Abstract:
A grass treatment unit with an adjustable hood for use with various grass treatment inserts of different diameter for verticutting, scarifying, etc. An open topped bearing socket is provided for mounting the grass treatment insert for rotation. A hood is mounted on a slide for spacing the hood in a selected position with respect to the grass treatment insert. The grass treatment insert has a shaft with ball bearings on opposite ends which are housed within a bearing housing. A handle is provided on the bearing housing for lifting the grass treatment insert.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a grass treatment insert and a grass treatment unit with an adjustable hood for use on a mowing machine. 
     2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
     Several manufacturers offer grass treatment units which are designed to fit existing greensmowers as replacements for the grass cutting units. Inserts for use in the grass treatment units are provided to accomplish various greens grooming practices, including vibratory and non-vibratory rolling, verticutting, scarifying, grooming, spiking, slitting, slicing, brushing and the like. 
     Typically the grass treatment unit has a frame with sidewalls and is mounted on front and rear rollers. The grass treatment insert is mounted in the frame to rotate about an axis which extends generally parallel to the ground surface over which the grass treatment unit is moved and perpendicular to the direction of travel. Rotation of the grass treatment insert is driven in the direction of travel by a hydraulic motor or the like which is powered off the greensmower. 
     A force is applied to grass clippings or other material produced during the grass treatment operation through contact with the rotating grass treatment insert or due to a wind force generated by the rotating insert. A hood is positioned behind and upwardly and forwardly of the grass treatment insert to direct the material into a clippings basket which is provided at the front of the grass treatment unit. Ambient air is drawn into the space between the grass treatment insert and the hood from under the sidewalls and through any vent holes which may be provided. The geometry of the space between the grass treatment insert and the hood affects the kinetic energy applied to the material. 
     Different grass treatment inserts have different diameters. For example, a scarifier typically has a larger diameter than a verticutter. Some manufacturers of grass treatment units provide a fixed placement for the hood, thereby achieving less than ideal discharge with inserts for different practices. Other manufacturers provide the grass treatment insert and hood as a combined part but this complicates installation which requires tools and materially increases the cost to a user whose practice requires different inserts. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a grass treatment unit with an adjustable hood which may be used with grass treatment inserts having different diameters. It is another object to provide a grass treatment unit with bearing sockets on the sidewalls of the frame into which grass treatment units may be inserted and removed without tools. It is also an object to provide a grass treatment insert which can be easily handled for insertion into the grass treatment unit. Other objects and features of the invention will be part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
     In accordance with the invention, a grass treatment unit adapted to fit existing greensmowers has a frame with sidewalls and at least one connecting cross member. The frame is mounted on front and rear rollers. 
     An open topped bearing socket is attached to the sidewalls for mounting a grass treatment insert for rotation between the sidewalls. A movable hood is positioned behind and extending upwardly and forwardly of the grass treatment insert. The hood is mounted on a slide for spacing the hood in a selected position with respect to the grass treatment insert. Spring biased plungers are provided for locking the grass treatment insert in the bearing sockets and for locking the slide in a selected spacing for the hood. Handles are provided on the grass treatment insert for installing and removing it from the grass treatment unit. 
     The invention summarized above comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated by the subjoined claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
       In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated, corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a grass treatment unit in which a grass treatment insert is installed, 
         FIG. 2 . is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  but with the grass treatment insert removed; 
         FIG. 3  is an front exploded perspective view of the grass treatment unit; 
         FIG. 4  is a front partially exploded perspective view of the grass treatment unit with an adapter, adapter plate and drive coupler suitable for mounting the unit on a John Deere greensmower and a front roller with depth of cut adjusters shown exploded from an assembled frame of the grass treatment unit; 
         FIG. 5  is front perspective view of an adapter for mounting the frame of the grass treatment unit on a Jacobsen greensmower; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of an adapter for mounting the frame of the grass treatment unit on a Toro greensmower; 
         FIG. 7  is a front perspective view of the grass treatment insert in position to be inserted into bearing sockets on the sidewalls of the frame; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the grass treatment insert shown seated in the bearing sockets on the frame; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear perspective view of the frame of the grass treatment unit; 
         FIG. 10  is a rear partially exploded view of the frame showing a hood exploded from the frame; 
         FIG. 11A  is a detail on an enlarged scale of a left end of the grass treatment insert shown exploded; 
         FIG. 11B  is a detail on an enlarged scale of a right end of the grass treatment insert shown exploded; 
         FIG. 12  is a rear view of the grass treatment unit with a kick stand illustrated in use position; 
         FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of the hood on an enlarged scale and broken away showing a slide and slide block for use in spacing the hood with respect to the grass treatment insert; 
         FIG. 14  is a front perspective view on an enlarged scale and broken away showing the hood secured to the sidewall of the frame with the same plunger used to secure the grass treatment insert in the bearing sockets; 
         FIG. 15  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 14  but showing the hood released from the plunger and an upper section of the hood pivoted upwardly; and, 
         FIG. 16  is an exploded perspective view on an enlarged scale of a bearing socket with a detachable front wall. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference character, a grass treatment unit  10  and a grass treatment insert  12  in accordance with the present invention are shown in  FIG. 1 . Grass treatment unit  10  includes a frame  14  as shown in  FIGS. 2-3  which through adapters  16 ,  18  or  20  as shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  5  and  6  may be used to suspend frame  14  from greensmowers built by different manufacturers. For example, adapter  16  as shown in  FIG. 4  is for mounting frame  14  on a John Deere mower while adapters  18  and  20  are for use with a Jacobsen and Toro greensmower, respectively. Adapters such as  16 ,  18  and  20  and the like allow the same frame  14  to be used with greensmowers from different manufacturers. 
