Patent ID: 6412258
Filing Date: 2002-07-02
Classification: A01D

Abstract:
A method for operating a lawnmower which includes a tractor having a centrally disposed fore-and-aft axis of operational movement and a plurality of mowers supported on the tractor and with the mowers having up-and-down movement relative to the tractor and wherein at least one of said mowers is movably supported by and operable on turf which has up-and-down changes in the contour of the turf over which the mower is operated in a forward moving direction along the fore-and-aft axis of the tractor, wherein there is no movement of the mower relative to the tractor in two directions laterally of the fore-and-aft axis and in accord with the changes in the turf contour, and the method comprises the steps of:mounting a support on and movable relative to said tractor and having a pivot axis parallel to said fore-and-aft axis and movable relative to said tractor in the two lateral directions, pivotally mounting a support arm on said support to be pivotal about said pivot axis and with said arm having an extending end offset relative to said pivot axis and capable of up-and-down movement, attaching said mower on said extending end of said support arm to move up and down along with the pivoting of said support arm, moving said lawnmower along said fore-and-aft axis while positioning said mower in contact with the turf with the changing contour and thereby pivot said support arm about said pivot axis in accord with the contour of the turf, and applying the pivotal movement of said support arm onto said support by moving said support in accord with the pivoting of said support arm to cause movement of said support relative to said tractor and thereby cause movement of said pivot axis relative to said tractor in either one of the two lateral directions in response to and in correspondence with the up-and-down movement of the mower on the contoured turf.