Zero turning radius mower
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorJustin Rothrock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zero turning radius mower has an internal combustion engine mounted transversely on a pair of longitudinal frame members behind an operator seat and a pair of rear drive wheels. The engine rotates a flywheel on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal frame members. A gearbox is mounted to one of the longitudinal frame members, with a horizontal input shaft driven by the engine and a vertical output shaft engaging one or more rubber belts. A vent passage is provided through the output shaft of the gearbox and between a hub of a rotary fan and the output shaft.
Claims12
A zero turning radius mower, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine mounted transversely on a pair of longitudinal frame members behind an operator seat and a pair of rear drive wheels, the engine rotating a flywheel on a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal frame members;
- a gearbox mounted to one of the longitudinal frame members;
- the gearbox having a horizontal input shaft driven by the engine and a vertical output shaft engaging a rubber belt;
- and
- a vent passage through the vertical output shaft, and a rotary fan having a central hub mounted to the vertical output shaft.
A zero turning radius mower, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine mounted transversely on the ZTR mower frame and supported by a pair of longitudinal frame members and a rear cross member behind and rearwardly of an operator seat and a pair of rear drive wheels;
- the engine connected to a right angle gearbox on one side of the longitudinal frame members;
- the gearbox having a horizontal input shaft, a vertical output shaft, a vent passage through the vertical output shaft, and a rotary fan mounted to a top end of the vertical output shaft with a central hub providing a passage between the central hub and the vertical output shaft.
A zero turning radius mower, comprising:
- an internal combustion engine having a flywheel rotating on a horizontal axis and connected to an input shaft of a right angle gearbox;
- a pair of hydrostatic transmissions driven by a belt engaged to an output shaft of the gearbox and rotating a pair of rear traction drive tires;
- a mower deck driven by the belt;
- and
- a vent passage through the output shaft of the gearbox and between a hub of a rotary fan and the output shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.