Abstract:
A material collection parking system having a hopper connected to a rear discharge chute from a mower deck on a lawn tractor. The system includes a pair of front and a pair of rear parking support legs, at least one of the pairs of legs being independently moveable between a stowed position along a side wall of the hopper and a deployed position supporting the hopper on a ground surface. The material collection system has a low dump configuration and a high dump configuration providing unobstructed sight lines and rear visibility for the operator during rear collection in the stowed position on the lawn tractor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to mowing machines for cutting grass and other vegetation, and more specifically to a material collection parking system for use with a lawn tractor. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    Lawn tractors and other grass mowing machines may have rear discharge/rear collection mower decks connected to material collection systems in which the blades throw cut grass clippings into a discharge and collection chute directed to a rear mounted collection container or hopper. Some material collection systems may include mechanisms designed to dump grass clippings from the collection container or hopper, in either a low dump configuration, or a high dump configuration (raised above the lawn tractor). Removal, storage and installation of material collection systems on lawn tractors can be difficult and time intensive because of the size and weight of these systems. 
         [0003]    U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,992,373 entitles Lawn Mower with Grass Collecting Unit Support relates to a grass collecting unit that may be moved between a lowered grass collecting position and a high dump grass discharge position. The support includes left and right masts or vertical main frames extending substantially higher than the top of the operator seat in the grass discharging state, and a vertical pair of lift links extending rearwardly from the upper end portion of each mast or vertical main frame. A hydraulic lift cylinder extends between a lower portion of each mast or vertical main frame and the lower link of each vertical pair of lift links. The vehicle includes left and right support members, with each support member having an upper pin receiving opening and a lower pin receiving opening. Each lower pin receiving opening has a cutout profile in the form of a U-letter as viewed from a lateral side of the mower, with the parking support legs of the U-letter inclined rearward and upward. The grass collecting unit may be attached to the support members by lowering the support frame assembly and guiding a fixing connecting pin along the inclined parking support legs of the U-letter of the cutout profile. The grass collecting unit may be supported by a stand unit having a front stand body and a rear stand body that may be vertically pivoted about axes of connecting shafts between a stored position in which the stand unit extends under the bottom surface of the grass container and a use position in which the stand unit extends downwardly of the grass container. A connecting rod is attached to the front stand body and the rear stand body for interconnecting intermediate portions thereof. 
         [0004]    There is a need for a material collection parking system having a low dump configuration, and a high dump configuration that provides unobstructed sight lines and rear visibility for the operator during rear collection on the lawn tractor. There is a need for a material collection parking system that is simple to move between a stowed position and a deployed position, and having a support unit that is easy to access and use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A material collection parking system having a hopper connected to a rear discharge chute from a mower deck on a lawn tractor. The system includes a pair of front and a pair of rear parking support legs, at least one of the pairs of legs being independently moveable between a stowed position along a side wall of the hopper and a deployed position supporting the hopper on a ground surface. In one embodiment, the rear discharge chute extends to a front panel hinged to a top front portion of the hopper and removably attached to a rear bracket on the lawn tractor. A lift cylinder connected to a top front portion of the hopper and retracting and extending to pivot the hopper toward and away from the front panel. In another embodiment, the material collection parking system includes a pair of masts removably attached to the lawn tractor behind the operator seat, and a pair of boom arms supporting the hopper, each boom arm pivotably attached to one of the masts at a vertical position below the top of the operator seat; a lift cylinder having a forward end attached to each mast below the boom arm and a rearward end attached to one of the boom arms. 
         [0006]    The material collection parking system has a low dump configuration and a high dump configuration providing unobstructed sight lines and rear visibility for the operator during rear collection on the lawn tractor. The material collection parking system is simple to move between a stowed position and a deployed position, and includes parking support legs that is easy to access and use. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first embodiment of a material collection parking system in a stowed position. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a first embodiment of a material collection parking system between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a first embodiment of a material collection parking system in a deployed position. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a second embodiment of a material collection parking system in a stowed position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a second embodiment of a material collection parking system between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a side view of a second embodiment of a material collection parking system in a deployed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side view showing a lower portion of a first embodiment the material collection parking system in a stowed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a side view showing a lower portion of a first embodiment the material collection parking system in a deployed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a side view showing a lower portion of a second embodiment the material collection parking system in a stowed position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a side view showing a lower portion of a second embodiment the material collection parking system in a deployed position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]      FIGS. 1-3  show a first embodiment of material collection parking system  100  having a low dump configuration. The material collection parking system may include hopper  102  that may be attached to and removed from lawn tractor  104  having operator seat  105 . The lawn tractor may include discharge chute  106  that extends rearwardly from mower deck  108  into hopper  102 . 
