Patent ID: 9648806
Date: 2017-05-16
CPC Classifications: A01D

Claim:
1. A hydraulically driven rotary brush cutting system, comprising a left wing cutting deck comprising a first hydraulic cutting assembly, a left cutting guard extending upward from a front edge of the left wing cutting deck, and a first skid structure extending from the front edge of the left wing cutting deck at a left side edge of the left wing cutting deck; a right wing cutting deck comprising a second hydraulic cutting assembly, a right cutting guard extending upward from a front edge of the right wing cutting deck, and a second skid structure extending from the front edge of the right wing cutting deck at a right side edge of the right wing cutting deck; a center cutting deck having a first side pivotally coupled to the left wing cutting deck and a second side pivotally coupled to the right wing cutting deck, the center cutting deck comprising a third hydraulic cutting assembly, and a center cutting guard extending upward from a front edge of the center cutting deck; a mounting portion positioned at a back end of the center cutting deck, the mounting portion configured to be attached to a front carrier portion of a drive vehicle; a hydraulic manifold operably coupled to each of the first, second, and third hydraulic cutting assemblies, the hydraulic manifold configured to be operably coupled to a hydraulic power system of the drive vehicle and comprising a first valve that controls flow of a drive fluid to the first hydraulic cutting assembly, and a second valve that controls flow of the drive fluid the second hydraulic cutting assembly; a first sensing arrangement in communication with the first valve and the hydraulic power system of the drive vehicle; and a second sensing arrangement in communication with the second valve and the hydraulic power system of the drive vehicle; wherein the first sensing arrangement is configured to sense when the left wing cutting deck pivots upward from a lowered position to a first angular position, signal the first valve to shut off flow of the drive fluid to the first hydraulic cutting assembly, and signal the hydraulic power system to reduce a flow of drive fluid from the hydraulic power system to the hydraulic manifold; and wherein the second sensing arrangement is configured to sense when the right wing cutting deck pivots upward from the lowered position to a second angular position, signal the second valve to shut off flow of the drive fluid to the second hydraulic cutting assembly, and signal the hydraulic power system to reduce the flow of drive fluid from the hydraulic power system to the hydraulic manifold wherein the brush cutter is configured to clear brush, small trees, and exposed stumps.