Patent Publication Number: US-11653595-B2

Title: Mower with front mounted rotary cutting deck having a tipped up service position

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to grass mowing equipment and, more particularly, to a mower equipped with a front mounted rotary cutting deck for cutting grass. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Mowers having rotary cutting decks are well known for cutting grass. A rotary cutting deck generally comprises a low profile housing having a top wall and a skirt extending downwardly from the top wall along at least a portion of the periphery of the top wall. One or more cutting blades are housed within the cutting deck for cutting grass. Each cutting blade is rotatably supported by the top wall of the cutting deck and rotates about a generally vertical axis when cutting grass. 
     The mower employing a rotary cutting deck of the type described above typically includes a self-propelled frame to which the cutting deck is mounted. The mower frame usually has a pair of drive wheels which provide forward and reverse motion of the mower and a pair of steerable wheels that can be turned to steer the mower. The mower frame typically has a control station having a seat on which an operator sits, a steering wheel which the operator turns to steer the mower, and a traction pedal for operating the drive wheels to propel the mower. Other controls permit the operator to start and stop the operation of the cutting blades in the cutting deck and to lift and lower the cutting deck relative to the mower frame between a mowing position and a transport position using a deck lift. 
     In many mowers, the rotary cutting deck is front mounted to the mower frame in which substantially all of the cutting deck is forward of the drive and steerable wheels. The deck lift of the mower also extends at least partially forwardly of the wheels to overlie at least a rear portion of the cutting deck. The cutting deck is mounted to the overlying portion of the deck lift such that the propulsion of the mower frame is transmitted to the cutting deck through the deck lift. Mowers having this type of front mounted rotary cutting deck may also have, but need not necessarily have, other rotary cutting decks mounted thereon, such as side mounted rotary cutting decks arranged in a gang configuration relative to the front mounted rotary cutting deck. 
     The deck lift is used by the operator to move the cutting deck between a lowered mowing position for cutting grass and a raised transport position for use when driving the mower from one location to another without cutting grass. In the transport position, the front of the cutting deck has been tipped down relative to the rear of the cutting deck as the deck lift pivots upwardly on the mower frame as it moves between the mowing and transport positions. In the transport position of the cutting deck, the blades in the cutting deck are slightly or modestly exposed to a user. Such a user may be able to perform limited maintenance on the blades or the underside of the cutting deck in the transport position of the cutting deck if the user is able or willing to kneel or lie on the ground while doing so. 
     In order to increase the serviceability of a front mounted rotary cutting deck, it has been known in the art to move the cutting deck into a tipped up service position that is more steeply inclined relative to a user who is located in front of the cutting deck than the inclination provided in the transport position. In some cases, the tipped up service position is one in which the cutting deck is substantially vertical with the entire underside of the cutting deck and all of the cutting blades being readily accessible by the user. This has been generally accomplished by pivotally mounting the cutting deck to the deck lift, by removing various fasteners that normally lock out the pivotal motion of the cutting deck on the deck lift during motion of the cutting deck between its mowing and transports positions, by then manually pivoting the cutting deck from its transport to its more upright service position, and finally by installing other fasteners to hold the cutting deck in its service position. U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,907 to Sameshima et al., Japanese Published Patent Application JPH 08256556 to Shimamura et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,036 to Lilliestielke et al. all show front mounted rotary cutting decks of this type. 
