Patent ID: 6557330
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A belly mower for attachment to a separate vehicle including a vehicle motor for driving the vehicle, at least one front wheel and at least one rear wheel, the belly mower comprising:a mower frame having a mower deck; a plurality of blades mounted on the mower deck such that forward movement of the mower deck across the ground causes the blades to effect a cutting action of a crop growing on the ground, each blade being rotatable on a respective vertical mounting shaft about a substantially vertical axis at horizontally spaced positions across the mower deck; the mower frame including mounting members for attachment of the mower frame and the mower deck to the separate vehicle such that forward movement of the vehicle moves the mower deck forwards; the mower deck and the mounting members being shaped arranged such that in use the mower deck is located and maintained behind at least one front wheel of the vehicle and in front of at least one rear wheel of the vehicle; the mower frame including a portion thereof extending longitudinally of and separately from the vehicle from the mower deck in front of the rear wheels so as to extend in use to a position rearwardly of the vehicle; a motor mounted on said portion of the mower frame at a position rearwardly of the vehicle and operable to generate power independently of the motor of the vehicle to drive the blades, the mower frame with the motor thereon being removable from the vehicle leaving the vehicle free from the belly mower for driving by the vehicle motor; and a drive connection which extends from the motor to the drive shafts of the blades on the mower deck for driving the blades.