Patent GB-1175894-A (GB)
Title: Mowing Machine with Steerable Mower Sets
IPC: A01D34/03
Filed: 1967-03-06
Abstract: 1,175,894. Steering vehicles. JACOBSEN MFG. CO. 6 March, 1967 [21 Nov., 1966], No. 10412/67. Heading B7H. [Also in Division Al] A tractor having steerable wheels 12 and non-steered wheels 13 is provided with an arrangement of reel mowers 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34. The mowers 29 and 31 lie approximately coaxially with the tractor wheels 13 and are non-steerable, arrangements being provided to steer the others. All of the mowers may be lifted to an inoperative position. The mowers 32, 33 and 34 are carried by a member 37 mounted for articulation about a vertical axis by means of a sleeve 38 and pin 36 in a box structure 42 which is mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis by means of a pin 41 in a bracket 39, the horizontal pivoting being limited by a slotted lever 46. The mower 33 is carried by a bracket 51 mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis upon an arm 53 by means of a sleeve 76 and pin 52. The arm 53 is pivotally mounted upon a pin 54 carried by the member 37 and may be raised and lowered by an hydraulic cylinder 56. The mowers 32 and 34 carried by brackets 63 which are mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis by means of sleeves 77 and pin 64 upon arms 66 and 93 pivoted on the member 37. The arms 66 and 93 may be raised by hydraulic cylinders 69 and guide plates 78 attached to the brackets 63 coact with cam surfaces 81 to fold the mowers inwardly when raised. The mowers 29 and 31 are pivotally carried by brackets 139 and may be raised by lift cylinders 143. In order to provide added resistance to motion of the mower 33 when the mower 32 is raised, a member 84 is pivoted at 86 to the arm 53 and has a spring 83 centred upon it between a peg 85 and a pin 88 which engages a slot 87 and is mounted on an arm 89 pivoted at 67 to the member 37. When arm 66 supporting mower 32 is raised, a peg 96 rotates the member 89 causing the pin 88 to bear upon the spring 83 and so to press the arm 53 downwardly, thereby increasing the pressure upon the mower 33. Another spring 91 acts between brackets upon arms 53 and 93 so that when arm 93 and therefore mower 34, is raised, a downward pressure is exerted upon mower 33. The spring 83 also acts in conjunction with a bar motion connection 97 in the lift cylinder 56 and with levers 84 and 89, in the manner of a toggle, urging mower 33 upwardly in its raised condition. A plate 98 is keyed to the shaft 54 which turns with the arm 53, and is connected by links 101, 102 with the bar member 42 whereby the mower 33 is centred while being raised. The front mowers 27 and 28 are pivotally mounted by sleeves 122 upon rods 123 which are pivotally mounted upon pins 128 carried by arms 129. The latter may be raised by lift cylinders 133. A steering system for the mowers 27, 28, 32, 33, 34 includes a link system 107, 108 at each side of the vehicle, each comprising end links 113 and 114 articulated to a centre link 112 which may slide in a sleeve 111. Links 114 are connected to the member 37 and links 113 to arms 124 connected to the mowers 27, 28 through arms 122. An hydraulic cylinder 148 is connected to link 112 of system 107 and is controlled by a valve 154 the spool of which is connected to a rod 147 whose other end is connected by a member 171 to the link 112. The valve spool is also connected by links 164, 23 to the steering link work of the tractor so that a steering movement of the tractor wheels may be imparted to the mowers, the front and rear mowers turning in opposite direction to suit the tractor turn. The rod 147 provides a followup motion and is also effective to actuate the steering valve for centring or steering the mowers when the tractor steering is disconnected from the mower steering system. This may be achieved by axially rotating the rod 147 and a rod 156 connected to the valve 154 whereby a pin-and-slot connection 166, 167 between the links 164 and 23 is disconnected. A handle 172 is provided for this purpose.