Abstract:
A drive over mower deck has a top surface with downwardly depending surfaces defining a front edge, a back edge, and left and right side edges, at least one belt shield over the top surface, a first pair of gauge wheels mounted adjacent the front edge the deck, and a second pair of gauge wheels mounted adjacent the back edge of the deck. Each pair of gauge wheels is movable vertically to at least one position above the ground surface such that the mower deck is supported by the front edge, back edge, and left and right side edge. Each gauge wheel being releasably lockable at a plurality of different positions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates generally to tractors and utility vehicles used for agricultural work and lawn care, and particularly to mower decks carried by such tractors or vehicles that cover rotary cutting blades. More specifically, the invention relates to a drive over mower deck that may be easily attached and removed from a tractor or vehicle.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Tractors and utility vehicles used for agricultural work and lawn care may carry a mid-mounted mower deck covering two or more rotary cutting blades on the lower ends of vertically oriented spindles. A mower deck may be attached to a tractor or other vehicle with mechanical linkages that allow the deck to be carried at a range of different cutting heights, and raised or lowered between each height. The blade spindles may be rotated by one or more belts and pulleys above the surface of the deck, which may be driven by an engine and/or power take off shaft. The deck perimeter may have several anti-scalp wheels and/or caster wheels, also referred to as gauge wheels.  
         [0003]     Mower decks commonly are attached to the frame of a tractor or utility vehicle at a position between the front and rear wheels. Often it is desirable to remove a mid-mounted mower deck in order to service the unit or store it while using other implements. These types of mower decks are difficult to remove from the tractor or vehicle due to the high weight of the deck and the proximity of the deck to tires and other parts of the tractor or vehicle.  
         [0004]     Several steps are needed to remove a mid-mounted mower deck from a tractor or vehicle. First, the mower deck must be disconnected from the mechanical linkages that are part of the mower lift system. Then, the operator must start the tractor and raise the lift system to clear the mower. The operator also must turn the tractor or vehicle&#39;s front wheels fully to the left to give the mower deck maximum clearance. Next, the operator must disconnect the driveshaft from the mower deck. Once the driveshaft is disconnected, the gauge wheels must be turned to the sideways position. In some instances, it even may be necessary to remove the mower deck&#39;s gauge wheel(s) and its mounting bracket in order to provide enough clearance to slide out the mower deck from under the tractor or vehicle. Once everything has been disconnected and adequate clearance has been achieved, the operator must manually pull the mower deck from under the tractor or vehicle.  
         [0005]     When the operator is ready to use the mower deck again, reinstallation may be more difficult than removal of the mower deck. Various mounting points must be aligned. For example, holes in the lift system must be realigned with the holes on the mower deck in order to reinstall the retaining pins. The mower deck must be manually positioned between the front and rear wheels of the tractor or vehicle, and then pushed or pulled under the tractor or vehicle into the desired position where it may be connected to the lift system linkage. The difficulty of reinstallation may be due at least in part to the heavy weight of the deck, the resistance of the gauge wheels supporting the deck to lateral movement, obstructions under the tractor such as a front wheel drive shaft, and irregular ground surfaces.  
         [0006]     A mid-mounted mower deck is needed that can be installed or uninstalled from a tractor or other vehicle without pushing or pulling it under the side of the tractor or vehicle. A mid-mounted mower deck is needed that can reduce the difficulty of aligning mounting points to connect the deck to a lift system.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The invention provides a drive over mower deck that can be quickly and easily mounted or removed from a tractor between the tractor&#39;s front and rear wheels. To drive over the mid-mounted mower deck, the deck may be lowered to a position flat on the ground. This is done to prevent damage of caster wheels, brackets other related components that cannot bear the additional weight of the tractor or vehicle during the drive over procedure. The working components of the deck are protected by a drive over belt shield from the weight of the tractor or vehicle applied when the front or rear tires drive over the deck.  
         [0008]     The invention also provides a mechanism for lowering a mower deck to the drive over position lying flat on the ground, as well as raising the mower deck to a cutting height. The mechanism includes a pin that sets the gauge wheel height that may be operated using a cam lever. The invention also may provide a lift system that allows connection to a drive over mower deck with minimal manipulation of the mower deck by the operator. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a drive over mower deck in a raised position in a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a drive over mower deck in a lowered position flat on the ground according to a first embodiment of the invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a tractor on the drive over mower deck of the first embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of a gauge wheel assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, drive over mower deck  10  may cover a plurality of rotary cutting blades, and preferably three cutting blades, mounted on the lower ends of vertically oriented spindles. Alternatively, the drive over mower deck may cover two cutting blades, or more than three cutting blades. The drive over mower deck may have a top surface  11 , a front facing edge  12  with a rim, left and right side edges  13 ,  14 , and a back edge  27 . The drive over mower deck may have a total width greater than the track width of at least one set of wheels of a tractor or utility vehicle, and may be mid-mounted under the tractor or vehicle frame between the front and rear wheels.  
