Patent Description:
Many new and existing golf courses have narrowed their fairways and expanded their rough areas on either side of the fairways. Roughs require less care than fairways, so narrowing the fairways allows golf course operators to lower their maintenance costs. For example, irrigation requirements may be reduced if only the fairways are watered. If grasses in the roughs are allowed to grow longer, those non-irrigated areas are less brown. Trees and other aesthetic features may be located in the roughs, because roots and shade can inhibit turf growth in the fairways.

However, golf course roughs still must be maintained regularly using grass mowing machines that can mow the vegetation at an acceptable length and appearance. Equipment for mowing golf course roughs typically includes a traction vehicle carrying three or more rotary cutting decks, each rotary cutting deck mounted on the end of a lift arm extending from the traction vehicle. Carrying the rotary cutting decks with lift arms extending from the front or sides of the traction vehicle is necessary and desirable, instead of towing the rotary cutting decks behind the vehicle, because it is necessary for the mower to provide close trims next to trees, bunkers or other hazards. Each lift arm also may be used to move a rotary cutting deck between a mowing position and a transport position. The mounting devices also should allow for pitch (front to back pivoting) and yaw (side-to-side pivoting) of the rotary cutting decks. Additionally, mounting devices should allow adjustment of the front to back angle of a rotary cutting deck for the desired rake or pitch.

Traction vehicles carrying several rotary cutting decks may travel at speeds of <NUM> to <NUM> miles per hour when mowing golf course roughs. The traction vehicle's weight may be in excess of <NUM> pounds. Each rotary cutting deck may be subject to shocks from impacts against the ground surface or objects during mowing. To withstand the rigorous mowing conditions, rotary cutting decks typically are made of thick sheet steel, such as <NUM> gage or <NUM> gage sheet steel. Each rotary cutting deck may have a diameter between about <NUM> inches and <NUM> inches, weigh at least <NUM> pounds, and may have a cutting blade rotated by a hydraulic or electric motor.

Golf course operators sometimes need to change the height of cut of rotary cutting decks on a rough, trim and surround mower. For example, the height of cut may need to be changed if the mower goes from an intermediate rough with a <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM>½ to <NUM> inch) height of cut, to a full length rough with a <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> to <NUM> inch) height of cut. The height of cut also may need to be changed if the machine is used to mow rough for tournaments where rough heights can be as long as <NUM> inches. Additionally, golf course operators may change the height of cut of rough, trim and surround mowers due to seasonal variations, shade conditions, or different types of grass or vegetation in different rough areas of a golf course.

Rough, trim and surround mowers may include side plates having a vertically-spaced series of holes, and bolts extending through the holes to secure the deck to the side plates. The deck height may be adjusted by changing the holes in the deck plates and/or the holes in the side plates through which the bolts extend. Other adjustment mechanisms include spacers that may be stacked on several pins that support the deck on a frame, or on casters that are mounted in vertically oriented sleeves. Changing height of cut using the holes or spacers at each of four adjustment points can be cumbersome and time consuming.

<CIT> assigned to Deere & Company of Moline, Illinois relates to a rotary deck height of cut adjustment mechanism for a rough, trim and surround mower that includes a front pair and a rear pair of height of cut arms, and an axle extending between each pair. Each of the four height of cut arms may be pivoted to support the mower deck at different cutting heights, and each has a notch lock that may be moved between a locked position and an unlocked position at each cutting height and rake angle. A lever may be used to push each notch lock from an unlocked position to a locked position or pull the notch lock from a locked position to an unlocked position.

<CIT> assigned to Deere & Company relates to a rotary deck height of cut adjustment mechanism for a rough, trim and surround mower with front and rear height of cut arms supporting a rotary cutting deck, and at least one height of cut adjustment screw that may be rotated to simultaneously change the angle of the height of cut arms. This height of cut adjustment mechanism is faster and more efficient to adjust cutting heights, reduces maintenance and is low in cost.

A height of cut and rake adjustment system is needed for rough, trim and surround mowers that provides the advantages of fast adjustment along with simplified, inexpensive, easily replaceable components. A height of cut and rake adjustment system is needed that may be used with many existing rotary cutting decks on rough, trim and surround mowers.

A height of cut and rake adjustment system according to claim <NUM> includes a pair of height of cut linkages extending fore and aft above the left and right sides of a mower deck, and a pair of rake linkages extending fore and aft adjacent the left and right sides of the mower deck. Each of the height of cut linkages and rake linkages have an effective length that is manually adjustable to change the angles of a pair of front height of cut arms and a pair of rear height of cut arms relative to the mower deck.

As shown in <FIG>, in a first embodiment, rotary cutting deck <NUM> includes a circular inverted dish-shaped cutting chamber <NUM>. A motor such as hydrostatic motor <NUM> may be mounted to the rotary cutting deck. The motor turns a cutting blade attached to a generally vertically aligned spindle under the deck. The rotary cutting deck may be supported over the ground surface by ground engaging members at the front and rear of the deck, such as front pair of rollers <NUM> and rear roller <NUM>.

In one embodiment, as shown in <FIG>, three or more rotary cutting decks may be mounted to traction vehicle <NUM>. Each rotary cutting deck <NUM> may be pivotably supported at the end of a lift arm <NUM> which the operator may actuate with one or more hydraulic cylinders or electric lift mechanisms to raise or lower the rotary cutting decks between mowing positions and transport positions.