     While effective for placing a front mounted rotary cutting deck in a more upright service position, the known prior art systems described above have various disadvantages. First, in unlatching the cutting deck from the deck lift, fasteners on both sides of the cutting deck have to be released, requiring the user to walk from one side of the cutting deck to the other side of the cutting deck in order to do so. When the cutting deck reaches its service position and it is time to relatch the cutting deck in the service position, the user often has to manually install a fastener in a locking aperture while simultaneously holding the deck against rotation and trying to align the fastener with the aperture. In some cases, this fastener and aperture alignment may have to be done on both sides of the cutting deck to properly relatch the cutting deck in the service position. Thus, the known prior art systems involve numerous steps and the need for precise alignment of various parts, both of which are disadvantageous. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of this invention relates to a mower for cutting grass. The mower comprises a self-propelled frame having a front mounted rotary cutting deck and a deck lift for lifting and lowering the cutting deck between a lowered mowing position and a raised transport position. The cutting deck is pivotally attached to the deck lift for motion of the cutting deck relative to the deck lift about a substantially lateral, horizontal pivot axis. The cutting deck is also selectively pivotable about the pivot axis to move the cutting deck from the transport position into a tipped up service position. A self-engaging latch acts between the cutting deck and the frame. The latch automatically latches the cutting deck and the frame to one another when the cutting deck reaches the tipped up service position. 
     Another aspect of this invention relates to a mower for cutting grass. The mower comprises a self-propelled frame having a front mounted rotary cutting deck and a deck lift for lifting and lowering the cutting deck between a lowered mowing position and a raised transport position. The cutting deck is pivotally attached to the deck lift for motion of the cutting deck relative to the deck lift about a substantially lateral, horizontal pivot axis. The cutting deck is also selectively pivotable about the pivot axis to move the cutting deck from the transport position into a tipped up service position. A center of gravity of the cutting deck is located forward of the pivot axis in the service position of the cutting deck such that gravity will pivot the cutting deck in a return motion back from the service position to the transport position. A catch acts between the cutting deck and the deck lift which catch automatically engages to stop the return motion of the cutting deck short of the transport position to provide a temporary hold position for the cutting deck to thereby mitigate risk of inadvertent contact between the user and the cutting deck as the cutting deck moves back towards the transport position. 
     Yet another aspect of this invention relates to a mower for cutting grass. The mower comprises a self-propelled frame having a front mounted rotary cutting deck. The cutting deck is pivotal relative to the frame for motion of the cutting deck about a substantially lateral, horizontal pivot axis. The cutting deck is selectively pivotable by a user about the pivot axis to move the cutting deck from a lower position into a tipped up service position. One side of the cutting deck has a rear foot pad and a front hand grip to allow a user who is standing behind the one side of the cutting deck to lift the cutting deck into the service position by pushing down on the foot pad with a foot of the user and by gripping and pulling upwardly and rearwardly on the hand grip with a hand of the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention will be described more fully in the following Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a mower according to this invention having a front mounted rotary cutting deck; 
         FIG.  2    is a rear perspective view of the mower of  FIG.  1    with portions thereof having been removed to more particularly illustrate the prime mover carried on frame  4  and the drive shaft extending between the prime mover and the cutting deck; 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective exploded view of a portion of the mower of  FIG.  1   , particularly illustrating the cutting deck and a portion of the deck lift and frame of the mower of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a perspective view of a portion of the mower of  FIG.  1   , particularly illustrating a portion of a self-engaging latch that is used to retain the cutting deck in a tipped up service position; 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the mower of  FIG.  1   , particularly illustrating a catch which engages when the cutting deck is being lowered out of its service position to a temporary hold position for the cutting deck; 
         FIGS.  6 A- 6 D  are side elevational views of a portion of the mower of  FIG.  1   , particularly illustrating the orientation of the cutting deck in a mowing position, a transport position, the tipped up service position, and the temporary hold position, respectively; 
         FIG.  7    is a rear perspective view of the cutting deck in the tipped up service position thereof; and 
         FIG.  8    is a front elevation view of the cutting deck in the tipped up service position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One embodiment of a mower of this invention for cutting grass on a turf surface is generally indicated as  2  in  FIGS.  1  and  2   . Mower  2  has a frame  4  supported for movement over the turf surface by a plurality of wheels  6 ,  8 . Four wheels comprising a pair of front wheels  6  and a pair of rear wheels  8  are rotatably carried on frame  4  in a four wheel configuration. Alternatively, three wheels may be rotatably carried on frame  4  in a tricycle configuration. 