     Frame  14  includes right and left sidewalls  22 ,  24 , respectively, which are connected together with cross members  26  and  28 . Frame  14  is supported on front and rear rollers  30 ,  32 , respectively. Front roller  30  may be mounted to frame  14  through a depth of cut adjuster  34 , one of which is provided at opposite ends thereof. Adjusters  34  permits an operator to vary the height of frame  14  relative to front roller  30  and thereby adjust the depth of cut of grass treatment insert  12 . 
     Aligned apertures  36 ,  38  ( FIG. 3 ) are provided in sidewalls  22 ,  24 , respectively, for use in attaching a drive means to grass treatment insert  12  as more particularly described below. A bearing socket  40  is mounted on each of sidewalls  22 ,  24  in registry with apertures  36 ,  38 . Bearing sockets  40  have an open top  42  and are interchangeable left to right and may be identical. Bearing sockets  40  are attached to sidewalls  22 ,  24  with bolts  43  or other suitable fasteners ( FIGS. 14-16 ) the holes for which in sidewalls  22 ,  24  are arranged in a pattern such open top  42  of both bearing sockets  40  are canted towards the front of grass treatment unit  10  to facilitate insertion of grass treatment insert  12 . As best seen in  FIG. 16 , a back wall  44  of bearing socket  40  is generally horseshoe shaped while a front wall  46  provides a generally crescent shaped rim for use in retaining grass treatment insert  12  in socket  40 . Front wall  46  may be integrally formed or provided as a separate part as shown in  FIG. 16 . Crescent shaped front wall  46  may be minimized or omitted in the bearing socket on the non drive side to allow clearance for ease of installation of grass treatment insert  12 . It omitted on the drive side, one or more heads of the bolts  43  attaching sockets  40  to sidewalls  22 ,  24  may be enlarged with washers or the like to serve as a retainer for holding the drive key  60  and the drive coupler  68  as more particularly described below together. In the latter instance, bearing sockets  40  may be identical. 
     In  FIGS. 7 and 8 , only sidewalls  22 ,  24 , cross members  26 ,  28  and bearing sockets  40  of frame  14  are illustrated with other components shown in  FIGS. 1-4  removed. Grass treatment insert  12  includes a shaft  48  on which a plurality of spaced apart blades  50 , spikes, brushes, or other implements are mounted. As shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  the ends of shaft  48  are received in ball bearings  52  which are housed within a bearing housing  54 . L-shaped handles  56  are provided on bearing housings  54  such that grass treatment insert  12  may be lifted with handles  56  and inserted through open top  42  of bearing sockets  40  and seated therein. With continuing reference to  FIGS. 11A and 11B , shaft  48  is tapped for receipt of a bolt  58  or other fastener which holds the ball bearings  52  in assembly with shaft  48 . The head of bolt  58  on the drive side is formed as a key  60  and bolts  58  on opposite ends of shaft  48  are oppositely threaded such that when shaft  48  is driven by key  60  on the left or right, bolt  58  is threaded in the direction of rotation and is tightened in shaft  48 . A retractable spring plunger  62  such as a locking spring plunger is provided on sidewalls  22 ,  24  above each of bearing sockets  40 . A hole  64  is provided in handle  56  which is brought into registry with spring plunger  62  when grass treatment insert  12  is seated in bearing sockets  40  for retaining grass treatment insert  12  in seated position. 