In one embodiment, one or more rollers, casters or wheels <NUM> may be rotatably mounted to and supported by axle <NUM> at or near the front of the rotary cutting deck. Alternatively, other ground engaging members such as a roller, caster or wheel may be independently mounted to each front height of cut arm <NUM>. One or more rear rollers <NUM> may be rotatably mounted to and supported by internal shaft or axle <NUM> at or adjacent the rear of the rotary cutting deck. Alternatively, the rear of the rotary cutting deck may be supported by an axle with one or more casters or wheels. Or other ground engaging members such as a roller, caster or wheel may be independently mounted to each rear height of cut arm <NUM>.

In one embodiment, height of cut and rake adjustment system <NUM> may include a pair of adjustable and replaceable height of cut linkages <NUM>. Each height of cut linkage may connect the upper end of front height of cut arm <NUM> to the upper end of rear height of cut arm <NUM>. The height of cut and rake adjustment system may be used to lower the height of cut by decreasing the effective length of the height of cut linkages which reduces the angle of the height of cut arms relative to the rotary cutting deck, or raise the height of cut by increasing the effective length of the height of cut linkages which increases the angle of the height of cut arms relative to the rotary cutting deck.

In one embodiment, the height of cut and rake adjustment system may include a pair of height of cut linkages <NUM> that may be bars or rods extending fore and aft above the left edge and right edge of the rotary cutting deck. Each height of cut linkage may be a generally flat, linear one piece steel structure having one or more holes through each of its ends A first pin <NUM> may be inserted through a hole <NUM> in the height of cut linkage's first end to connect it to the second or upper end <NUM> of the front height of cut arm, and a second pin <NUM> may be inserted through a hole <NUM> in the height of cut linkage's second end to connect it to the second or upper end <NUM> of the rear height of cut arm. Each pin may be retained in place with a clip <NUM>. The height of cut may be changed easily by removing the clips and inserting the pins into different holes, or selecting height of cut linkages with different lengths.

In one embodiment, the height of cut and rake adjustment system may include a front axle <NUM> or a roller, caster or wheel mounted to each front height of cut arm <NUM> adjacent a first or lower end <NUM> of the arm. Each front height of cut arm <NUM> may have a pivot axis <NUM> located below the second or upper end <NUM> of the front height of cut arm, pivotably mounting the front height of cut arm to mounting bracket <NUM> on the rotary cutting deck. The upper end of each front height of cut arm may be connected with a pin <NUM> through a first end of height of cut linkage <NUM>. Rear axle <NUM> or a roller, caster or wheel may be mounted to each rear height of cut arm <NUM> adjacent a first or lower end <NUM> of the arm. Each rear height of cut arm <NUM> may have a pivot axis <NUM> located below the second or upper end <NUM> of the rear height of cut arm, pivotably mounting the rear height of cut arm to mounting bracket <NUM>. The upper end of each rear height of cut arm also may be connected with a pin through a second end of height of cut linkage <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the height of cut and rake adjustment system may include a pair of adjustable and replaceable rake linkages <NUM>. Each rake linkage may connect the upper end of front height of cut arm <NUM> to an intermediate portion of rear height of cut arm <NUM> below the pivot axis <NUM> of the rear height of cut arm. The height of cut and rake adjustment system may be used to reduce the rake or pitch of the mower deck by decreasing the effective length of the rake linkages which reduces the angle of the rear height of cut arms relative to the rotary cutting deck, or increase the rake or pitch by increasing the effective length of the rake linkages which increases the angle of the rear height of cut arms relative to the rotary cutting deck. Alternatively, each rake linkage may be replaced with another rake linkage having a different curvature.

In one embodiment, the rotary deck height of cut adjustment system may include a pair of rake linkages <NUM> that may be bars or rods extending fore and aft adjacent the left edge and right edge of the rotary cutting deck. Each rake linkage may be a flat, curved one piece steel structure having one or more holes through each of its ends. The same pins <NUM> used for the front height of cut linkages also may be used to connect the first end of each rake linkage to the second or upper end <NUM> of the front height of cut arm, and pin <NUM> may connect the second end of each rake linkage to an intermediate portion of the rear height of cut arm, below the rear height of cut arm's pivot axis <NUM>. Each pin may be retained in place with a clip <NUM>. The rake or pitch may be changed by taking out the clips and moving the pins into different holes, or selecting rake linkages with different lengths or curvatures.

The invention provides a height of cut and rake adjustment system for a rotary cutting deck that is modular, relatively low in cost, and reduces time and effort for maintenance and upkeep. The height of cut and rake of a rough, trim or surround mower deck may be adjusted easily and without requiring tools by changing or repositioning the height of cut and rake linkages.

Claim 1:
A height of cut and rake adjustment system (<NUM>), comprising:
a pair of height of cut linkages (<NUM>) extending fore and aft above a left side and a right side of a mower deck (<NUM>);
a pair of rake linkages (<NUM>) extending fore and aft adjacent the left side and right side of the mower deck (<NUM>);
wherein each of the pair of height of cut linkages (<NUM>) having an effective length that is manually adjustable to change an angle of a pair of front height of cut arms (<NUM>) and an angle of a pair of rear height of cut arms (<NUM>) relative to the mower deck (<NUM>);
characterized in that each of the pair of rake linkages (<NUM>) having an effective length that is manually adjustable to change an angle of a pair of front height of cut arms (<NUM>) and an angle of a pair of rear height of cut arms (<NUM>) relative to the mower deck (<NUM>).