Abstract:
A riding mower frame is provided which is adapted to receive various types and sizes of transmissions and engines. The frame has an adjustable engine mounting plate for supporting a first engine that can be of any size or type chosen with sound engineer or judgment. The adjustable mounting plate may also be adjusted to, alternatively, support a second engine that can also be of any size or type chosen with sound engineer and judgment. Furthermore, the frame has two transmission mounting plates with generic mounting surfaces for supporting a first transmission that can be of any size or type chosen within sound engineering judgment. The generic mounting surfaces may, alternatively, support a second transmission that can also be of any size or type chosen with sound engineering judgment.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/201,096, filed May 02, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a vehicle frame, and in particular to a riding lawn mower frame adapted to receive various types and sizes of transmissions and engines.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A major component of vehicles, such as riding lawn mowers, is the frame upon which all other elements are assembled. Typically, a riding mower frame has three general components including: a front frame section onto which the engine is secured, a rear frame section which houses the transmission and a center frame section including a bell housing which receives the drive shaft components linking the engine to the transmission. These frame sections are static in the sense that they cannot receive a plurality of transmission and engine types, but are designed for a specific configuration of power train. A different frame, including front, rear and center frame sections, is needed in order to incorporate different engines or transmissions onto a single frame.  
           [0004]    It would therefore be advantageous to have a mower frame that could be adapted to receive a power train selectively configured to have different operating characteristics. In other words, the riding mower frame could be adapted to receive one of a plurality of different engine types having different output capacities or mounting configurations without modifying the frame itself. Likewise, the mower frame could be adapted to receive one of a plurality of different transmissions, each having different operating parameters, thus allowing for a selectively configurable power train without substantially altering the mower frame.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mower that includes a frame having an adjustable engine mounting plate for use in selectively supporting one of a plurality of engines, wherein the engines have different operating characteristics.  
           [0006]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a mower frame that can receive one of a plurality of different transmissions, wherein is included transmission mounting plates adapted to fixedly fastened one of the transmissions to the mower frame.  
           [0007]    According to the present invention, a riding mower frame is provided which is adapted to receive various types and sizes of transmissions and engines. The frame may include an adjustable engine mounting plate for supporting a first engine that can be of any size or type chosen with sound engineering or judgment. The mower frame may also be selectively, alternatively, used to support a second engine having a different configuration or power output capacity. Furthermore, the frame has a plurality of transmission mounting plates with generic mounting surfaces for supporting a first transmission, which can be of any size or type chosen within sound engineering judgment. The generic mounting surfaces are adapted to also support a second transmission having a different configuration or operating characteristics.  
           [0008]    Still other benefits and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon a reading and understanding of the following detailed specification. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and herein:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a side view of a mower incorporating the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is perspective view of the mower frame showing the adjustable engine mounting plate.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the left-hand transmission mounting plate.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a transmission and corresponding left and right hand mounting plates.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a transmission, mounting plates and mower frame. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting the same, FIG. 1 depicts a riding vegetation mower shown generally at  1 . The mower  1  has two rear ground engaging wheels  2 , a mower deck  3 , a steering wheel  4 , an operator seat  5 , an engine  8  and a frame member  10 . Additionally, the mower  1  includes a transmission  9 , shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The mower  1  also has two front ground engaging wheels  7  in operative connection with the steering wheel  4  for use in steering the riding mower. It is noted that in the preferred embodiment the invention described herein pertains to a riding lawn mower. However, the present invention is also applicable to any vehicle having a vehicle frame, an engine and a transmission wherein it is desired to change the power train configuration without substantially altering the vehicle frame components.  
         [0016]    With reference now to FIG. 2, the frame member  10  of the mower  1  is shown in a perspective view. The frame member  10  is generally elongate having first and second interior regions  11 ,  12 . The regions are defined by first and second side members  14 ,  15  and a cross member  16  which separating the first interior region  11  from the second interior region  12 . The cross member  16  has a hole  17  fashioned therein through which is received drive shaft components, not shown, which operatively connect the engine  8  to the transmission  9 , as will be further discussed in a subsequent paragraph.  
         [0017]    With continued reference to FIG. 2, an engine-receiving member  20  is shown received by the first and second side members  14 ,  15  at a first end  21  of the frame member  10 . It should be noted that an engine-receiving member is not required for this invention (the engine could be directly attached to the frame.) However, an engine-receiving member is preferred and to be used as will now be described. The engine-receiving member  20  is formed such that the body  27  of the engine-receiving member  20  at least partially resides within the second interior region  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the engine-receiving member  20  is longitudinally adjustable along the side members  14 ,  15 , in the direction of the arrow, such that the engine-receiving member  20  may be selectively attached at a plurality of points to the side members  14 ,  15 , by way of the mounting holes  23  fashioned within the side members  14 ,  15 . The engine-receiving member  20  in a similar manner has holes  24  fashioned therein on opposite ends for concentrically aligning with the holes  23  of the side members  14 ,  15  for use in receiving fastening means. Any such means of fastening the engine-receiving member  20  to the side members  14 ,  15  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment. Additionally, the engine-receiving member  20  has holes  28  fashioned in the body  27  for use in securing one of a plurality of engines  8 ,  8 ′ to the engine-receiving member  20 . In the preferred embodiment, vibration isolation pads  30  are included and disposed between the engine  8 , not shown in FIG. 2, and the engine-receiving member  20 . Any such fastening means for fastening the engine  8  to the engine-receiving member  20  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment such that the vibration isolation pads  30  are fixedly disposed there between.  
