Mower deck with actuated blade housings

A mower deck comprising:

• a central deck housing configured to contain one or more central mower blades,
• a first blade housing configured to contain a first mower blade, wherein the first blade housing is pivotally coupled to a first side of the central deck housing so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing;
• a first electric motor operatively coupled to the first mower blade;
• a first blade housing sensor configured to determine if the first blade housing is angularly displaced relative to the central deck housing;
• a second blade housing configured to contain a second mower blade, wherein the second blade housing is pivotally coupled to a second side of the central deck housing opposite the first side so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing;
• a second electric motor operatively coupled to the second mower blade;
• a second blade housing sensor configured to determine if the second blade housing is angularly displaced relative to the central deck housing;
• an actuator coupled to the central deck housing and both of the first blade housing and the second blade housing, the actuator configured to selectively raise and lower both of the first blade housing and the second blade housing relative to the central deck housing;
• and
• a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly, both the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly including:
• an actuator linkage coupled to the actuator;
• a deck linkage pivotably coupled to the actuator linkage and the central deck housing;
• and
• a blade housing linkage pivotably coupled to the deck linkage and pivotably coupled to the first blade housing and the second blade housing, respectively.

A mower comprising:

• a pair of drive wheels;
• a first controller;
• a second controller;
• and
• a mower deck, the mower deck comprising:
• a central deck housing configured to contain a central mower blade,
• a first blade housing configured to contain a first mower blade, wherein the first blade housing is pivotally coupled to a first side of the central deck housing so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing;
• a first electric motor communicably coupled to the first controller and operatively coupled to the first mower blade, the first electric motor selectively operated by the first controller;
• a first blade housing sensor configured to determine if the first blade housing is angularly displaced relative to the central deck housing;
• a second blade housing configured to contain a second mower blade, wherein the second blade housing is pivotally coupled to a second side of the central deck housing opposite the first side so as to be angularly displaceable relative to the central deck housing;
• a second electric motor communicably coupled to the second controller and operatively coupled to the second mower blade, the second electric motor selectively operated by the second controller;
• a second blade housing sensor configured to determine if the second blade housing is angularly displaced relative to the central deck housing;
• an actuator coupled to the central deck housing and both of the first blade housing and the second blade housing, the actuator configured to selectively raise and lower both of the first blade housing and the second blade housing relative to the central deck housing;
• and
• a first linkage assembly and a second linkage assembly, both the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly including:
• an actuator linkage coupled to the actuator;
• a deck linkage pivotably coupled to the actuator linkage and the central deck housing;
• and
• a blade housing linkage pivotably coupled to the deck linkage and pivotably coupled to the first blade housing and the second blade housing, respectively.