Other

Deere & Company

Ryerson & Haynes, Inc.

Robert D Davis, Jr

James S Schucker

Philip Eugene Ferree

A locking mechanism for latching together front and rear frame portions which are pivotal to expose the underside of a deck. The locking mechanism includes a lever, intermediate link and blocking member that provide an over-center feature for securing the locking mechanism in its latched mode. Pivoting of the lever lifts the front and rear frame portions to their proper orientation for being latched together by the locking mechanism.

Pivoting mower deck mechanism

A single lever handle control mechanism constrained to pivot about two perpendicular axes to control forward, reverse, speed and steering of the mower. By this constraint to the movement of the lever handle, inadvertent movement of the lever handle is less likely to occur when the mower is bouncing over uneven terrain. Forward or backward movement of the lever handle is constrained about a single transverse axis. Right or left movement of the lever handle about the longitudinal axis effects steering of the mower. The longitudinal axis is constrained to move in a single plane perpendicular to the transverse axis. As an option a second lever handle, constrained as the first lever handle and linked to the first lever handle may be provided for control from a second location. With a lever handle on each side of the operator the mower can be fully controlled with either hand. The lever handle control is most advantageously applied to a zero turn radius riding lawn mower.

Steering control for zero turn radius mower

A dirt and debris screen for liquid cooled internal combustion engines comprises a disc or shallow formed cup of perforated mesh attached to the fan hub or fan shaft just upstream of the radiator and fan. Rotating at fan speed dirt and debris collected by the disc is centrifugally ejected from the edge of the disc and thereby prevented from entering the air passages through the radiator. The centrifugal ejection also makes the disc substantially self-cleaning.

Rotating debris screen for internal combustion engines

A combination tool for automobile use having components foldable into an elongated body, the tool being usable for tire replacement and screw jack operation. An elongated body of U transverse cross section includes an annular socket pivotally affixed at one end for connection to a hexagonal bolt or jack screw head, and a handle is pivotally connected to the body other end movable between crank handle positions and an extended position in alignment with the body length. A lock slide is selectively positionable upon the body between positions retaining the handle within the body and locking the handle in alignment with the body length.

Combination automobile folding tool

The invention comprises an improved lawn mowing machine with a forward mounted mower deck including a plurality of rotary cutters. The blades or cutters rotate in opposite direction on opposite sides of the deck to bring the grass clippings to a deck mounted central vacuum. The mower blades are driven by a belt drive to eliminate expensive drive shafts and gearboxes. Applicant's 45.degree. twist belt drive geometry provides increased life to the belt over prior art 90.degree. twist belt drive geometries. The mower deck includes novel side mower wings. A combined clutch and brake mechanism disengages the drive belt to the wing blade spindle and simultaneously brings the blade to a stop within one second when the wing is raised beyond its cutting range. The wing deck is attached to the mower central deck by a depressed hinge substantially close to the elevation of the mower blades. As the mower encounters uneven ground the separation of blade cutting paths is minimized in the movement of the wing blades relative to the central mower deck blades.

Self propelled lawn mower

The invention comprises an improved lawn mowing machine for large expanses of grass around apartment complexes, commercial facilities and golf courses. The mower is self propelled with a forward mounted mower deck including a plurality of rotary cutters. The blades or cutters rotate in opposite directions on opposite sides of the deck to bring the grass clippings to a deck mounted central vacuum. The mower blades are driven by a belt drive to eliminate expensive drive shafts and gearboxes. Applicant's 45.degree. twist belt drive geometry provides increased life to the belt over prior art 90.degree. twist belt drive geometries. The mower deck includes novel side mower wings. A combined clutch and brake mechanism disengages the drive belt to the wing blade spindle and simultaneously brings the blade to a stop within one second when the wing in raised beyond its cutting range. The wing deck is attached to the mower central deck by a depressed hinge substantially close to the elevation of the mower blades. As the mower encounters uneven ground the separation of blade cutting paths is minimized in the movement of the wing blades relative to the central mower deck blades. The mower deck is equipped with front arm mounted casters which include a simple adjustment for blade height. The mower blade spindles include a simplified and effective means of retaining tapered roller bearings and include spacers on the spindle shaft for additional blade height adjustment. The safety of the mower is further enhanced by electric clutches which automatically disengage the mower deck drive belt and the hydraulic vehicle wheel drive if the machine operator leaves the seat of the vehicle. The machine steering, braking, forward and reverse speed are controlled by dual levers. Twin damping means are connected to the control levers resulting in superior control of the machine when passing over rough terrain.

Growing community of inventors

Jackson, MI, United States of America

Robert D Davis, Jr