초록

An articulating deck mower comprises a frame unit, relatively movable cutter decks, and a deck height adjuster. The deck height adjuster is configured for adjustment of the height of the cutter decks relative to the frame unit.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An articulating deck mower comprising a frame unit, first and second cutter decks adapted to cut grass and mounted for movement relative to one another in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, and a deck height ad

The invention claimed is: 1. An articulating deck mower comprising a frame unit, first and second cutter decks adapted to cut grass and mounted for movement relative to one another in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, and a deck height adjuster that is coupled to the frame unit and the first and second cutter decks and comprises first and second pivot shafts, a first shaft coupler interconnecting the first and second pivot shafts to allow the first and second pivot shafts to pivot together about their longitudinal axes and to allow the first and second pivot shafts to move to non-parallel positions relative to one another in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, and an actuator arranged to pivot the first and second pivot shafts about their longitudinal axes to cause adjustment of the height of the first and second cutter decks relative to the frame unit in response to actuation of the actuator. 2. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the first shaft coupler is a universal joint. 3. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises a first motion converter coupled to the first pivot shaft and the first cutter deck to convert pivotable movement of the first pivot shaft into vertical movement of the first cutter deck relative to the frame unit. 4. The articulating deck mower of claim 3, wherein the first pivot shaft is coupled to the frame unit for pivotable movement relative thereto, the first motion converter comprises a first forward pivot arm extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a first forward link depending from the first forward pivot arm to a first forward location on the first cutter deck, a rearward pivot shaft coupled to the frame unit for pivotable movement relative thereto, a first rearward pivot arm extending radially from the rearward pivot shaft, a first rearward link depending from the first rearward pivot arm to a first rearward location on the first cutter deck, and a tie rod interconnecting the first forward pivot arm and the first rearward pivot arm. 5. The articulating deck mower of claim 4, wherein the first motion converter comprises a second forward pivot arm extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second forward link depending from the second forward pivot arm to a second forward location on the first cutter deck, a second rearward pivot arm extending radially from the rearward pivot shaft, and a second rearward link depending from the second rearward pivot arm to a second rearward location on the first cutter deck. 6. The articulating deck mower of claim 3, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises a second motion converter coupled to the second pivot shaft and the second cutter deck to convert pivotable movement of the second pivot shaft into vertical movement of the second cutter deck relative to the frame unit. 7. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the frame unit comprises a chassis and a first rocker arm coupled to the chassis for vertical movement of the first rocker arm relative to the chassis in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, the first pivot shaft is coupled to the chassis and the first cutter deck for height adjustment of the first cutter deck relative to the chassis, and the second pivot shaft is coupled to the first rocker arm and the second cutter deck for height adjustment of the second cutter deck relative to the first rocker arm. 8. The articulating deck mower of claim 7, wherein the first rocker arm comprises a bearing coupled to the first rocker arm, and the second pivot shaft extends in the bearing for pivotable movement of the second pivot shaft in the bearing upon actuation of the actuator and for axial movement of the first rocker arm along the second pivot upon vertical movement of the first rocker arm relative to the chassis. 9. The articulating deck mower of claim 5, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises a motion converter coupled to the second pivot shaft and the second cutter deck to convert pivotable movement of the second pivot shaft into vertical movement of the second cutter deck relative to the first rocker arm. 10. The articulating deck mower of claim 7, wherein motion converter comprises a first pivot arm extending radially from the second pivot shaft, a second pivot arm coupled to the first rocker arm for pivotable movement relative thereto, a tie rod interconnecting the first and second pivot arms, and a link depending from the second pivot arm to the second cutter deck. 11. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, further comprising a third cutter deck adapted to cut grass, wherein the first, second, and third cutter decks are mounted for vertical movement relative to one another in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, the deck height adjuster is coupled to the third cutter deck and comprises a third pivot shaft and a second shaft coupler interconnecting the first and third pivot shafts to allow the first and third pivot shafts to pivot together about their longitudinal axes and to allow the first and third pivot shafts to move relative to one another in response to variation in the level of the ground during movement of the mower over the ground, and the actuator is arranged to pivot the first, second, and third pivot shafts to cause adjustment of the height of the first, second, and third cutter decks relative to the frame unit in response to actuation of the actuator by a person. 12. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises first, second, and third motion converters, the first motion converter is arranged to convert pivotable movement of the first pivot shaft into vertical movement of the first cutter deck relative to the frame unit, the second motion converter is arranged to convert pivotable movement of the second pivot shaft into vertical movement of the second cutter deck relative to the frame unit, and the third motion converter is arranged to convert pivotable movement of the third pivot shaft into vertical movement of the third cutter deck relative to the frame unit. 13. The articulating deck mower of claim 12, wherein each motion converter comprises a first pivot arm extending radially from one of the first motion converter, the second motion converter, and the third motion converter, a second pivot arm mounted for pivotable movement, a tie rod interconnecting the first and second pivot arms, and a link depending from the second pivot arm to one of the first cutter deck, the second cutter deck, and the third cutter deck. 14. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second shaft couplers is a universal joint. 15. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first pivot arm extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second pivot arm extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a first tie rod interconnecting the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm, and the second shaft coupler comprises a third pivot arm extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a fourth pivot arm extending radially from the third pivot shaft, and a second tie rod interconnecting the third pivot arm and the fourth pivot arm. 16. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first sprocket extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second sprocket extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a first chain interconnecting the first and second sprockets, and the second shaft coupler comprises a third sprocket extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a fourth sprocket extending radially from the third pivot shaft, and a second chain interconnecting the third and fourth sprockets. 17. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first pulley extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second pulley extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a first belt interconnecting the first and second pulleys, and the second shaft coupler comprises a third pulley extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a fourth pulley extending radially from the third pivot shaft, and a second belt interconnecting the third and fourth pulleys. 18. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first loop mount coupled to the first pivot shaft, a second loop mount coupled to the second pivot shaft, and a first closed loop interconnecting and extending around the first loop mount and the second loop mount, and the second shaft coupler comprises a third loop mount coupled to the first pivot shaft, a fourth loop mount coupled to the third pivot shaft, and a second closed loop interconnecting and extending around the third loop mount and the fourth loop mount. 19. The articulating deck mower of claim 11, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises a first pivot arm extending radially from the second pivot shaft, a first link depending from the first pivot arm to the second cutter deck, a second pivot arm extending radially from the third pivot shaft, and a second link depending from the second pivot arm to the third cutter deck. 20. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first pivot arm extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second pivot arm extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a tie rod interconnecting the first pivot arm and the second pivot arm. 21. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first sprocket extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second sprocket extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a chain interconnecting the first and second sprockets. 22. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first pulley extending radially from the first pivot shaft, a second pulley extending radially from the second pivot shaft, and a belt interconnecting the first and second pulleys. 23. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the first shaft coupler comprises a first loop mount coupled to the first pivot shaft, a second loop mount coupled to the second pivot shaft, and a closed loop interconnecting and extending around the first loop mount and the second loop mount. 24. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the deck height adjuster comprises a pivot arm extending radially from the second pivot shaft and a link depending from the pivot arm to the second cutter deck. 25. The articulating deck mower of claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a lever extending radially from the first pivot shaft.