         [0014]     In one embodiment, drive over mower deck  10  may have a first pair of gauge wheels  15  mounted adjacent the front edge of the deck, and a second pair of gauge wheels  16  mounted adjacent the rear edge of the deck. In a cutting position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the mower deck may be at least partially supported by the gauge wheels, and/or the gauge wheels may be positioned to avoid or reduce scalping of turf by the mower blades. In a drive over position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gauge wheels  15 ,  16  may be retracted sufficiently so that the deck is not supported by the gauge wheels. Optionally, in the embodiment shown, front gauge wheels  15  may be caster wheels.  
         [0015]     In one embodiment, each front gauge wheel  15  may be mounted in a swivel frame  43  which may be rotatably coupled to a gauge wheel shaft  18 . Each rear gauge wheel  16  also may be rotatably coupled to a gauge wheel shaft  18 . Gauge wheel shafts  18  may be inserted in and through gauge wheel tubes  21 . The gauge wheel tubes may be welded or otherwise secured to a gauge wheel brackets  17 .  
         [0016]     In one embodiment, each gauge wheel may be extended to any of one or more selected cutting heights, or retracted to a drive-over position, by moving the gauge wheel vertically. For example, each gauge wheel may be moved vertically by sliding the gauge wheel shaft  18  in the gauge wheel tube  21 . In the drive-over position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , each gauge wheel shaft  18  may slide upward with respect to gauge wheel tube  21  to at least one position where the mower deck lies flat on the ground surface. In the drive-over position, the front, back and side edges and/or rims of the deck may lie flat on the ground surface. To move the mower deck to a mowing position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , each gauge wheel shaft  18  may slide downward with respect to the gauge wheel tube  21  until the front, back and side edges and/or rims are spaced above the ground surface at a desired cutting height.  
         [0017]     In one embodiment, each gauge wheel may be connected to the mower deck through gauge wheel bracket  17 . Each gauge wheel bracket  17  may be attached to the mower deck at a position adjacent to a corner of the deck; i.e., between each side rim and the front and back rims. Gauge wheel brackets  17  may project and extend sufficiently over the top surface  11  of the mower deck so that each gauge wheel may be raised sufficiently so that it does not support the weight of the deck. For example, each gauge wheel tube  21  may allow the gauge wheel shaft  18  to move vertically upwardly sufficiently so that gauge wheels  15 ,  16  are above the edge or rim of the deck. When all of the gauge wheels are raised or otherwise retracted to the drive-over position, the mower deck may lie flat on the ground, and the front, back, and left and right side edges and/or rims of the deck may rest on the ground surface.  
         [0018]     In one embodiment, each gauge wheel shaft  18  may be held and/or locked in at least two different positions with respect to gauge wheel tube  21 . For example, each gauge wheel shaft  18  may have a plurality of holes  44 , or openings or detents, that correspond to each possible position or height of the drive over deck with respect to the ground surface. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , gauge wheel pins  19  may be inserted through selected holes in the gauge wheel shafts  18  to hold and lock the gauge wheel shafts at a specified height.  
         [0019]     Now referring to  FIG. 4 , in one embodiment, each gauge wheel pin  19  may be part of a locking assembly including cam lever  20  and spring  33 . The locking assembly may allow gauge wheel pin  19  to be engaged and disengaged from the gauge wheel shaft  18  at each deck height. The gauge wheel pin  19  may be captured by a hole in gauge wheel tube  21  and a corresponding hole in U-shaped member  35  connected to gauge wheel tube  21 . Cam lever  20  and spring  33  may work together to maintain engagement of gauge wheel pin  19  with gauge wheel shaft  18 . Cam lever may be connected to gauge wheel pin  19  by roll pin  45  or a similar pivoting member, and spring may be retained on gauge wheel pin  19  using roll pin  46  in a hole perpendicular to the axis of pin  19 , or a similar small retainer. Spring  33  may push against roll pin  46  and the inside surface of U-shaped member  35  to maintain engagement. Spring  33  may push roll pin  46  or a small retainer against the outside surface of gauge wheel tube  21  at the point of maximum pin engagement.  
         [0020]     In one embodiment, cam lever  20  may assist engagement or disengagement of each gauge wheel pin  19  through the use of mechanical advantage. Cam lever  20  may use the surface of U-shaped member  35  as a plane for the lobe of the cam lever to push against while disengaging the gauge wheel pin  19 . The gauge wheel pin may be in the engaged position when the cam lever is in its lowest position and, as the cam lever is rotated to its highest position, the gauge wheel pin may move to a disengaged position. The cam lever will remain at the highest position until moved back to the lowest position to reengage the gauge wheel pin.  
