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US 9,307,698 B2Granted
Mower with attachment having a hopper and conveyor assembly
AssigneeGreen Industry Innovators, L.L.C.
InventorSteffon Hoppel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a mower having a removable mower deck, and a removable attachment which includes a hopper and conveyor assembly for discharging particulate material from the hopper. The attachment and mower deck may be mounted on the frame of the unit together or separately. The attachment may be configured for rapid mounting and dismounting on the frame of the mower.
Claims27
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the attachment comprises a mounting mechanism which includes a spring and a mounting member which is movable between a secured position and an unsecured position;
- in the secured position, the mounting member serves as a stop which engages the frame to prevent upward movement of the attachment;
- in the unsecured position, the mounting member is disengaged from the frame whereby a sufficient upward force allows the attachment to be lifted upwardly off of the frame;
- and
- the spring biases the mounting member to the secured position.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein a portion of the attachment is downwardly movable to a position adjacent and directly above the mower deck mounting space.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the attachment includes a hydraulic pump which is directly above the mower deck mounting space when the attachment is mounted on the frame.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the mower deck comprises a rotatable first sheave which occupies a sheave space when the mower deck is mounted on the frame;
- and
- the attachment comprises a rotatable second sheave which is adjacent the sheave space when the mower deck is detached from the frame and the attachment is mounted on the frame.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the frame has a plurality of holes formed therein;
- the mower deck comprises a plurality of rods which are downwardly movable respectively out of the holes to detach the mower deck from the frame.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the frame has a plurality of holes formed therein;
- the attachment comprises a mounting mechanism having a plurality of rods which are movable downwardly respectively into the holes to mount the attachment on the frame.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the frame has a plurality of holes formed therein;
- the mower deck comprises a plurality of rods which are inserted respectively in the holes to mount the mower deck on the frame;
- and
- the attachment comprises a mounting mechanism having a plurality of rods which are inserted respectively into the holes to mount the attachment on the frame when the mower deck is detached from the frame.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the frame comprises a caster mount sleeve;
- a ground-engaging caster wheel is mounted on the caster mount sleeve;
- the attachment comprises a mounting sleeve which defines a hole and which is slidable downwardly over the caster mount sleeve to slidably receive the caster mount sleeve within the hole of the mounting sleeve.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the mower deck has a rotatable first sheave;
- the attachment has a rotatable second sheave;
- and
- a drive belt is dismountable from the first sheave and mountable on the second sheave.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame;
- a mower deck which is removably mountable on the frame in a mower deck mounting space;
- and
- an attachment which comprises a hopper and a conveyor belt, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame so that the hopper and conveyor belt extend directly above the mower deck mounting space;
- wherein the frame comprises first and second rails;
- and
- the attachment has a dismounted position in which the attachment is detached from and above the rails, and a mounted position in which the attachment is seated on the rails.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a mower having a frame, an engine mounted on the frame and a rotatable first sheave driven by the engine;
- a mower deck which comprises a rotatable second sheave and is removably mountable on the frame;
- an attachment which comprises a hopper, a conveyor belt and a rotatable third sheave, wherein the attachment is removably mountable on the frame;
- and
- a drive belt;
- wherein when the mower deck is mounted on the frame, the drive belt is mounted on the first and second sheaves;
- and when the attachment is mounted on the frame, the drive belt is dismounted from the second sheave and is mounted on the first and third sheaves.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.