     Grass treatment insert  12  as described above may be driven from the right or left end. This is advantageous because the hydraulic motor in some greensmowers is attached on the left and with others on the right and for some with a mix of right and left attachment. Frame  14  as heretofore described may be adapted for use with different hydraulic motors, one such adaptation being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . As illustrated, an adapter plate  66 , a spacer  67  and a drive coupler  68  are attached on the outside of right sidewall  22  in registry with aperture  36 . A counterweight  70  is attached on the outside of other sidewall  24  to counterbalance the weight of the hydraulic motor (not shown). Drive coupler  68  includes a keyway for receipt of key  60  on the right end of shaft  48  by means of which the shaft  48  is coupled to the hydraulic motor. Alternatively, shaft  48  may be driven with a hydraulic motor from left end by attaching adapter plate  66  and drive coupler  68  to left sidewall  24  and counterweight  70  to right sidewall  22 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a hood  72  is position behind and extending upwardly and forwardly of grass treatment insert  12  when it is seated in bearing sockets  40 . Hood  72  is elongated and bridges sidewalls  22 ,  24 . It includes a curved lower section  74  and a curved upper section  76 . Upper section  76  is hinged  78  to lower section  74  and has a lesser degree of curvature than lower section  74 . For spacing hood  72  in a selected position with respect to grass treatment insert  12 , a slide  80  is attached to the back of lower section  74 . Each of slides  80  is slidingly received in a slide block  82 , one which is attached to each of sidewalls  22 ,  24  behind bearing sockets  40 . Slide  80  includes a pull  84  by means of which slide  80  may be moved in slide block  82 . Slide  80  also includes a series of longitudinally spaced holes  86  ( FIG. 10 ) and slide block  82  includes a retractable spring plunger  88  such as a locking spring plunger which when received in one of holes  86  locks slide  80  in a selected position. As best seen in  FIG. 13 , a series of notches  90  or other indicia may be used to indicate to an operator which of holes  86  is engaged by plunger  88 . A label  92  ( FIG. 10 ) may also be provided on slide block  82  with information as to which hole  86  should be used with a particular grass treatment insert  12  to establish a proper spacing between hood  72  and insert  12  to achieve maximum discharge of the material loosened by the insert  12 . Air holes  94  may be provided in hood  72  to draw ambient air into the space between the hood  72  and grass treatment insert  12 . Upper section  76  of hood  72  includes side flanges  96  with an elongated slot  98 . As seen in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , retractable spring plunger  62  which is used to lock grass treatment insert  12  in bearing socket  40  may be used to secure upper section  76  to one of sidewalls  22 ,  24 . Elongated slot  98  permits the connection when retractable spring plunger  88  on slide block  82  is in any of holes  86 . 
     In use, a standard frame  14  as shown in  FIG. 7  is outfitted with an adapter  16 ,  18 ,  20  or the like suitable for the greensmower to which grass treatment unit is to be used. A suitable adapter plate  66 , drive coupler  68  and counterweight  70  is installed, illustrative ones of which are shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 . A kick stand  100  for use as shown in  FIG. 12  may also be attached to each of sidewalls  22 ,  24 . Kick stands  100  are pivoted to sidewalls  22 ,  24  on an elongated slot  102 . A pair of holes  104  are provided for locking kick stand  100  in rest ( FIG. 2 ) and in use position ( FIG. 12 ) with the same plunger  88  used to lock slide  80  in a selected position. 
     Prior to inserting grass treatment insert  12 , slide  80  may be moved in slide block  82  to open the spacing between hood  72  and bearing sockets  40  and upper section  76  of hood  72  pivoted upward to facilitate the insertion. For this purpose retractable spring plunger  62  is retracted from elongated slot  98  in side flanges  96  of  20  upper section  76 . This permits upper section  76  to be pivoted upward where it may be held to cross member  26  with a magnet  106 , latch or other suitable fastener ( FIG. 10 ) attached on the back of upper section. Retractable spring plunger  88  is also retracted from holes  86  such that slide  80  may be retracted. 
     With hood  72  in open position, grass treatment insert  12  may be inserted into frame  14  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Hood  72  is then slid into the position indicated by label  92 . Retracted spring plunger  88  is released locking slide  80  in selected position in slide block  82 . Upper section  76  of hood  72  is pivoted about hinge  78  such that elongated slot  98  in flange  96  and hole  64  in handle  56  are aligned. Retracted spring plunger  62  is then released securing grass treatment insert  12  in bearing sockets  40  and upper section  76  of hood  72  to sidewalls  22 ,  24 . 
     As grass treatment unit  10  is propelled across a green by the greensmower, shaft  48  of grass treatment insert  12  is rotated and performs the greens grooming practice for which it was designed. With rotation of grass treatment insert  12 , ambient air is drawn through an air intake path (i.e., from under sidewalls  22 ,  24  and through air holes  94 ) whereby grass clippings or other material produced during the grass treatment operation is efficiently discharged into a clippings basket at the front of grass treatment unit  10 . 
     From the above, it will be apparent that the installation and removal of grass treatment insert  12  may be accomplished without tools. It will also be apparent that kick stand  100  may be engaged or disengaged without tools and that slide  80  and upper section  76  of hood  72  may be positioned without tools. There are no bolts or other fasteners to be tightened and loosened which simplifies the installation and removal of grass treatment insert  12  and proper spacing of hood  72  and obviates the need for the services of a skilled mechanic. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.