         [0021]     In one embodiment, memory pin  37  may work in conjunction with each gauge wheel pin  19  to allow the operator to return to a previously set cutting height after the drive over mower deck has been removed from or attached to the tractor. The memory pin may limit vertical travel of gauge wheel shaft  18  with respect to the gauge wheel tube  21 . The memory pin  37  may be inserted into one of the holes  44  or openings in gauge wheel shaft  18  above the gauge wheel tube  21  corresponding to a previously set cutting height. When the deck is lifted off of the ground with the gauge wheel pin  19  disengaged, the gauge wheel and gauge wheel shaft will fall until the memory pin rests against the top of the gauge wheel tube. This positions the gauge wheel shaft at the desired cutting height and allows the gauge wheel pin to be engaged, thus locking the gauge wheel shaft at the desired position. After engaging the gauge wheel pin with the cam lever, the deck will be placed at the previously set cutting height.  
         [0022]     In one embodiment, at least one drive over belt shield  22  may be mounted on the top surface of the mower deck to function like a bridge or ramp over belts  26  and pulleys  30  on the deck&#39;s upper surface that are connected to power take off shaft  23  and gear box to drive the cutting blades. Preferably, a pair of drive over belt shields are mounted on the mower deck, although a single drive over belt shield may be used, that may be wide enough to accommodate the left and right tires of a tractor. As shown in  FIG. 3 , each of the pair of drive over belt shields  22  may mount to the top surface of deck  10  in a position that protects working components of the deck from the weight of tractor  50 , including the tractor front tires  51  (or rear tires) while driving over the deck. The drive over belt shields may be mounted to the deck in a manner to help distribute the weight of tractor  50  or vehicle to the outer edges of the deck where the deck may provide the most strength, especially if the deck is made of lighter weight steel. For example, the drive over belt shield(s) may be attached to a lighter weight mower deck at front and rear mounting points less than about 12 inches from the front and back edges rims of the deck.  
         [0023]     In one embodiment, the drive over belt shield(s)  22  may be fastened to the deck in a manner that allows their removal for servicing working components on the deck. For example, the drive over belt shield(s)  22  may have access holes to provide for application of grease or oil to service the pulleys and other components under the shields. Optionally, one or both lateral sides of belt shield(s)  22  may be provided with a wall  31 . The walls  31  or inner upward edges of the belt shield(s) may act as guides for the front tires, to help guide the rear lift arms into rear draft brackets  24  as the tractor drives over the deck.  
         [0024]     In one embodiment, rear draft brackets  24  may be mounted on the top surface or back rim of the drive over mower deck. Each rear draft bracket may include two plates  25 ,  26  mounted perpendicular to the top surface of the deck. Plates  25 ,  26  may be spaced apart from each other sufficiently to allow insertion of a rear draft arm between them. The rear edges of each plate may be angled or bent outwardly, so that the rear draft arm may be funneled between the plates into the rear draft bracket, after the tractor has driven over the deck. The rear draft arms mounted on a tractor may engage the rear draft brackets. Each rear draft bracket may have a pin  39  that intersects or extends between the two plates. The pin may correspond with a notch in the rear draft arms. The notch in the rear draft arms may work like a hook to catch pin  39  as the rear draft arms are engaged in the bracket. Once both sides are hooked and fully engaged, the mounting holes in the deck and the lift kit may be lined up and are ready for insertion of retaining pins. The front edge of the deck also may be provided with an attachment member  29  that may be hooked onto the lift system of the tractor or vehicle.  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, the drive over deck may include a pair of front cleats  40  projecting forwardly from the front edge or rim of the deck, preferably positioned between the front rim and top surface of the deck. Front cleats  40  may be positioned to engage the front or rear tires of a tractor before the tires contact the rim or top surface of the mower deck. Additionally, in one embodiment, the drive over deck may include a pair of rear cleats  41  projecting rearwardly from the back edge or rim of the deck, preferably positioned between the back rim and top surface of the deck. Rear cleats  41  also may be positioned to engage the front or rear tires of the tractor before the tires contact the rim or top surface of the mower deck. The front and rear cleats help hold and secure the deck in a stationary position on the ground surface while the tractor begins to drive over the mower deck, or drive off from the mower deck. The cleats help prevent the mower deck from sliding forward when a tractor drives over it.  
         [0026]     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.  
       ASSIGNMENT  
       [0027]     The entire right, title and interest in and to this application and all subject matter disclosed and/or claimed therein, including any and all divisions, continuations, reissues, etc., thereof are, effective as of the date of execution of this application, assigned, transferred, sold and set over by the applicant(s) named herein to Deere &amp; Company, a Delaware corporation having offices at Moline, Ill. 61265, U.S.A., together with all rights to file, and to claim priorities in connection with, corresponding patent applications in any and all foreign countries in the name of Deere &amp; Company or otherwise.