     As best shown in  FIG.  2   , a rearward portion of frame  4  carries a prime mover, e.g. an internal combustion engine  10 , for providing power to operate mower  2 . A hydraulic system (not shown) has a hydraulic pump (not shown) which is powered by engine  10 . The pump supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to a traction drive system comprising hydraulic drive motors (not shown) connected to front wheels  6  in a two wheel drive configuration or to all four wheels  6 ,  8  in a four wheel drive configuration. The pump further supplies pressurized hydraulic fluid to other sub-systems of mower  2 , such as a power steering system (not shown) connected to the rear wheels  8  and to a deck lift  12 , which will be described hereafter. Other prime movers, such as a hybrid engine/electric power supply or an entirely electric power supply, could be carried on frame  4  in place of engine  10 . 
     Returning to  FIG.  1   , a control station  14  is carried on the front of frame  4  ahead of engine  10  whose location in  FIG.  1    is denoted by the hood  16  that covers engine  10 . A step  18  is provided on frame  4  for allowing the operator to mount and dismount from control station  14 . Control station  14  includes a seat  20  for carrying the operator in a seated position. A steering wheel  22  ahead of seat  20  allows the operator to steer mower  2  through operation of the power steering system. A control console  24  adjacent seat  20  carries other operational controls (not shown) for operating a rotary cutting deck  25  and deck lift  12 . 
     Control station  14  also includes a foot operated traction pedal. The traction pedal has a front pad  26  which is visible in  FIG.  1    and a rear pad (not shown) which is rearward of and somewhat lower than front pad  26 . The traction pedal propels frame  4  in a forward direction when the operator depresses front pad  26  with his or her toes and in a reverse direction when the operator depresses the rear pad with his or her heel. The degree or amount of pedal depression controls the ground speed of mower  2  in the selected direction depending upon how far from a neutral position the traction pedal has been depressed by the operator. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , deck lift  12  of mower  2  includes a pair of laterally spaced left and right lift arms  28 . Pivot connections  30  on the rear ends of lift arms  28  are pivotally coupled to frame  4  for pivoting motion about a substantially horizontal pivot axis labelled y 2  in  FIG.  3   . Hydraulic actuators (not shown) are pivotally connected between frame  4  and upper pivot pins  32  on the rear ends of lift arms  28 . When the actuators are powered by hydraulic fluid supplied thereto from the hydraulic power system of mower  2 , lift arms  28  are pivoted in concert with one another in the direction of the arrow A to move cutting deck  25  from a lowered mowing position where cutting deck  25  is in contact with the turf surface to a slightly elevated transport position where cutting deck  25  is lifted up out of contact with the turf surface. To lower such an elevated cutting deck back to its mowing position, the hydraulic pressure supplied to the actuators is released and gravity returns cutting deck  25  back to its mowing position by inducing counter rotation of lift arms  28  in the direction of the arrow B in  FIG.  3   . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , cutting deck  25  is coupled to frame  4  to be propelled by frame  4  by lift arms  28  of deck lift  12 . Cutting deck  25  has a low side profile and is formed by a top wall  30  and a short vertical skirt  32  extending downwardly around the periphery of top wall  30 . In the particular embodiment of cutting deck  25  depicted herein and as best shown in  FIG.  8   , skirt  32  has a rear discharge opening  34  over most of the width of cutting deck  25  to permit grass clippings to be thrown rearwardly from rear discharge opening  34 . A pivotal trailing flap  36  is connected to the upper edge of rear discharge opening  34  and slopes downwardly from top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  to deflect the grass clippings or other objects that might be thrown with the grass clippings downwardly towards the turf surface. Rather than having a rear discharge opening  34 , cutting deck  25  may have a side discharge opening, or no discharge openings to serve as a mulching deck, or may be a single cutting deck that is convertible between mulching, rear discharge and/or side discharge modes of operation. 
