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US 2007/0180805 A1Published application
Mower suspension system and method
AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation
InventorsMark Melone, James Marshall, Robert Lauren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The mower front independent suspension assembly in some embodiments of the present invention includes a first suspension arm connected to the front of the lawn mower frame and a second suspension arm connected to the side of the lawn mower frame. In some embodiments, the first suspension arm is connected to the front of the frame at or near the longitudinal center of the frame, while the second suspension arm is connected to the side of the frame a distance from the front of the frame. Also, in some embodiments the cutter deck of the lawn mower is connected to the front independent suspension assemblies for movement therewith.
Claims56
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front,
- opposite sides,
- at least one front beam located at the front of the frame with respect to a forward direction of movement of the mower, and
- at least one side beam located along each of the opposite sides of the frame;
- first and second front wheels;
- each of the first and second front wheels coupled to the at least one front beam at the front of the frame and coupled to a respective one of the side beams at a side location of the frame disposed a distance from the front of the frame, the first and second front wheels independently movable upward and downward with respect to one another and coupled to the frame for upward and downward movement with respect to the frame;
- a cutter deck;
- and
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck, the cutter and cutter deck coupled to the first and second front wheels for upward and downward movement responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels.
7 more elements
18-38. (canceled)
A method of moving a front wheel with respect to a frame of a mower, the method comprising:
- providing first and second suspension arms coupled to the front wheel;
- pivoting the first suspension arm about a connection point on a front of the frame;
- pivoting a second suspension arm about a connection point on a side of the frame;
- and
- moving the front wheel vertically with respect to the frame;
- moving a cutter deck of the mower vertically with respect to the frame responsive to moving the front wheel vertically with respect to the frame.
3 more elements
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front;
- and
- opposite sides;
- a cutter deck;
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck;
- first and second front wheels, each of the first and second front wheels coupled to the frame by a suspension arm;
- and
- a beam pivotably coupled to the frame and coupled to the suspension arms, the beam being pivotable responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels.
6 more elements
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front,
- opposite sides,
- at least one front beam located at the front of the frame with respect to a forward direction of movement of the mower, and
- at least one side beam;
- first and second front wheels;
- a cutter deck coupled to the first and second front wheels, the cutter deck movable upward and downward responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels with respect to the frame;
- and
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck.
6 more elements
A method of coupling movement of a first front wheel and a second front wheel of a mower, the method comprising:
- pivotably coupling a beam to a frame of the mower, the beam pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the mower and extending between sides of the frame of the mower;
- pivotably coupling a first arm to a first side of the frame;
- pivotably coupling a second arm to a second side of the frame;
- coupling the first arm to a first end of the beam;
- coupling the second arm to a second end of the beam;
- coupling the first front wheel to the first arm to control movement of the first front wheel, movement of the first front wheel generating pivoting movement of the beam with respect to the frame;
- and
- coupling the second front wheel to the second arm to control movement of the second front wheel, movement of the second front wheel generating pivoting movement of the beam with respect to the frame.
5 more elements
(canceled)
A mower, comprising:
- a chassis having a front portion and a rear portion;
- a prime mover mounted on the chassis;
- a cutter deck supported by the chassis;
- front wheels attached to the front portion of the chassis;
- two drive wheel assemblies on different sides of the rear portion of the chassis, each drive wheel assembly connected to the chassis by at least one link pivotable with respect to the chassis;
- at least one biasing member associated with the drive wheel assemblies and positioned to bias the drive wheel assemblies in a downward direction;
- wherein the drive wheels and front wheels support the chassis for movement over a surface;
- each drive wheel assembly comprising a drive wheel powered for rotation by the prime mover;
- and
- wherein each drive wheel assembly moves up and down relative to the chassis, respectively against and with force exerted by the at least one biasing member, independently of movement of the other drive wheel assembly.
7 more elements
A mower, comprising:
- a chassis having a front portion and a rear portion;
- a prime mover mounted on the chassis;
- a cutter deck supported by the chassis;
- front wheels attached to the front portion of the chassis;
- two drive wheel assemblies on different sides of the rear portion of the chassis, each drive wheel assembly connected to the chassis by at least one link assembly;
- each link assembly pivotably connected at an inner end to a pivot point on the chassis and pivotably connected at an outer end to a pivot point on the wheel assembly;
- at least one biasing member coupled to each drive wheel assembly;
- wherein the drive wheels and front wheels support the chassis for movement over a surface;
- each drive wheel assembly comprising a drive wheel rotated by the prime mover;
- and
- wherein each drive wheel assembly moves relative to the chassis, respectively against and with force exerted by the biasing member, independently of movement of the opposing drive wheel assembly.
8 more elements
The mower as claimed in claim 65, wherein the biasing member comprises a non-metal material.
A mower comprising;
- a chassis having a front portion, a rear portion, and a longitudinal axis;
- a subframe pivotably connected to the front portion of the chassis for pivoting about the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive two front wheels;
- a prime mover mounted on the chassis;
- the two front wheels attached to different sides of the subframe;
- two drive wheel assemblies, one each on different sides of the rear end of the chassis and connected thereto by at least one link assembly, each link assembly comprising at least one link pivotably connected at an inner end to a pivot point on the chassis and pivotably connected at an outer end to a pivot point on the wheel assembly, each drive wheel assembly comprising a wheel driven by the prime mover;
- a biasing member pressing on each wheel assembly for urging the wheel assembly downwardly;
- and
- wherein each drive wheel assembly moves up and down relative to the chassis, respectively against and with force exerted by the biasing member, independently of movement of the opposing wheel assembly.
5 more elements
A mower, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a prime mover mounted on the chassis;
- a cutter deck supported from the chassis;
- two pairs of wheels, one each attached to the chassis at different ends thereof;
- wherein:
- the wheels support the chassis for movement over a surface, one of the pairs of wheels comprises drive wheels rotated by the prime mover;
- and
- each of the one pair of drive wheels is attached to the chassis by at least one link assembly pivotably connected to the chassis and the drive wheel;
- and
- each drive wheel moves up and down relative to the chassis, respectively against and with force transmitted to the wheel by a biasing member, independently of movement of the other wheel of the pair.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.