US 6,647,705 B2 · Flex wing rotary cutter having cushioning strut mounted across wing hinge

Abstract

A rotary cutter has a deck assembly including a central unit to which a wing unit is attached for flexing vertically. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for lifting the wing unit 90° to a fully raised transport or shipping position. Located above, and extending generally parallel to, the hydraulic cylinder is a telescopic strut incorporating a spring which becomes compressed as the wing unit approaches its fully raised position, the compressed spring unloading to thrust the wing unit down upon pressure being released from the hydraulic cylinder, even if the weight of the wing unit is tending to keep it in its raised position. Wing unit may be locked in its raised position by inserting a pin through the telescoped members of the strut when the latter is in its fully collapsed condition.

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Drawings

Claims10

Dependent claims

In a flex wing rotary cutter including a deck assembly comprising a central unit, a wing unit hinged to said central unit for movement about a hinge axis between a lowered working condition and a raised transport position, a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the central unit and the wing unit for raising the latter to its transport position, and a latch structure coupled between said central unit and said wing unit for selectively securing said wing unit in its raised transport position, the improvement comprising:

said latch structure being defined at least in part by an elongate strut including first and second sections, a lost-motion connection between said strut first and second sections permitting the latter to move between fully extended and retracted positions;
first and second upstanding brackets being respectively fixed to said central and wing units at opposite sides of said hinge axis;
said hydraulic cylinder having opposite ends respectively pivotally coupled to said first and second upstanding brackets;
and said strut being mounted to said first and second brackets at respective locations above the opposite ends of the hydraulic cylinder, with said strut first section being coupled to said central unit and said strut second section being coupled to said wing unit such that said strut extends across, and crosswise to, said hinge axis;
said strut collapsing to its retracted position in response to said wing unit being pivoted to said transport position;
and a locking member being coupled to said first and second sections of said strut for fixing them together in said retracted position of said strut and thereby locking said wing unit in said transport position.

3 more elements

In a flex wing rotary cutter including a deck assembly comprising a central unit, a wing unit hinged to said central unit for movement about a hinge axis between a lowered working condition, wherein said wing unit is substantially co-planar with said central unit, and a raised transport position, wherein said wing unit makes an angle of approximately 90° with said central unit, a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the central unit and the wing unit for raising the latter to its transport position, the improvement comprising:

an elongate strut including first and second sections, a lost-motion connection between said strut first and second sections permitting the strut to move between fully extended and fully retracted positions;
said strut first section being coupled at a fixed location of said central unit and said strut second section being coupled at a fixed location of said wing unit such that said strut extends across, and crosswise to, said hinge axis;
said strut collapsing to its fully retracted position in response to said wing unit being pivoted to said transport position;
and a resilient compression member being carried by said central unit in a location in a path of movement of said strut second section and being constructed so as to be compressed by said second section only as said strut approaches said fully retracted position during movement of said wing unit to said transport position, whereby said compression member acts through said second section to impart a lowering force on said wing unit when a working fluid pressure is removed from said hydraulic cylinder at a time when said wing unit is in its transport position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description1,986 words

Summary590 words

#The present invention relates to rotary cutters having flexible wings, and more specifically, relates to mechanisms for locking the wings in a folded condition for transport, servicing or storage.

#A flex wing rotary cutter must include a locking mechanism for locking the wing(s) up for transporting, servicing and storing the machine. Another requirement is for there to be a solid stop to restrict the wing from being raised past its intended angle. Also, if the cutter is plumbed with a single-acting cylinder acting for controlling the raising and lowering of the wing and is positioned across an incline with the wing raised over center, there is a chance the wing will not lower without assistance. This becomes an inconvenience and is potentially harmful for the operator.

#In one known arrangement used to minimize this situation, each wing of the cutter is only raised to about 85°, but this works on only smaller cutters. On 20′ cutters, for example, a removable stop is required so that the wing can be raised to 90° for shipping (the maximum shipping width is 102″). When the cutter reaches its destination, the removable stop must be installed by the dealer to again limit the wing to prevent it from pivoting upward beyond about 85°.

Brief description of the drawings4 figures

#FIG. 1 is a right rear perspective view of the mower deck assembly of a flex wing rotary cutter embodying a combined locking and cushioning arrangement constructed in accordance with the present invention, with the wing being shown in a lowered working position.

#FIG. 2 is a rear view of the rotary cutter mower deck assembly shown in FIG. 1, with the wing being shown locked in a raised transport or shipping position.

#FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the telescopic strut and spring forming the combined locking and cushioning arrangement of the invention.

Detailed description1,270 words

#Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a flex wing rotary cutter mower deck assembly 10 comprising a central unit 12 including a blade housing 14 provided with a top wall 16. A wing unit 18, including a blade housing 20 having a top wall 22, is attached along the right-hand side of the central unit 12 by a hinge arrangement 24 defining a horizontal, fore-and-aft pivot axis about which the wing unit 18 may flex during cutting operation and may be pivoted 90° to a vertical transport or shipping position, as illustrated in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that a set of support wheels, not shown for simplicity, would normally be coupled, through arms, to a transverse wheel support shaft assembly that is coupled to the rear of the central and wing units 14 and 18. Also not shown is a, self-leveling hitch assembly that would be mounted to the front of the central unit 12 and interlocked with the wheel support shaft, in a manner well known in the art. Further, it is to be understood that instead of a housing end member 25 being used to close off the left-hand end of the central unit 22, a further wing unit, which is the mirror image of the wing unit 14, could be pivotally attached along the left-hand side of the central unit 12.

#Provided for lifting the wing unit 18 into its transport or shipping position is a single-acting wing lift cylinder 26 having its cylinder end coupled to a first upstanding bracket 28 fashioned from a plate and fixed to an outer central location of the top wall 16 of the central unit 12, and having its rod end coupled to a second upstanding bracket 30, also fashioned from a plate and fixed to a central location of the wing unit housing top wall 22 between opposite ends of the wing unit 18. The wing lift cylinder 26 extends generally horizontally in an extended state when the wing unit 18 is in a lowered working position with both the central unit 12 and wing unit being disposed more-or-less coplanar relative to each other on a level surface.

#Up to this point, the described mower deck assembly is more or less conventional.

Facts

Application

09/902,514Filed 9 Jul 2001

Published

US 2003/0041580 A16 Mar 2003

Granted

18 Nov 2003

Term ended

16 Jul 2021

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 7 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification2 codes

A01D 34/661
With two or more cutters: mounting means
A01D
Harvesting

Flex wing rotary cutter having cushioning strut mounted across wing hinge

Life of this patent

Flex wing rotary cutter having cushioning strut mounted across wing hinge

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims10

Description1,986 words

Drawings

Classification2 codes

Life of this patent

Description1,986 words