     Cutting deck  25  has at least one cutting blade  38  which rotates in the cutting chamber formed beneath top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  and bounded by skirt  32  of cutting deck  25 . In the particular embodiment of cutting deck  25  depicted herein and again as best shown in  FIG.  8   , cutting deck  25  has three such cutting blades  38  arranged in a staggered configuration in which the orbits of blades  38  do not overlap so as to cut a single unbroken swath of grass across the width of cutting deck  25 . Cutting deck  25  may have different numbers of cutting blades, namely one blade only, two blades, three blades as shown in  FIG.  6   , and more blades if so desired. In addition, the orbits of blades  38  need not necessarily be staggered and may overlap one another if a timed drive system is used to rotate the blades to ensure the blades never hit one another. 
     Cutting blades  38  are driven by shafts that extend vertically upwardly and are rotatably journalled in top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  to rotate about a substantially vertical axis. The shafts of cutting blades  38  extend through top wall  30  to be driven by a belt drive system (not shown) located above top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  beneath various belt covers. A gearbox  40  located on top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  powers the belt drive system in a known manner. As best shown in  FIG.  2   , a drive shaft  42  extends between gearbox  40  and engine  10  to power gearbox  40  and thus power the belt drive system to rotate cutting blades  38 . The shafts of cutting blades  38  could also be driven by hydraulic or electric motors instead of using gearbox  40  and driveshaft  42 . When cutting blades  38  are rotated, blades  38  rotate in a substantially horizontal cutting plane relative to top wall  30  such that sharpened cutting edges on opposite sides of blades  38  sever the grass by impact between the cutting edges and uncut blades of grass. 
     Cutting deck  25  is supported in part for movement over the ground by a pair of laterally spaced, left and right front caster wheels  44  located at the forward ends of a pair of laterally spaced, left and right rails  46  which are bolted to mounting brackets on top wall  30  of cutting deck  25 . See  FIG.  3   . As best shown in  FIG.  7   , the rear ends of rails  46  each carry a pair of laterally spaced plates  48  having an array of holes located at different heights. A laterally extending height of cut (HOC) adjustment pin  50  is placed in one selected set of holes in plates  48  with HOC pin  50  passing through a bottom link in a chain  52  that extends downwardly from the adjacent lift arm  28  of deck lift  12  to pass between plates  48 . The height of cut of cutting deck  25  is adjusted in a known manner by selecting which set of holes in each pair of plates  48  receives HOC pin  50  and by adjusting the height of caster wheels  44  on cutting deck  25  using a plurality of repositionable spacers  54 . 
     Each of the left and right rails  46  of cutting deck  25  is pivotally connected to the front ends of each of lift arms  28  by a pivot pin  56  on each rail that is received in a pivot hub  58  on the corresponding lift arm. See  FIG.  2   . These pivot connections are aligned with one another to establish a laterally extending pivot axis y 1  about which cutting deck  25  may pivot relative to lift arms  28 . When so connected, each lift arm  28  is adjacent to and immediately inboard of the corresponding rail  46 . Selective pivoting of cutting deck  25  about axis y 1  is what allows cutting deck  25  to be placed into a service position that eases the task of servicing cutting deck  25 . Before describing the method of placing cutting deck  25  into the service position, the structure added to cutting deck  25  and mower  2  to accomplish this task will now be described. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  4   , a self-engaging latch  60  for retaining cutting deck  25  in its service position is shown. Latch  60  comprises a pair of laterally spaced vertical plates  62  having outwardly turned bottom flanges which are bolted to top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  to thereby mount latch  60  to top wall  30  of cutting deck  25 . Latch  60  includes a latch member  64  having a middle portion pivotally mounted between plates  62  by a laterally extending pivot  66 . Latch member  64  has a hook  68  at one end thereof and a release handle  70  at the other end thereof. A spring  72  applies a biasing force to latch member  64  which rotates latch member  64  in the direction of the arrow C in  FIG.  4    until a portion of the bottom edge of latch member  64  hits a fixed stop pin  74  that extends between plates  60 . Latch  60  is preferably positioned to be mounted on the front of cutting deck  25  to be substantially centered on a longitudinal centerline of mower  2  with latch member  64  extending along the longitudinal centerline. See  FIG.  2   . 