         [0018]    In a first embodiment, material collection parking system  100  may include lift cylinder  124  connected to hydraulic hoses  126  and actuated by operator controls. A forward end of the lift cylinder may be pivotably attached to support  125 . Support  125  may be removably attached to rear bracket  114  that may be bolted or welded to a rear frame portion of the lawn tractor. A rearward end of the lift cylinder may be pivotably attached to upper frame member  130  at the top front of the hopper. The controls may be used to extend the lift cylinder to dump the hopper, and to retract the lift cylinder to move the hopper back into the stowed position for grass collection. 
         [0019]    In a first embodiment, material collection parking system  100  may include front panel  132  mounted with hinges  134  to the top front of the hopper. Discharge chute  106  may extend into an opening in the front panel. Left and right lower pins or transverse rods  136  may be provided at a lower portion of the front panel, and the rods may be captured in left and right J-shaped slots  116  on a lower portion of the rear bracket. Each J-shaped slot may have a rear facing portion  118  and a vertical portion  120 . To secure the front panel of the hopper to the lawn tractor in the stowed position, the lawn tractor may back up until the rods are in the rear facing portion of J-shaped slots  116 , and then the hopper may be lowered until the rods are at the bottom of the vertical portion  120  of the J-shaped slots  116 . Additionally, the front panel may be secured to the lawn tractor in the stowed position by left and right upper pins  140  inserted through left and right holes  122  through an upper part of the rear bracket, and left and right holes  127  provided in support  125  attached to the front end of the lift cylinder. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , a first embodiment of material collection parking system  100  may include left and right front parking support legs  142  and left and right rear parking support legs  144  attached to the hopper. The front and rear parking support legs may be pivoted 180 degrees between a stowed position against the hopper&#39;s left and right side walls, and a deployed position extending down from the hopper side walls to the ground surface. The front and rear parking support legs may be mounted to the hopper side walls with hinge brackets  146 ,  148 . Each front leg may be held in the stowed position of  FIG. 7  by inserting pin  150  in hole  152  in the front leg and upper holes in the hinge bracket. Each front leg may be held in the deployed position of  FIG. 8  by inserting pin  150  in hole  152  in the front leg and lower holes in the hinge bracket. Each rear leg may be held in the stowed position of  FIG. 7  by inserting pin  160  in hole  162  in the rear leg and upper holes in the hinge bracket. Each rear leg may be held in the deployed position of  FIG. 8  by inserting pin  160  in hole  162  in the rear leg and lower holes in the hinge bracket. Alternatively, the parking support legs may slide between a stowed position and a deployed position. 
         [0021]    In a first embodiment, material collection parking system  100  may be moved between a stowed position in a low dump configuration on a lawn tractor as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a deployed position off the lawn tractor as shown in  FIG. 3 . First, lift cylinder  124  may be extended to open and pivot hopper  102  away from front panel  132  in the dump position. With the hopper in the dump position, pins  150 ,  152  may be removed from the front and rear parking support legs. The front and rear parking support legs may be pivoted  180  degrees away from the hopper side walls, and the pins may be reinserted. The lift cylinder then may be retracted to pivot and lower the hopper back towards the front panel until rear parking support legs  144  contact the ground surface. Upper pins  140  then may be removed from holes  122  in the upper part of the rear bracket and holes  138  in support  125 . Lift cylinder  124  then may be extended to move the hopper away from the front panel until the front parking support legs contact the ground surface, as shown in  FIG. 2 . The lift cylinder then may be extended until lower pins  136  are raised from the bottom to the upper end of the vertical portion  120  of the J-shaped slots. The operator then may drive the lawn tractor forward to remove pins  136  out through the rear facing portion  118  of the J-shaped slots. The lift cylinder then may be retracted to close the panel, and the hydraulic hoses then may be disconnected. 
         [0022]      FIGS. 4-6  show a second embodiment of material collection parking system  200  having a high dump configuration. The material collection system may include hopper  202  that may be attached to and removed from lawn tractor  204 . The lawn tractor may include discharge chute  206  that extends rearwardly from mower deck  208  into hopper  202 . 
         [0023]    In a second embodiment, material collection parking system  200  may include left and right masts  214  behind operator seat  205 , left and right boom arms  218  pivotably attached to the masts at vertical locations below the top of operator seat  205 , and left and right lift cylinders  220  interconnecting between the masts and boom arms. A single boom arm  218  on each side of the hopper may have a first or upper end pivotably mounted to a bracket  216  near the top of a mast. Each boom arm may be generally L-shaped with a downward bend angle, between about 90 degrees and about 135 degrees, where the boom arm extends rearwardly along the hopper side wall and supports the hopper. In the stowed position, the second or lower end of each boom arm may have a generally vertical or near vertical orientation adjacent the hopper sidewall near the underside of the hopper. 
