# US 8,769,918 B2 · Mower deck with centrally located caster wheel

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,769,918 B2
- Document ID: US8769918B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/621,873
- Filed: 2012-09-18
- Published: 2013-04-11
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-19
- Assignees: Air Motion Systems, Inc.
- Applicants: Llewellyn E. Williams
- Inventors: Llewellyn E. Williams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769918B2

## CPC

- A01D 34/84: for edges of lawns or fields, e.g. for mowing close to trees or walls ({for embankments A01D34/86 takes precedence;} edge trimmers A01G3/00)
- A01D 34/74: Cutting-height adjustment
- A01D 69/12: Lubrication
- B23P 11/00: Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for (connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00)
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A rotary mower deck assembly has a caster assembly mounted within a spindle hub. The spindle hub is rotated within a hub, which is permanently and rigidly mounted to the mower deck. When rotated, the spindle hub rotates cutting blades mounted within the mower deck. The spindle hub is disposed within the spindle hub to bear the weight of the mower deck assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mower deck assembly, comprising:
a deck;
an exterior hub mounted to said deck such that said exterior hub cannot move independently of said deck;
a spindle hub rotatively disposable within said exterior hub;
a plurality of first bearings disposed so as to allow rotation of said spindle hub independent of said exterior hub;
a pulley rigidly attached to said spindle hub;
a cutting blade assembly rotated by said spindle hub;
a caster assembly rotatively disposable within said spindle hub, said caster assembly comprising means for vertical adjustment;
at least one second bearing disposable so as to allow said spindle hub to rotate independently of said caster assembly; and
a lubrication pathway extending from an exterior surface of said exterior hub, through said spindle hub to said caster assembly.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for vertically adjusting said cutting blade assembly.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The mower deck assembly of claim 2, wherein said vertically adjusting means includes
a plurality of connecting posts attached to said deck;
a horizontal beam attached to said connecting posts;
a height adjuster rigidly attached to said caster assembly and vertically adjustable through said horizontal beam.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, wherein said spindle hub defines a slot to positionally fix said spindle hub relative to said pulley.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, wherein said at least one second bearing comprises a thrust bearing attached to said caster assembly.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The mower deck assembly of claim 5, wherein said thrust bearing is vertically and adjustably attached to said caster assembly.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, further comprising a zerk threadably disposed in said exterior hub within said lubrication pathway.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, wherein said first bearings include angular contact bearings.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, wherein said spindle hub includes a flange.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The mower deck assembly of claim 9, wherein said cutting blade assembly attaches to said flange.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The mower deck assembly of claim 10, wherein said exterior hub defines a circular groove and wherein said flange defines a raised section rotating in said circular groove.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The mower deck assembly of claim 1, wherein said cutting blade assembly comprises a disk device and a plurality of cutting blades attached to said disk device.