     Release handle  70  may include a laterally extending portion  71  as shown in the drawings. However, in another embodiment laterally extending portion  71  may be deleted from release handle  70 . In this embodiment, release handle  70  simply comprises a forward portion of latch member  64  that may optionally include a surrounding grip member if so desired. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  3   , frame  4  of mower  2  mounts a U-shaped latch striker  76  having a transversely extending crossbar  78 . Referring now to  FIGS.  6 C and  8   , hook  68  of latch member  64  will automatically engage with and then latch onto crossbar  78  of latch striker  76  when cutting deck  25  nears and then reaches its service position. There is no need for the operator to do anything to make this happen other than for pivoting cutting deck  25  upwardly into its service position. Once latch member  64  is engaged with latch striker  76 , the bias provided by spring  72  maintains hook  68  of latch member  64  on crossbar  78  of latch striker  76 . However, when it is desired to lower cutting deck  25  out of its service position after a service operation is completed, the user may use release handle  70  on latch member  64  to selectively release latch member  64  from latch striker  76 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  2 ,  3  and  7   , one side of cutting deck  25 , e.g. preferably but not necessarily the left side, includes a rear foot pad  80  adjacent the rear edge of cutting deck  25 . Foot pad  80  has a substantially planar upper surface. A longitudinal vertical plane containing the outer side of the left front wheel  6  approximately bisects rear foot pad  80  when viewed from above. Rear foot pad  80  is inclined upwardly relative to top wall  30  of cutting deck  25  as it extends rearwardly. The surface of rear foot pad  80  is roughened or knurled to enhance adhesion between rear foot pad  80  and a shoe or boot on one foot, e.g. the left foot, of the user. 
     A front U-shaped hand grip  82  is fixed to an outer side of left rail  46  of cutting deck  25  substantially closely behind front caster wheel  44  carried on left rail  46 . In addition, release handle  70  on latch  60 , with or without laterally extending portion  71 , is positioned so that it can be gripped and manipulated by a user who is standing behind the left side of cutting deck  25 . As will be set forth in more detail hereafter when describing the method of moving cutting deck  25  into and out of its service position, foot pad  80  together with hand grip  82  provide leverage to the user to easily and manually move cutting deck  25  into and out of its service position without the user having to move back and forth between opposite sides of mower  2  in order to do so. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  3  and  5   , a catch  84  is provided which comes into play only in the final phase of lowering cutting deck  25  after releasing cutting deck  25  from its service position. Catch  84  comprises two parts: 1.) a latch plate  86  fixed to the left lift arm of deck lift  12 , and 2.) a cooperable pin assembly  88  carried on left rail  46  of cutting deck  25  in a position where it is able to interact with latch plate  86 . 
     Latch plate  86  comprises a small plate which is fixed to left lift arm  28  with an upper portion of the plate extending upwardly above left lift arm  28 . Most of the rest of latch plate  86  lies against the side of left lift arm  28  with a lower edge of the plate forming a shallow, downwardly facing detent  90 . Latch plate  86  may be a simple one piece plate as shown in  FIG.  3    or a two part plate as shown in  FIG.  5    in which latch plate  86  has a separate wear surface  92  adhered thereto. 
