Hinge system for articulating mower decks

In a mower having articulating mower decks, a hinge assembly for hingedly connecting a first mower frame member defining a first frame hole with a first axis to a second mower frame member defining a second frame hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck of the mower, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a first bushing having a first bushing hole and a first bushing axis, being sized for press fit receipt in the first frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a second bushing having a second bushing hole and a second bushing axis, being sized for receipt in the second frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis, said pin sized to extend coaxially through the first and second bushing holes;
• a connector for connecting said pin to the second frame member and holding said pin against horizontal movement relative to the second frame member and for providing a stop for limiting movement of said second bushing toward the outboard end of said pin;
• and,
• a retention member connected proximal to the inboard end of said pin and limiting movement of said bushings inwardly of said retention member.

In a mower having articulating mower decks, a hinge assembly for hingedly connecting a first mower frame member defining a first hole with a first axis to a second mower frame member defining a second hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck of the mower, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a first bushing having a first bushing hole and a first bushing axis, being sized for press fit receipt in the first frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a second bushing having a second bushing hole and a second bushing axis, being sized for axially non-rotating receipt in the second frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis, said pin sized to extend coaxially through the first and second bushing holes;
• and,
• a connector for connecting said pin to the second frame member and holding said pin against horizontal movement relative to the second frame member and for providing a stop for limiting movement of said second bushing toward the outboard end of said pin.

A hinge assembly for hingedly connecting a mower deck to a mower frame member, comprising:

• a first mower frame member defining a first frame hole with a first axis;
• a second mower frame member defining a second frame hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck;
• a first bushing having a first bushing hole and a first bushing axis, being tightly but removably received in the first hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a second bushing having a second bushing hole and a second bushing axis, being axially non-rotatingly received in the second hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein;
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis and extending coaxially through said first and second bushing holes;
• a connector for connecting said pin to the second frame member and holding said pin against horizontal movement relative to the second frame member and for providing a stop for limiting movement of said second bushing toward the outboard end of said pin;
• and,
• a retention member connected proximal to the inboard end of said pin and limiting movement of said bushings inwardly of said retention member.

A method for hingedly connecting a mower deck to a mower frame member, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hinge assembly for hingedly connecting a first mower frame member defining a first frame hole with a first, axis to a second mower frame member defining a second frame hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck of a mower, the hinge assembly including:
• a first bushing having a first bushing hole and a first bushing axis, being sized for press fit receipt in the first frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein,
• a second bushing having a second bushing hole and a second bushing axis, being sized for axially non-rotating receipt in the second frame hole, and being sized to rotatably coaxially receive a pin therein,
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis, said pin sized to extend coaxially through the first and second bushing holes,
• a connector connected to the outboard end of said pin and for connecting said pin to the second frame member and holding said pin against horizontal movement relative to the second frame member and for providing a stop for limiting movement of said second bushing toward the outboard end of said pin, and
• a retention member for limiting movement of said bushings inwardly of said retention member;
• assembling a hinge assembly by sliding said first and second bushings onto said pin from the inboard end toward the outboard end and against said connector and then connecting said retention member to said pin inwardly of said first and second bushings to restrain said first and second bushings from sliding off the inboard end of said pin;
• inserting the assembled hinge assembly through the first and second frame holes, until said first bushing is tightly positioned in the first frame hole and the second bushing is positioned in the second frame hole;
• and
• connecting the connector to the second frame member to secure the hinge assembly against horizontal movement relative to the second frame member.

A hinge assembly for hingedly connecting a mower deck defining a first hole having a first shape and first dimension to other mower structure defining a second hole having a second shape and second dimension, comprising:

• a pin having an axis and defining a slot;
• a pin mount connected to said pin and defining first and second thrust holes;
• a connector for connecting said pin mount to one of the deck and the structure;
• a first bushing sized and shaped for a press fit receipt in one of the first and second holes and having a first internal dimension sized to receive a portion of said pin;
• a second bushing sized and shaped for receipt in the other of the first and second holes and having a second internal dimension sized to receive a portion of said pin;
• and;
• a retention member sized and shaped for receipt in the slot to retain said first and second bushings between said pin mount and the slot.

A method for hingedly connecting a first mower frame member defining a first frame hole with a first axis to a second mower frame member defining a second frame hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck of a mower, comprising the steps of:

• providing a hinge assembly elements, including:
• a first bushing defining a first bushing hole and a first bushing axis and being sized for press fit receipt in the first frame hole,
• a second bushing defining a second bushing hole and a second bushing axis and being sized for receipt in the second frame hole,
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis, said pin sized to extend coaxially through the first and second bushing holes,
• a pin mount connected to the outboard end of said pin and defining at least two thrust holes,
• connection means for connecting said pin mount to the second frame member,
• a retention member;
• assembling a hinge assembly by sliding said first and second bushings onto said pin and then connecting said retention member to said pin to trap said first and second bushings between said pin mount and said retention member;
• inserting the assembled hinge assembly through the first and the second frame holes, until said first bushing is tightly positioned in the first frame hole and the second bushing is positioned in the second frame hole;
• and
• connecting said pin mount to the second frame member with said connection means to secure the hinge assembly against movement relative to the second frame member.

A hinge assembly for connecting a first mower frame member defining a first hole with a first axis to a second mower frame member defining a second hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck of the mower, the hinge assembly comprising:

• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis;
• a pin mount connected to the outboard end of said pin and defining at least two thrust holes;
• connection means for removably connecting said pin mount to the second frame member;
• a first bushing coaxially received over said pin and being sized for press fit receipt in the first frame hole;
• a second bushing coaxially received over said pin next to said first bushing and being sized for receipt in the second frame hole;
• and,
• a retention member removably connected to the inboard end of said pin trapping said bushings between said pin mount and said retention member.

A hinge assembly for connecting a first mower frame member to a second mower frame member, comprising:

• a first mower frame member defining a first frame hole with a first axis;
• a second mower frame member defining a second frame hole with a second axis, wherein at least one of the first and second frame members is a frame member of a mower deck;
• a pin having inboard and outboard ends and a pin axis;
• a pin mount connected to the outboard end of said pin and defining at least two thrust holes;
• a first bushing coaxially received over said pin and being coaxially press fit received in the first frame hole;
• a second bushing coaxially received over said pin next to said first bushing and being coaxially positioned in the second frame hole;
• a retention member removably connected to the inboard end of said pin trapping said bushings between said pin mount and said retention member;
• and,
• connection means removably connecting said pin mount to the second frame member.