Deere + Company

Deers & Company

Todd Lynn Smith

Steven Henry Buss

Scott Michael Braemer

A cutting implement which includes a baffle for directing the flow of air and vegetation caused by the rotation of cutting blades of the implement. The baffle serves to intercept the flows of air and vegetation of adjacent chambers to accelerate the discharge of cut material. Further, the baffle directs cut material above the cutting plane of the blade to permit the blade to raise and cut vegetation in its path when that vegetation has previously been matted down by at least one of the tires on the tractor on which it is carried.

Cutting implement including flow diverter baffle

An implement that substantially reduces the likelihood of material being blown out from the underside thereof is provided. To decrease this likelihood, the implement is constructed with a lip that extends outwardly from the front edge of its center chamber. Further provided is an adjustable extension to the lip which may be made part of the implement at the option of the operator. In providing an implement with both the lip and its extension, an operator is permitted to insure against the possibility of vegetation and debris leaving the underside of the deck at the front of the center chamber. Consequently, the overall appearance of one's grounds may be greatly enhanced.

Cutting implement having anti-blowout lip and extension

An idler assembly which is easily removable from a mower deck is disclosed. The idler assembly is rotatably mounted to the mower deck about a shouldered shaft and held in place by an easily removable spring clip. An idler pulley is rotatably attached to the other end of the idler arm. A spring is connected to a spring clip which is secured to the top of the idler arm. The spring causes the idler arm to rotate about the shouldered shaft and forces the idler pulley to apply tension to the drive belt. The idler arm also includes an extension which protrudes beyond the radius of the idler pulley to contact a snubber or bumper. The snubber is secured to the mower deck by a snubber bracket.

Pivoting idler assembly for belt drive mower

A pivotal drive assembly is provided for the ease of removal and/or replacement of a drive belt. The drive assembly preferably includes a splined input shaft connected to a gear box which drives a rotating drive pulley. The entire drive assembly is connected to the lower deck by front and rear mounting plates. Each mounting plate also includes two bent ears which are aligned with front and rear deck brackets. The ears are connected to the deck brackets with bolts. The bolts on the rear deck bracket and rear mounting plate are positioned in axial alignment on a generally horizontal plane to allow pivotal movement of the drive assembly. The bolts on the front deck brackets may be removed to allow for pivotal movement of the drive assembly and replaced to secure the drive assembly for operation of the mowing deck.

Pivoting gearbox for rotary mower

A tractor having a cutting implement including an attached baffle is provided. The baffle assists as a shield to substantially reduce the amount of vegetation and other debris that may leave or escape the implement. Additionally, the baffle creates an area within the perimeter of the implement in which grass and other vegetation that is to be cut by the blades has an opportunity to straighten after being knocked down by the tractor's tire and prior to being cut by its blades. Accordingly, the baffle assists in maintaining the overall appearance of one's grounds after they have been cut and permits the implement to deliver an increased level of overall cutting performance.

Cutting implement having notched front flow baffle

A quick hitch arrangement for attaching the rear portion of an implement, such as a mower deck, to the frame of a lawn and garden tractor includes a lifting arm having a first end pivotally connected to the frame and a forked second end. The forked second end has a pair of vertically spaced upper and lower fingers defining a longitudinal slot therebetween that slidably receives a substantially horizontal pin attached to the rear draft tower of the implement. The arrangement provides a method of hitching the implement to the tractor in which the user does not have to lift the implement manually or with the use of equipment other than the tractor itself.

Growing community of inventors

Beaver Dam, WI, United States of America

Todd Lynn Smith