     Pin assembly  88  comprises a pin housing  94  which is welded to the top of left rail  46  of cutting deck  25 . See  FIG.  3   . A slidable latch pin  96  is contained in pin housing  94  and has an enlarged head  98  that extends through an opening (not shown) in a first end of pin housing  94 . A spring  100  surrounds latch pin  96  and bears at one end against head  98  of latch pin  96  and at the other end against a cap  102  that closes the second end of pin housing  94 . The spring urges latch pin  96  in a direction in which head  98  of latch pin  96  is projected at least partially outwardly through the opening in the first end of pin housing  94  to engage latch plate  86 . A knob  104  is affixed to the other end of latch pin  96  outwardly of cap  102  to retain the parts of pin assembly  88  in an assembled relationship and to allow the user to pull rearwardly on latch pin  96  to retract head  98  of latch pin  96  as needed during the operation of catch  84 . The operation of catch  84  will be described in more detail hereafter. 
     Cutting deck  25  of this invention is movable by a user into the service position shown in  FIGS.  6 C and  7    more easily than other known rotary cutting decks. The method for doing so will now be described. 
     The steps of the method that are to be followed depend upon whether cutting deck  25  is originally disposed in the mowing position of  FIG.  6 A  or the transport position of  FIG.  6 B . In the mowing position of  FIG.  6 A , deck lift  12  has been lowered and is in a float mode. Accordingly, the front caster wheels of cutting deck  25  rest on the turf surface or the ground with the weight of cutting deck  25  being primarily borne by the turf surface or ground during a mowing operation. Cutting deck  25  is generally horizontal when disposed in the mowing position as shown in  FIG.  6 A . 
     If the mowing deck is in the mowing position of  FIG.  6 A  when a user wishes to move cutting deck  25  into the service position, the first step is to use deck lift  12  to lift cutting deck  25  upwardly out of contact with the turf surface or the ground to place cutting deck  25  into the transport position shown in  FIG.  6 B . This step may be skipped if the mowing deck is already in the transport position. Since the center of gravity of cutting deck  25  is forward of the pivot pins  56  that mount cutting deck  25  to lift arms  28  of deck lift  12 , the nose of cutting deck  25  will pivot downwardly slightly in the direction of the arrow D in  FIG.  6 B  as cutting deck  25  comes off the ground to lift the rear of cutting deck  25  up against a stop on deck lift  12 . This unloads the weight of cutting deck  25  from HOC pins  50 . 
     Accordingly, with cutting deck  25  in the transport position, whether cutting deck  25  was in the transport position originally or was purposely moved into the transport position by the user, the user must then remove HOC pins  50 . This is done by pulling HOC pins  50  outwardly from whatever set of holes they had been received in to disconnect HOC pins  50  from plates  48  and chains  52  through which HOC pins  50  had passed. Since HOC pins  50 , plates  48  and chains  52  are disposed on both the left and right sides of cutting deck  25 , this requires the user to pull HOC pin  50  on one side of cutting deck  25  and then walk around to the other side of cutting deck  25  to pull the other HOC pin  50 . However, this is the only time during the method of moving cutting deck  25  to its service position that the user must move between opposite sides of cutting deck  25 . Once HOC pins  50  have been removed, the user can remain on just one side of cutting deck  25  to first move cutting deck  25  from the transport position to its service position and then subsequently to lower cutting deck  25  from the service position back to its transport position. 
     Referring now to  FIG.  6 B  and with the user standing close to the front of but outboard of the left front wheel  6 , the user can begin the movement of cutting deck  25  to its service position by putting his left foot on top of foot pad  80  at the left rear corner of cutting deck  25  and by pushing down on that foot pad in the direction of the arrow E in  FIG.  6 B . Simultaneously with or very shortly after the beginning of that action, the user can bend forward with his or her upper body and grab hand grip  82  at the front of left rail  46  of cutting deck  25  with his or her left hand to pull upwardly and rearwardly on the front of cutting deck  25  in the direction of the arrow F in  FIG.  6 B . The combined push/pull actions by the user lifts cutting deck  25  upwardly from the transport position of  FIG.  6 B  towards the service position of  FIG.  6 C  in an unbroken movement by the user. 
