CA1316355C - Mowing tractor with towed mower - Google Patents
Mowing tractor with towed mowerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1316355C CA1316355C CA000598845A CA598845A CA1316355C CA 1316355 C CA1316355 C CA 1316355C CA 000598845 A CA000598845 A CA 000598845A CA 598845 A CA598845 A CA 598845A CA 1316355 C CA1316355 C CA 1316355C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mower
- towed
- cutter
- segment
- swath
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D75/00—Accessories for harvesters or mowers
- A01D75/30—Arrangements for trailing two or more mowers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S56/00—Harvesters
- Y10S56/22—Underslung yieldable rotary mower
Abstract
MOWING TRACTOR WITH TOWED MOWER
ABSTRACT
The towed mower (22) is attached by a hitch (44) to the self propelled front mower (21). The front mower has its own forwardly positioned cutter unit (30). The towed mower has a centrally positioned frame segment (62) that does not include a cutting blade, and the two side frame segments (63) and (643 each include cutting blades that are supported in bat-wing fashion from the central frame segment. The swath cut in the grass by the front mower 21 is straddled by the swaths cut by the blades of the side frame segments (63) and (64) of the towed mower (22).
ABSTRACT
The towed mower (22) is attached by a hitch (44) to the self propelled front mower (21). The front mower has its own forwardly positioned cutter unit (30). The towed mower has a centrally positioned frame segment (62) that does not include a cutting blade, and the two side frame segments (63) and (643 each include cutting blades that are supported in bat-wing fashion from the central frame segment. The swath cut in the grass by the front mower 21 is straddled by the swaths cut by the blades of the side frame segments (63) and (64) of the towed mower (22).
Description
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MO~ING q'RACTOR WITH 'TOWED MOWh'R
FIELD Q~ TH~ INVFNTION
The invention di~closed herein relates to a self propelled riding mowing tractor or mowing machine of the type adapted for cutting grass and other vegetation, and includes a towed mower which can be detachabl~ mounted to the front self propelled mowing tractor in trailer fashion,- and the towed mower can be attached to and work in combination with the ~ront mowing tractor for cutting over relatively flat, wide terrain, with the mowing tractor cutting a central swath in the grass and the towed mower cutting outer swaths in the grass that straddle the central swath.
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- Self propelled riding mowers are commonly used for the pur~ose o~ cutting grass and other ve~etation and the mowers have been constructed in several different design categories. Mowers are cornrnonly used for the ~urpose or cuttin~ grass ana other vegetation for agricultural anu ornamental purposès~ ~owers are constructed in di~erent categories such as walk behind, riding, ana remote controlled. Mowers are pushed, pulled, self propelled and self powered, or are powered and propelled by tractors or other accommodating units. The cuttees on mowers consist of one or more cutting devices, such as rotary blades, reel cutters, flail cutters and sickle bar cutters, which are grouped into cutter assemblies. Several cutter asselllblies may be used on one mowing machine.
For example, the prior art mower designs include the conventional high standing ~arm style tractor, garden tractor or mowing machine having cutter elements mounted beneath the belly of the tractor, ~ hehind the steerable rront wheels and in front o~ the rear power ed w heel s .
Another prior art mower assembly includes the conventional farln style tractor and a towed mower assen~bly ~ull ed behind the tractor, with the power take of~ system of the tractor functioning to power the cutter elements of the towed mower. In some instances, the towed mower includes a central, forwardly positioned rotary cu~ting blade and side blades positioned out to the side and slightly behind the forward blade, with a central gear box that is driven by the power take of~ of the tractor, and with driving sha~ts extending ~rom the central gear box to the side cutting blades. In some models the cutting blades are driven by hydraulic motors, with the ; 35 ~ ' , tractor having a pump ~hat operates the hydraulic motors. ~e individual si~e cutter assemblies on this style o~ mower ~sua~lly can ~e tilted to cut at dif~erent heights OL to reduce the width o~ the unit for better han~ling, particularly when ~he mower is in transit on a public road. When the side cutter blades are raised with respect to the cen~er cutter blade, the center cutter blade does not have shields that prevent objects ~rom being thrown to the side.
1~ qhere~ore the mower is unsafe to operate with side uctter blades raised.
