The Toro Company

Turfco Manufacturing, Incorporated

Kip S Vangsgard

Richard T Cairns

Kenneth R Parker

Jonathan P Van Dore

Darrell W Hinklin

Bart T Ellson

Dennis J Berndt

Rodney W Woock

A 6&times;4 utility vehicle utilizes a middle axle ( ) which is suspended to the frame of the vehicle by means of a suspension assembly ( ). The suspension assembly ( ) allows the vehicle ( ) to have a better ride quality, ride predictability, increased traction and better maneuverability.

Mid-axle suspension

An articulating vehicle ( ) includes a front axle ( ) operatively connected to a front frame ( ) and a rear axle ( ) is operatively connected to the rear frame ( ). A torsional joint ( ) has an inner shaft member ( ) operatively connected one of the frames and an outer hollow member ( ) operatively connected to the other of the frames. An elastomeric material ( ) is positioned between the inner member ( ) and outer member ( ). The elastic material ( ) connects the inner and outer members, whereby the frames may rotate relative to each other along the longitudinal axis as the elastomeric member ( ) is compressed and resiliently resists rotation between the frames ( and ). A torsional energy absorption suspension is provided for one of the wheels. The suspension includes a torsional joint ( ), a single A-frame member ( ). A lever arm ( ) may also be utilized to vary the preload on the torsional joint ( ).

Vehicle having a torsional suspension and torsional joint

Vehicle

Various earthworking machines make use of an oscillatory blade, such as the herein referred to sod cutter. Instead of employing two handles, one of which raises and lowers the blade and the other of which handles, when tightened, maintains the blade at a selected depth, only a single handle is employed. When the handle is manually moved forwardly, the blade is lowered and when moved rearwardly the blade is raised, but when the single handle is moved to the left the blade is locked at the depth that has been determined by the forward movement of the handle, this handle movement to the left camming a shiftable gear rack into engagement with a fixed gear rack to maintain the adjusted blade depth. Handle movement to the right allows a coil spring to disengage the racks. A stop, when appropriately set, enables the selected depth to be re-established after each raising of the blade whenever no change in blade depth is needed.

Earthworking machine with single handle for adjusting and locking blade

Growing community of inventors

White Bear Lake, MN, United States of America

Kip S Vangsgard