Pivot mechanism for reel mower cutting units

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, said cutting unit including lateral edge portions and front and rear roller means, said mechanism comprising:

• an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis and being coupled between the cutting unit and the vehicle for allowing the cutting unit to pivot about said axis as the cutting unit encounters side slopes, said axis being inclined and extending downwardly and rearwardly toward the cutting unit and between the front and rear roller means for reducing the tendency of the lateral edge portions of the cutting unit to press downwardly against the ground during execution of a turn.

A mechanism for coupling a cutting unit with a vehicle, said cutting unit including front and rear ground engaging rollers and lateral edge portions, said mechanism comprising:

• a yoke means coupled with the cutting units,
• an inclined pivot means coupled between the yoke means and the vehicle for allowing the yoke and cutting unit thereattached to pivot with respect to the vehicle as side slopes are encountered, said inclined pivot means having an inclined axis of pivot which extends downwardly and rearwardly generally toward the cutting unit for reducing the tendency of the lateral edge portions of the cutting unit to press downwardly against the ground during execution of a turn.

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, comprising:

• a generally upright steering pivot means operatively carried by the vehicle, and to which the cutting unit is operatively coupled, said upright steering pivot means having a generally upright axis about which the cutting unit may swing laterally as the vehicle executes a turn, said upright axis being spaced a substantial distance forward from the cutting unit, and
• an inclined pivot means for allowing the cutting unit to pivot laterally about the axis as uneven ground conditions are encountered, said inclined pivot means having a pivot axis which extends downwardly and rearwardly generally toward the cutting unit.

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, said cutting unit including lateral edge portions and front and rear roller means, said mechanism comprising:

• a generally upright steering pivot means operatively carried by the vehicle and spaced a substantial distance forward of the cutting unit for allowing the cutting unit to swing laterally about and generally follow the steering pivot when relatively small lateral ground forces are encountered by the front and rear roller means as the vehicle executes a turn and for reducing lateral forces encountered by the front and rear roller means during a turn, and
• an inclined pivot means operatively coupled between the cutting unit and the vehicle for allowing the cutting unit to pivot about said axis as side slopes are encountered, said inclined pivot means having a pivot axis extending downwardly and rearwardly between the front and rear rollers for reducing the tendency of the lateral edge portions of the cutting unit to press downwardly against the ground during execution of a turn.

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, comprising:

• an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis and being coupled between the cutting unit and the vehicle for allowing the cutting unit to pivot about the axis as uneven ground conditions are encountered, said axis being inclined and extending downwardly and rearwardly generally toward the cutting unit, and
• wherein the axis extends between front and rear rollers of the cutting unit.

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, comprising:

• an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis and being coupled between the cutting unit and the vehicle for allowing the cutting unit to pivot about the axis as uneven ground conditions are encountered, said axis being inclined and extending downwardly and rearwardly generally toward the cutting unit, and
• wherein said axis extends at approximately a forty-five degree angle.

A mechanism for coupling a ground engaging cutting unit with a vehicle, comprising:

• an inclined pivot mechanism having an axis and being coupled between the cutting unit and the vehicle for allowing the cutting unit to pivot about the axis as uneven ground conditions are encountered, said axis being inclined and extending downwardly and rearwardly generally toward the cutting unit,
• wherein the cutting unit further includes front and rear roller means, and
• the axis of the inclined pivot mechanism extends proximate the cutting unit to reducing the distance between the axis and the front and rear rollers for reducing the tendency of lateral edges of the cutting unit to press downwardly against the ground during execution of a turn.