Another type of prior art mower comprises a tractor or self propelled mower provided with cutter assemblies that are positioned out in front o~ ~he tractor, or under itS belly, and some include both ~ront and side mounted cutter assemblies to broaden the` swath cut by the assembly. '~hese side cutter attachments normally Iollow the contour of the ground but may be raised and lowered to cut over objects or to ~acilitate transit.
Another type prior art mower configuration used for slope mowing is the type generally illustrated in O.S. Patent 4,700,536 anà comprises a low profile slope mower which includes a power unit having rear driving wheels and a ~orwardly positione~ cutter unit which supports t~e cutter blades. 'l'he low pro~ile of this unit together wi~h the relatively high engine power an~ good maneuverability of the unit makes the unit stable when cutting on sloped surfaces, such as along the em~ankments o~ interstate highways, gol~
course embankments, ditch ban~s, ski slopes and other finish, re~ined or roughly vegetated sloped terrains.
However, none o~ the prior art mowers known to the inventor have successfully inclu~ed a ~ront self ` propelled riding mowing tractor with its own cutter :
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an~ a rear trailing towe~ rnower connecte~ to the ~ront tractor by ~ central pivoting nitch, ~rith side cutters that straddle an~ broa~en the swat~l cut in the grass ~y the ~ront mo~rer an~ which can be tilted u~rardly.
It is to this arrangement of mower elements that this invention is directed.
SUMMARY O~ THE I~V~N'I`ION
Brie~ly described, the present invention comprises a front cutting or belly cutting self propelled riding lnowing ~rac~or or mowing machine, with a rear towed mower, whereby the towed mower is pulled along in trailer ~as~ion behind the ~orwardly positioned self propelled mowing traclor. The front self propelled mowing tractor or mowing machine, re~erred ~o sometimes herein as the "~ront mower", includes its own cutting unit with an engine that is used to power its driving wneels as well as its front or belly mounted mower. A trailer connecting device is mounted between the ~ront mower and the towed mower so that the towed mower is connected to and follows the ~ront mower in trailer fashion.
'l~he towed mower has three frame segments. 'l~he ; cen~ral frame segment includes ground engaging support wheels, a portion of the connecting device to the ~5 ~ront mower an~ hinge means ~or the two side frame segn~ents. 'l'he side frame segments each i~cludes at least one cutter an~ a supporting wneel melnber. The cutters or the towed mower assembly prererably are powered by tne engine o~ the rront mower; however, the towed m-ower can be constructed with its own independent source of power to its cutters. q~he noncutting central frame segment o~ the towed mower is positione~ so as to ride over the swath previously cut by the cutter unit of the ~ront sel~ propelle~ mower, . ~
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whereas the side segments of the towed mower are ~ posicioned so that their cutters cut swaths that strad~l~ and illtersect the central swath, resultirlg in the formation of one wi~e uninterrupted cut.
lrhe prior art towed mowers of ~he type having a center cutter and hinged side cutters typically have the cutters arranged in a longitudinally staggered, overlapped relationship so as to avold leaving streaks of uncut grass. Because of this requirement these cutter assemblies are long in relation to their wiath. ~owever, the ~owed mower of this invention has its central frame segment constructed without a cutter. Therefore the cutters o~ the side frame segments of the towed mower do not have to be offset lonyitudinally with respect to a central cutter and the length of the towed mower of this invention is shortened by the absence o~ the usual central cut~er.
~oreover, the overall length of the combined sel~
propelled ~ront mower and towed mower is shortened.
~urther, the distance between the supporting wheels of the towed mower an~ the rear driving wheels of the rorwardly positioned self propellea mower is ~inimized by the ~hort configuration of the towed mower. 'l~his configuration results in the towed n~ower closely ~ollowing the swath cut by tbe ~orwardly positioned ?S cutter of the sel~ propelled mower when the sel~
propelled n~ower ano ~owed mower are driven through a turn, as well as when trailing over undulating turr.
When the two cu~ter units are raised vertically on the ~owed mower the width of the towed mower is less than ~ the width of the front mower ana the ~ront mower can be used to trim close to and arow~d objects since the non~unctioning towed mower will trail within the cut swath of the rront mower. This configuration provides the best trimming capability of the front mower as the .
