This invention generally relates to foliage mowers which have height-adjustable mower decks that are operated by foot pedal action. More particularly, the invention relates to mowers which are of the type having cutter decks which can be selectively raised and lowered between, for example, one or more heights suitable for transport and one or more heights suitable for foliage cutting. The invention facilitates movement among such positions and securement of the cutter deck at the selected position.
Foliage cutting vehicles, mowers and implements have long been known which have the ability to raise and lower cutter decks in order to accommodate different cutting heights and/or to facilitate transport. Rose U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,136 shows a tractor having a mower deck which can move vertically through the use of a foot pedal which achieves height adjustment by engagement with one of a plurality of notches adjacent the foot pedal. The position of the pedal in the notches adjusts the position of a lift linkage and thus of the cutter deck. Trefz et al U.S. Pat Nos. 5,138,825 and 5,351,467 describe riding lawn mowers having pedal operated height adjustment mechanisms. Notched or threaded mechanisms remote from the foot pedal cooperate in the raising and lowering function. Gordon U.S. Pat. No. 5,946,893 employs a deck lift mechanism wherein a foot pedal arm engages a height pin for giving a desired cutting height, while requiring a linkage which connects a foot pedal arm to a forward pivot rod, as well as independent suspension structures. Busboom et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,033 shows a hand-operated control lever and linkage arrangement. An arcuate frame is adjacent the manual control lever, these two components being laterally offset from each other.
Foot-operated lift mechanisms have different operational advantages from hand-operated lift mechanisms. In many circumstances, a foot-operated mechanism can more readily allow the user to provide the leverage and force needed to achieve vertical movement of a unit having substantial weight, such as a cutter deck and blade assembly of an industrial or professional quality mower. Heretofore, foot-operated lift mechanisms for mower decks, such as those noted above, utilize complicated adjustment mechanisms or linkage mechanisms. These can increase the cost and/or reduce the reliability of the adjustable height cutter decks.
In accordance with the present invention, a foliage mower and mower deck lift mechanism therefor are provided. The deck height lifting is practiced by foot pedal depression which directly lifts the cutter deck. Pivot lugs of a height adjustment assembly interconnect by a push-pull rod assembly to insure that the cutter deck is lifted uniformly. Its corners preferably are moved simultaneously, either upwardly or downwardly, to the same extent. This height adjustment assembly further includes a stop mechanism which prevents downward movement of the cutter deck beyond any one of a selectable plurality of deck height levels during the action of cutter deck lowering. The invention is suitable for mid-mounted cutter decks of mowers, self-propelled riding mowers, vehicles or implements. Mid-mount mowers having self-propelled capabilities and very tight turning radius attributes, such as those having a turning radius approximating zero, find special application for this invention.
It is accordingly a general object of the present invention to provide an improved foliage mower structure having one or more cutter decks having a height adjustment feature which includes foot pedal operation.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved self-propelled riding foliage mower having a foot-operated deck height adjustment assembly which provides for sure and positive uniform deck movement in the vertical direction.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved foot-operated cutter deck lift mechanism which affords direct lift control when the foot pedal is depressed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved self-propelled foliage mower and deck lift mechanism which incorporate a stop mechanism to maintain an selected desired deck height.
These and other objects, features and advantageous of the present invention will be apparent from and clearly understood through a consideration of the following detailed description.