     Cutting deck  25  will preferably be positioned high enough in its transport position such that it pivots about pivot pins  56  to be free of contact with the ground with the exception of trailing flap  36  that covers rear discharge opening  34 . However, flap  36  is pivotally mounted to the rear of cutting deck  25  and thus will simply pivot or bend under contact with the ground as cutting deck is raised into its service position. When cutting deck  25  is disposed in the service position, flap  36  may be disposed substantially flat against the ground. 
     As cutting deck  25  reaches the service position, latch member  64  of latch  60  hits latch striker  76  and hook  68  self-engages crossbar  78  of latch striker  76  to retain cutting deck  25  in the service position of  FIG.  6 C . The self-engaging action of latch  60  relieves the user of the need to hold cutting deck  25  in the service position while he or she attempts to align and engage a manually engageable latch, such as a pin received in a hole, and of walking to the other side of cutting deck  25  to insert a second manually engageable latch. 
     As shown in  FIG.  6 B , cutting deck  25  has a tipped up service position that is elevated more than 60° and is preferably elevated at least about 80° from horizontal. This provides the user with adequate access to cutting blades  38  and the underside of cutting deck  25  to perform most of the maintenance tasks that are customarily needed there. Drive shaft  42  has enough clearance in frame  4  and further has motion accommodating joints  43  as shown in  FIG.  2    to gearbox  40  and to engine  10 . These factors provide enough freedom of motion that drive shaft  42  can remain connected to cutting deck  25  throughout its elevation between the mowing position and the service position without damaging drive shaft  42  or its power transmitting joints  43 . This avoids having to disconnect drive shaft  42  from gearbox  40  of cutting deck  25  in order to place cutting deck  25  into the service position. This is a further improvement over some prior art cutting decks in which the drive shaft must be disconnected from the cutting deck to permit the cutting deck  25  be placed into a tipped up service position. 
     Finally, as cutting deck  25  moves between its transport and service positions, latch pin  96  of locking pin assembly  88  of catch  84  is initially abutted against the face of latch plate  86  without in any way being locked to latch plate  86 . Since latch plate  86  has no holes in which head  98  of latch pin  96  can engage into, head  98  of latch pin  96  merely slides downwardly on the face of latch plate  86  or on the wear surface  92  if one is applied to latch plate  86  until latch pin  96  passes past the lower edge of latch plate  86 . At this point, the spring bias on latch pin  96  will extend latch pin  96  momentarily inwardly with head  98  of latch pin  96  engaging on detent  90  on the underside of the lower edge of latch pin  96 . 
     If the user were to interrupt the movement of cutting deck  25  at this precise instant, latch pin  96  would remain engaged with detent  90 . However, since the user is in the process of lifting cutting deck  25  up into the service position, the user&#39;s normally uninterrupted motion in doing so almost immediately disengages latch pin  96  from detent  90  with latch pin  96  simply moving downwardly out of detent  90  as cutting deck  25  moves on up to the service position. To the user who is lifting cutting deck  25  from its transport to its service position using his or her left foot and left hand in a coordinated manner to push down on the rear of cutting deck  25  while simultaneously pulling back on the front of cutting deck  25 , catch  84  has no effect. For all practical purposes, the user doesn&#39;t even notice the momentary engagement of latch pin  96  in detent  90  during the motion of cutting deck  25  from the transport position to the service position. 
