Mower suspension system and method
AssigneeFerris Industries, Inc.
InventorsMark J. Melone, James F. Marshall, Robert S. Lauren
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The mower front independent suspension assembly in some embodiments of the present invention includes a first suspension arm connected to the front of the lawn mower frame and a second suspension arm connected to the side of the lawn mower frame. In some embodiments, the first suspension arm is connected to the front of the frame at or near the longitudinal center of the frame, while the second suspension arm is connected to the side of the frame a distance from the front of the frame. Also, in some embodiments the cutter deck of the lawn mower is connected to the front independent suspension assemblies for movement therewith.
Claims57
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front,
- opposite sides,
- at least one front beam located at the front of the frame with respect to a forward direction of movement of the mower, and
- at least one side beam located along each of the opposite sides of the frame;
- first and second front wheels;
- each of the first and second front wheels coupled to the at least one front beam at the front of the frame and coupled to a respective one of the side beams at a side location of the frame disposed a distance from the front of the frame, the first and second front wheels independently movable upward and downward with respect to one another and coupled to the frame for upward and downward movement with respect to the frame;
- a cutter deck;
- and
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck, the cutter and cutter deck coupled to the first and second front wheels for upward and downward movement responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels.
A front independent suspension assembly for connection to a mower having a cutter deck with at least one cutter and a frame with a front corner defined by a front and a side of the frame, the independent suspension assembly comprising:
- a wheel;
- a first suspension arm coupled to the wheel and coupled to the front of the frame;
- and
- a second suspension arm coupled to the wheel and coupled to the side of the frame;
- wherein the wheel and the first and second suspension arms are movable upward and downward relative to the frame responsive to changes in elevation of ground traversed by the wheel;
- and
- at least one of the first and second suspension arms are coupled to the cutter deck for upward and downward movement of the cutter deck responsive to upward and downward movement of the wheel relative to the frame.
A method of assembling a front wheel to a frame of a mower, the method comprising:
- pivotably coupling a first suspension arm to one side of a front corner of the mower frame;
- pivotably coupling a second suspension arm to another side of the front corner of the mower frame, the first and second suspension arms defining an acute angle facing the corner of the frame;
- and
- coupling the first and second suspension arms to a wheel, whereby the first and second suspension arms are pivotable upward and downward with respect to the frame responsive to upward and downward movement of the wheel;
- coupling a cutter deck to at least one of the first and second suspension arms, upward and downward movement of the first and second suspension arms with respect to the frame generating upward and downward movement of the cutter deck with respect to the frame.
A method of moving a front wheel with respect to a frame of a mower, the method comprising:
- providing first and second suspension arms coupled to the front wheel;
- pivoting the first suspension arm about a connection point on a front of the frame;
- pivoting a second suspension arm about a connection point on a side of the frame;
- and
- moving the front wheel vertically with respect to the frame;
- moving a cutter deck of the mower vertically with respect to the frame responsive to moving the front wheel vertically with respect to the frame.
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front;
- and
- opposite sides;
- a cutter deck;
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck;
- first and second front wheels, each of the first and second front wheels coupled to the frame by a suspension arm;
- and
- a beam pivotably coupled to the frame and coupled to the suspension arms, the beam being pivotable responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels.
A mower, comprising:
- a frame including
- a front,
- opposite sides,
- at least one front beam located at the front of the frame with respect to a forward direction of movement of the mower, and
- at least one side beam;
- first and second front wheels, each of the first and second front wheels coupled to the frame for upward and downward movement independent of the other front wheel;
- a cutter deck coupled to the first and second front wheels, the cutter deck movable upward and downward responsive to upward and downward movement of the first and second front wheels with respect to the frame;
- and
- at least one cutter in the cutter deck.
A method of coupling movement of a first front wheel and a second front wheel of a mower, the method comprising:
- pivotably coupling a beam to a frame of the mower, the beam pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the mower and extending between sides of the frame of the mower;
- pivotably coupling a first arm to a first side of the frame;
- pivotably coupling a second arm to a second side of the frame;
- coupling the first arm to a first end of the beam;
- coupling the second arm to a second end of the beam;
- coupling the first front wheel to the first arm to control movement of the first front wheel, movement of the first front wheel generating pivoting movement of the beam with respect to the frame;
- and
- coupling the second front wheel to the second arm to control movement of the second front wheel, movement of the second front wheel generating pivoting movement of the beam with respect to the frame.
A method of coupling movement of a cutter deck of a mower and a first and second front wheel of the mower, the method comprising:
- pivotably coupling a first arm to a first side of a frame of the mower;
- pivotably coupling a second arm to a second side of the frame;
- coupling a first portion of the cutter deck to the first arm for movement with the first arm;
- coupling a second portion of the cutter deck to the second arm for movement with the second arm;
- coupling the first front wheel to the first arm, the cutter deck movable upward and downward responsive to pivoting movement of the first arm;
- and
- coupling the second front wheel to the second arm, the cutter deck movable upward and downward responsive to pivoting movement of the second arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.