         [0024]    In a second embodiment, a first end of each lift cylinder  220  may be pivotably mounted to bracket  216  on mast  214  below boom arm  218 , and a second end of the lift cylinder may be pivotably mounted to bracket  222  on an intermediate portion of the boom arm. The lift cylinders are attached to hydraulic hoses  224  and may be actuated by operator controls to extend the lift cylinders and raise the boom arms and hopper for dumping, or to retract the lift cylinders and lower the boom arms and hopper into the stowed position for grass collection. During grass collection, the masts  214  and L-shaped boom arms  218  are below the top of operator seat  205 , providing unobstructed sight lines and good rear visibility for the operator. 
         [0025]    In a second embodiment, material collection parking system  200  may include left and right lower pins or transverse rods  236  at a lower front portion of the hopper near the lower ends of masts  214 . The rods may be captured in left and right J-shaped slots  226  on a lower portion of rear bracket  213  on the frame of the lawn tractor. Each J-shaped slot may have a rear facing portion  228  and a vertical portion  230 . To secure the hopper to the lawn tractor in the stowed position, the lawn tractor may back up until the rods are in the rear facing portion of J-shaped slots  226 , and then the hopper may be lowered until the rods are at the bottom of the vertical portion of the J-shaped slots. Additionally, the hopper may be secured to the lawn tractor in the stowed position by left and right upper pins  240  inserted through left and right holes  241  through an upper part of rear bracket  213 , and left and right holes  232  provided in the hopper frame. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 9-10 , a second embodiment of material collection parking system  200  may include left and right front parking support legs  242  and left and right rear parking support legs  244  attached to the hopper. The rear parking support legs may slide up and down between a stowed position adjacent the hopper left and right side walls, and a deployed position extending down from the hopper side walls to the ground surface. The front parking support legs may be pivoted 90 degrees between a stowed position under the hopper floor, and a deployed position extending down from the hopper floor to the ground surface. 
         [0027]    In a second embodiment, the left and right front parking support legs  242  may be mounted under the hopper floor with brackets  246  and front leg supports  250  hinged to the front parking support legs. Each front leg  242  may be held in the stowed position by inserting a pin in a first set of corresponding holes through front leg  242 , support  250 , and bracket  246 . Each front leg  242  may be pivoted 90 degrees and may be held in the deployed position by inserting the pin in a second set of corresponding holes through front leg  242 , support  250  and bracket  246 . Alternatively, the front parking support legs may be mounted to the hopper side walls. 
         [0028]    In a second embodiment, each rear leg  244  may be mounted to the hopper side wall with bracket  248 . Each rear leg may be held in the stowed position by inserting pin  260  in hole  262  through rear leg  244  and a corresponding hole in the bracket. Each rear leg  244  may slide downwardly and may be held in the deployed position by inserting pin  260  in hole  263  through rear leg  244  and a corresponding hole in the bracket. 
         [0029]    In a second embodiment, material collection parking system  200  may be moved between the stowed position on the rear of the lawn tractor for use during mowing, and the deployed position off the lawn tractor. In the stowed position, the top ends of the masts and boom arms are lower than the top of the operator seat to provide unobstructed rear sight lines for the operator. The left and right lift cylinders  220  may be extended to raise hopper  202 . With the hopper raised, pins  252 ,  260  may be removed from the front and rear parking support legs. The operator may slide the rear parking support legs down to the deployed position, and may pivot the front parking support legs to the deployed position. The pins then may be reinserted. Optionally, hydraulic controls may be used to extend dump cylinder  265  to tip the hopper back slightly (preferably about 10 degrees) before lowering the hopper. The lift cylinder then may be retracted to lower the hopper until front parking support legs  242  and rear parking support legs  244  contact the ground surface. When the hopper is supported by the support legs, upper pins  240  then may be removed from holes  241  in the upper part of the rear bracket and holes  232  in the upper part of the hopper frame. Dump cylinder  265  than may be extended to raise the front of the hopper slightly, moving rods  236  upwardly in the vertical portion  230  of the J-shaped slots. The operator then may drive the lawn tractor forward far enough until rods  236  are out of the rear facing portion  228  of the J-shaped slots. The hydraulic controls then may be used to retract the lift cylinders  220  to lower masts  214  onto the ground surface, before the hydraulic hoses are disconnected. 
         [0030]    Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.