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US 6,244,025 B1Granted
Load compensation adjustment in lawnmower having independent suspension
AssigneeFerris Industries, Inc.
InventorsDavid Ferris, William Shea, Henry Nordberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lawn mower includes a front wheel suspension system as well as a rear wheel suspension system. A load compensation adjuster is employed as part of the rear wheel suspension system that compensates for riders having significantly differing weights, as well as for weight changes occurring during the mowing operation, such as from grass clippings accumulating in a grass catcher bag.
Claims23
A mower, comprising:
- a main frame;
- a cutter deck;
- at least one rotatable cutter in the cutter deck;
- first and second front wheels;
- first and second rear wheels;
- and
- first and second rear suspension systems connecting said first and second rear wheels, respectively, to said main frame, wherein said first and second rear suspension systems each include:
- a spring connected to the main frame;
- and
- a load compensation adjuster having a range of compression in which the load compensation adjuster exerts increasing reactive force against compression responsive to increasing compression of the spring;
- wherein the front and rear wheels support the main frame, cutter deck, and the at least one rotatable cutter for movement over a surface;
- and
- wherein each rear suspension system and rear wheel moves vertically up and down relative to the main frame, respectively against and with force exerted by the spring and load compensation adjuster, independently of movement of the other wheels.
10 more elements
A mower, comprising:
- a main frame;
- a cutter deck;
- at least one rotatable cutter in the cutter deck;
- first and second front wheels;
- first and second rear wheels;
- first and second rear suspension systems connecting said first and second rear wheels, respectively, to said main frame;
- wherein each of said first and second rear suspension systems includes
- a motor mount effective for mounting a motor;
- first and second upper links;
- first and second lower links;
- said first upper link and said first lower link pivotably connected on one end to a first vertical strut, said first vertical strut connecting an upper frame member of said main frame to a lower frame member of said main frame;
- said first upper link and said first lower link pivotably connected on another end to said motor mount;
- said second upper link and said second lower link pivotably connected on one end to a second vertical strut, said second vertical strut connecting said upper frame member to said lower frame member;
- said second upper link and said second lower link pivotably connected on another end to said motor mount;
- a spring bracket on said upper frame member between said first and second vertical struts;
- a rear suspension spring connected between the spring bracket and one of said motor and said motor mount;
- and
- a load compensation adjuster connected inside said rear suspension spring;
- wherein the front and rear wheels support the main frame, cutter deck, and the at least one rotatable cutter for movement over a surface;
- and
- wherein each rear suspension system and rear wheel moves vertically up and down relative to the main frame, respectively against and with force exerted by the spring and load compensation adjuster, independently of movement of the other wheels.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.