

Thomas K Bricko

Jeffrey R Frank

Timothy J Berg

Scott T Hoffman

Caleb A Olson

Charles C Holley

Daniel G Stiller

A utility loader incorporating a boom of adjustable length. The boom may include either or both of a left and right lift arm assembly, with each lift arm assembly including a rear lift arm that telescopically receives a front lift arm. Each lift arm assembly also includes an extension actuator adapted to telescopically extend and retract its front lift arm relative to its rear lift arm. A detection system may be provided and adapted to limit lift arm assembly extension based at least in part upon a load applied at a tool supported by the boom and a relative telescopic location of a front lift arm relative to its associated rear lift arm.

Stand-on or walk-behind utility loader with variable length lift arm assembly

A steering operating unit joint (22) for connecting an operating unit (20) to a lift arm (18) of a turf maintenance machine (10). Operating unit (20) can be a reel-type turf cutting unit. Cutting unit joint (22) preferably includes a pivot knuckle (50) having a snout (66), suitably secured to the free end of lift arm (18); and a snout receiver (94) suitably secured to cutting unit (20). A pair of resilient elements (100) is interposed between snout (66) and snout receiver (94). Elements (100) act between snout (66) and snout receiver (94) to resist 'yawing' of cutting unit (20), whereby cutting unit (20) can be automatically straightened once it is raised to its transport position. During transport, cutting unit (20) is maintained in a straight and level orientation so that the turf is not gouged when the cutting unit (20) is lowered to its operating position 'on the fly.'

Operating unit joint for turf maintenance equipment

An improved mower cutting deck (30) includes a main deck section (38), pivotal wing deck sections (40), and belt drive system (80) with electric clutch/brake units (131, 132) connected therebetween which allow constant belt tension to be maintained while minimizing belt wear and related maintenance. If desired, breakaway assemblies (150) may also be connected between the deck sections (38, 40). Shroud and baffle arrangements (162) are also provided for better grass dispersion.

Mower deck with improved belt drive arrangement

A hydraulic system (30) suitable for raising, lowering, floating and locking a cutting deck (16). Hydraulic circuit (30) preferably includes a back pressure system (40) for automatically, or manually, applying a preferred back pressure to hydraulic cylinders (24) to 'float' decks (16). Connected to back pressure system (40) is an actuation system (42) which can automatically or manually act on back pressure system (40) to change the back pressure depending on conditions. For example, it may be desirable to increase the back pressure when mower (10) encounters a hill to transfer more weight from the cutting unit (16) to the traction vehicle (12) of mower (10).

Growing community of inventors

Golden Valley, MN, United States of America

Joseph P Hager