     As noted earlier herein, when cutting deck  25  is in its service position as shown in  FIGS.  6 C,  7  and  8   , self-engaging latch  60  retains cutting deck  25  in the service position while service is being performed on cutting deck  25 . When such service is over and the user wishes to lower cutting deck  25  to its transport position, the user can do so entirely from the same side of cutting deck  25  at which the user stood during the deck lifting step, e.g. the left side in mower  2  embodiment shown herein, without having to move back and forth between the left and right sides of cutting deck  25  to release separate latches. The first action in the cutting deck lowering step is to use hand grip  82  to pull cutting deck  25  into a slightly more elevated position to unload the weight of cutting deck  25  from latch  60 . Then, the user simply uses his or her right hand to grab release handle  70  on latch  60  to pivot latch member  64  in a direction that unhooks hook  68  from latch striker  76 . Once latch  60  is disengaged, the user then can begin to lower cutting deck  25  and after it begins to lower the user can let go of release handle  70 . 
     The center of gravity of cutting deck  25  remains forward of the horizontal pivot axis of cutting deck  25  in the service position. Consequently, the user need not apply the same type of leg and arm force to cutting deck  25  to lower cutting deck  25  as was needed when the user lifted cutting deck  25  to the service position. During lowering of cutting deck  25 , gravity will itself act through the lever arm between the center of gravity and the pivot pins  56  to pivot cutting deck  25  back downwardly. Thus, the user need only use his or her left foot atop foot pad  80  and apply some downward leg pressure to retard the downward motion of cutting deck  25  to control the rate of descent of cutting deck  25 . 
     It is during deck lowering that catch  84  performs its intended function of automatically engaging latch pin  96  in detent  90  of latch plate  86  to establish a temporary hold position that is short of the transport position. Once engaged in the downwardly facing detent, latch pin  96  cannot be disengaged from detent  90  without the operator pulling latch pin  96  outwardly of detent  90  since the force being supplied by gravity to cutting deck  25  firmly engages latch pin  96  in detent  90 . See  FIG.  6 D . Thus, if a user were to be positioned in a spot where his or her right leg is located between the left front wheel of frame  4  and the rear edge of cutting deck  25 , catch  84  is provided to temporarily hold cutting deck  25  in a safe position to permit the user to get his or her right leg out of the way of cutting deck  25 . Catch  84  also works to perform this function should the user fail to properly elevate cutting deck  25  all the way to its service position and releases cutting deck  25  before the deck lifting process is completed. 
     With cutting deck  25  in the temporary hold position of  FIG.  6 D  and with the user safely positioned out of the way, the user can then apply a slight downward force using his or her foot against foot pad  80  and then pull latch pin  96  outwardly to remove head  98  of latch pin  96  from detent  90  on latch plate  86 . Gravity acting on the center of gravity of cutting deck  25  will then finish pivoting cutting deck  25  back to its transport position in which the rear of cutting deck  25  is engaged with a stop on deck lift  12 . If the user so desires, HOC pins  50  may then be reset by passing such pins through a selected set of holes in the pairs of plates  48  and their corresponding chains  52  to establish a desired HOC. If mower  2  is to be out of service at that time, cutting deck  25  can be left in the transport position. Ultimately, when mower  2  is put back into service and arrives at a spot where mowing is to commence, the operator of mower  2  can then use deck lift  12  to lower cutting deck  25  from its transport position to its mowing position. 
     Cutting deck  25  of this invention may be more quickly and easily moved into a substantially elevated service position and vice versa than other prior art front mounted rotary cutting decks. Fewer steps and actions are required of the user. With the exception of removing or reinstalling the HOC pins  50 , the user can remain on one side of the mower while moving cutting deck  25  into its service position or while lowering cutting deck  25  from its service position. Moreover, catch  84  ensures that the user will not be inadvertently contacted by cutting deck  25  during deck lowering. 
     Various modifications of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, rather than relying upon a user to use leg and arm power to lift cutting deck  25  from its transport position to its tipped up service position, a powered actuator, such as a hydraulic cylinder, could be pivotally connected at one end to frame  4  and at the other end to cutting deck  25  to provide the force required to pivot cutting deck  25  to the service position. 
     Accordingly, the invention shall not be limited to the embodiment of mower  2  disclosed herein, but shall be limited only by the appended claims.