         [0018]    With reference to FIG. 3, a left hand transmission mounting plate is depicted, shown generally at  40 . The mounting plate  40  has a matching mirror-image right hand mounting plate  41 , shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the description presented herein, it should be construed, that components and attributes assigned to the left hand mounting plate  40  will have matching mirror-image components assigned to the right hand mounting plate  41  accordingly. Therefore a detailed description of the right hand mounting plate  41  will not be offered here, but it is understood that when referring to a component of the left hand mounting  40 , a mirror image of the same component is included in the right hand mounting plate  41 . The mounting plate  40  has a first generally planar portion  44  and a second portion  46  extending substantially perpendicular to the first portion  44 . Gussets  48  reinforce the rigidity between the first and second portions  44 ,  46  of the mounting plate  40 . In the preferred embodiment, the gussets  48  are welded to the first and second portion  44 ,  46  of the mounting plate  40 . However, any such means of fastening the gussets  48  to the mounting plate  40  may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.  
         [0019]    With continuing reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the second portion  46  of the mounting plate  40  has fashioned therein a single pattern of holes  50 , which are included to concentrically align with holes  31  fashioned at the second end  32  of the frame member  10 , as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 depicts receiving plates  33 ,  33 ′ fixedly attached to the side members  14 ,  15  respectively. In this manner, holes  31  fashioned in the receiving plates  33 ,  33 ′ provide a means by which the mounting plates  40  and  41  may be fixedly attached to the frame member  10  via the holes  50 . In the preferred embodiment bolts are inserted into the concentrically aligned holes  31  and  50  and matching nuts are fastened thereto for use in fixedly securing the mounting plates  40 ,  41  and  33 ,  33 ′ together. However any such means of fastening the mounting plates  40 ,  41  to the receiving plates  33 ,  33 ′ may be chosen with sound engineering judgment.  
         [0020]    With reference now to FIGS. 3 and 4, holes  52  are fashioned in the first portion  44  of the left hand mounting plate  40 . Likewise, holes  53  are fashioned in the right hand mounting plate, shown in FIG. 4. The pattern of holes  52 ,  53  correspond respectively to bolt receiving members  60 ,  60 ′ fashioned on opposite sides of transmission  9 . The holes  52 ,  53  receive fastening bolts  59  that thread into the bolt receiving members  60 ,  60 ′ for use in fixedly attaching the mounting plates  40 ,  41  to the transmission  9 . In one embodiment, an alternate set of holes  54 ,  54 ′, holes  54 ′ not shown, are fashioned in the mounting plates  40 ,  41  for use in selectively attaching the mounting plates  40 ,  41  to one of a plurality of transmissions  9 . In another embodiment, alternate mounting plates, not shown, have a singular pattern of holes  52 , fashioned therein for use in attaching to a specific transmission  9 . In this manner, installing different transmissions onto the mower  1  necessitates installing different mounting plates that specifically match the bolt receiving members  60  of that particular transmission  9 . In all embodiments, the holes  31  fashioned in the second portion  46  of the mounting plate  40  are substantially identical for use in aligning with the holes  31  of the frame member  10 .  
         [0021]    With continued reference to FIG. 4, the transmission  9  includes axles  80  and wheel hubs  81 . The wheel hubs  81  receive ground engaging wheels  2  for use in providing mobility to the mower  1 . In that wheels  2 , shown in FIG. 5, wheel hubs  81  and axles  80  are well known in the art, no further explanation will be offered at this point. In this manner, the transmission housing  82  comprises a sufficiently strong and rigid member that when attached to the frame member  10  via the mounting plates  40 ,  41 , comprises the entire structure upon which all of the components of the mower  1  are mounted.  
         [0022]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, according to the present invention, an engine  8  is selectively chosen, having specific operating characteristics, from a plurality of engines  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″, etc. wherein the engines  8 ,  8 ′,  8 ″, etc. have mounting characteristics compatible with the engine-receiving member  20  and frame member  10 . The selected engine  8  is then installed onto the engine-receiving  20  with the isolation pads  30  disposed there between. The engine-receiving member  20  may then be longitudinally adjusted along the frame member  10  as is appropriate to the selected engine  8 . The means for fixedly securing the engine-receiving member  20  to the frame member  10  is then engaged. Additionally, a transmission  9  is selectively chosen, having specific operating characteristics, from a plurality of transmissions  9 ,  9 ′,  9 ″, etc. wherein the transmissions  9 ,  9 ′,  9 ″, etc. have mounting characteristics compatible with the mounting plates  40 ,  41 . The mounting plates  40 ,  41  are then fixedly secured to the selected transmission  9 , in the manner previously described. In turn, the mounting plates  40 ,  41 , with the transmission  9  attached, are fixedly secured to the frame member  10  at the second end  32  with appropriate fastening means, not shown. Still further, the drive shaft components, not shown, are installed onto the selected engine  8  and selected transmission  9  in a manner well known in the art. Thus, a selectively alterable power train is assembled onto a mower frame without substantially altering the frame of the mower. It is expressly noted that the order in which the engine  8  and transmission  9  and drive shaft components are installed onto the frame member  10  may vary in a manner well known in the art.  
         [0023]    The invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiment. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. It is intended to include all such modifications and alternations in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalence thereof.