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US 5,927,055 AGranted
Pivoting mower deck mechanism
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsPhilip Eugene Ferree, Robert Dean Davis, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking mechanism for latching together front and rear frame portions which are pivotal to expose the underside of a deck. The locking mechanism includes a lever, intermediate link and blocking member that provide an over-center feature for securing the locking mechanism in its latched mode. Pivoting of the lever lifts the front and rear frame portions to their proper orientation for being latched together by the locking mechanism.
Claims46
A mechanism, comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to a service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, and
- a lever pivotally supported by one of the frame portions and operatively engagable with the other frame portion, said lever being pivotable by the operator for shifting the first and second frame portions into proper alignment with each other such that the locking mechanism can be engaged.
4 more elements
A mechanism, comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to an upright service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, and
- a lever shiftable in a first direction for releasing the locking mechanism for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, said lever being shiftable in a second direction for engaging the locking mechanism for rigidly fixing the first and second frame portions with respect to each other, and the lever is pivotally supported by one of the frame portions and is operatively engagable with the other of the frame portions, said lever being pivotable in the second direction for shifting the first and second frame portions into proper alignment with each other such that the locking mechanism can be engaged.
4 more elements
A mechanism, comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to an upright service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other,
- a lever shiftable in a first direction for releasing the locking mechanism for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, said lever being shiftable in a second direction for engaging the locking mechanism for rigidly fixing the first and second frame portions with respect to each other,
- said lever being pivotally supported by one of the frame portions and operatively engagable with the other of the frame portions for shifting the first and second frame portions into proper alignment with each other as the lever is shifted in the second direction
- wherein said locking mechanism further comprises:
- a pivotable blocking member which pivots in response to pivotal motion of the lever, and
- an intermediate link operatively extending between the lever and the blocking member for transmitting pivotal motion therebetween.
8 more elements
A mechanism comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to a service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, and
- a lever operatively coupled between the first and second frame portions for shifting the first and second frame portions into proper alignment with each other such that the locking mechanism can be engaged, wherein shifting of the lever in a first direction releases the locking mechanism for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, and shifting of said lever in a second direction engages the locking mechanism for rigidly fixing the first and second frame portions with respect to each other,
- wherein said locking mechanism further comprises:
- a pivotable blocking member which pivots in response to pivotal motion of the lever, wherein said blocking member is pivotally mounted to one of the frame portions and operatively abuts the other of the frame portions for preventing relative motion between the first and second frame portions when the locking mechanism is engaged, and
- an intermediate link operatively extending between the lever and the blocking member for transmitting pivotal motion therebetween,
- wherein said abutment of the blocking member against said frame portion urges the lever in the second direction when the locking mechanism is engaged.
8 more elements
A mechanism comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to an upright service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, and
- a lever shiftable in a first direction for releasing the locking mechanism for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, said lever being shiftable in a second direction for engaging the locking mechanism for rigidly fixing the first and second frame portions with respect to each other,
- said locking mechanism further comprises:
- a pivotable blocking member which pivots in response to pivotal motion of the lever, said blocking member is pivotally mounted to one of the frame portions and operatively abuts the other of the frame portions for preventing relative motion between the first and second frame portions when the locking mechanism is engaged, and
- an intermediate link operatively extending between the lever and the blocking member for transmitting pivotal motion therebetween,
- wherein said abutment of the blocking member against said frame portion urges the lever in the second direction when the locking mechanism is engaged.
8 more elements
A mechanism, comprising:
- a mower deck pivotal to an upright service position whereat the underside of the mower deck is exposed for maintenance, said mower deck being coupled with a vehicle,
- a frame structure coupled with the vehicle, said deck being supported by the frame structure, said frame structure comprising:
- a first portion pivotally coupled with the vehicle, and
- a second portion pivotally coupled with the first portion,
- ground engaging wheels coupled with the second portion,
- a locking mechanism coupled between the first and second frame portions, said locking mechanism being engagable by an operator to rigidly fix the first and second portions of the frame with respect to each other, said locking mechanism being releasable by said operator for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other,
- a lever shiftable in a first direction for releasing the locking mechanism for allowing the first and second frame portions to pivot with respect to each other, said lever being shiftable in a second direction for engaging the locking mechanism for rigidly fixing the first and second frame portions with respect to each other,
- said lever being operatively coupled between the first and second frame portions for shifting the first and second frame portions into proper alignment with each other as the lever is shifted in the second direction,
- wherein said locking mechanism further comprises:
- a pivotable blocking member which pivots in response to pivotal motion of the lever, wherein said blocking member is pivotally mounted to one of the frame portions and operatively abuts the other of the frame portions for preventing relative motion between the first and second frame portions when the locking mechanism is engaged, and
- an intermediate link operatively extending between the lever and the blocking member for transmitting pivotal motion therebetween, and
- said abutment of the blocking member against said frame portion urges the lever in the second direction.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.