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rear mower does not engage an obstacle outside the path of the front mower.
Optionally, the trailer connecting device that connects the towed mower in trailer fashion to the front mower can be made easily detachable, enabling the operator to quickly attach and detach the towed mower from the self propelled front mower, so that the operator can mow the broad, flat surfaces of an area with the combination of the self propelled front mower and the rear towed mower, and the operator can quickly detach the towed mower from the front mower and use the front mower separately to mow in confined areas, to perform slope mowing or to power or propel various attachments that can be mounted to the front mower.
Thus, the invention seeks to provide an improved self propelled front mower and towed mower combination, whereby the towed mower is towed behind the front mower in trailer fashion and the cutters of the towed mower straddle and broaden the cut swath formed by the cutters of the front mower.
Further, this invention seeks to provide a towed mower that is adaptable for being towed behind a front self propelled mower, whereby the towed mower has laterally displaced side cutting elements which are arranged to straddle the swath cut by the forwardly positioned cutter unit of the self propelled mower, and includes a central frame segment that does not have a cutting element and rides over the swath cut by the forwardly positioned self propelled mower and which allows the towed mower to be relatively short in length and highly maneuverable.
Still further, the invention seeks to provide a towed mower for attachement to a front mower which has a central frame segment and vertically hinged side frame segments which can be raised to nonoperating :
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vertical positions for transport and to facili-tate trimming with the front mower and to avoid collision between the rear mower and obstacles being trimmed around.
The invention in one broad aspect pertains to a self propelled front mower and a towed rear mower combination for cutting grass and other vegetation, the front mower comprising rear driving wheels engaging the ground surface for moving the front mower in a forward direction and front cutter means arranged for cutting a swath in the grass and like vegetation beneath the front mower. The rear mower includes a support frame extending laterally on opposite sides of the swath to be cut by the front mower and wheel means supports the suppor-t frame on the ground surface. Rear cut-ters are mounted to the support frame and are spaced from each other on opposite sides of the swath cut by the front mower a distance to cut swaths in the grass and the like beneath the rear mower that partially overlap the swath cut by the front mower. Connecting means connect the rear mower to the front mower in trailer fashion and there is power means for driving the driving wheels, the front cutter means and the rear cutters.
In one preferred aspect the rear mower pivots with respect to the front mower about a substantially upright axis, and the dimensions between the upright axis of the connecting pivot means and the rear driving wheels of the front mower, and between the upright axis of the connecting pivot means and the wheel means of the support frame of the rear mower, and the placement of the front cutter means and of the rear cutters of the support frame of the rear mower are selected to cause the rear cutters to straddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter means as the front mower and towed rear mower move throuqh a turn.
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Ano-ther aspect of the invention provides the support frame of the rear mower wi-th three laterally extending segments including a central segment and side segments positioned on opposite sides of the cen-tral segment, the side segments each movably connected to the central segment and with each segment including wheels for supporting the rear portions of the segments from the ground surface. The connecting means is mounted to the central segment and the rear cutters are carried by the side segments. The connecting means comprises an approximately U-shaped forward hitch member connected at the free ends of its arms to the front mower at the rear driving wheels, and a universal joint is connected between the forward hitch member and the central segment of the rear mower.
Another aspect of the invention provides a tilt connector mounted to a power unit on the front mower and to the front cutter and arranged to permit the front cutter to tilt with respect to the power unit about an axis extending in the forward direction of movement of the power unit. The towed mower comprises first and second side cutters with cutting blades positioned in overlapping straddling relationship with respect to the swath cut by the cutting blades of the front cutter when the mower and towed mower move ln a forward direction. A
hitch assembly extends forwardIy from the towed mower and is connected to the power unit, the hitch assembly including a universal joint that permits pivot~ing of said towed mower about upright, lateral and longitudinal axes with respect to the front mower.
Preferably the driving dimensions between the upright axis and the- driving wheels of said front mower and between the upright axis and the wheel means of the towed mower and the placement of the cutting blades of said front cutter and the cutting blades of said side : ~
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-8a-cutters are selected to cause the rear cutters -tostraddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter as the front and rear mower move through a turn.
Other aspects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of a mower assembly showing the front and right hand side of both the front self propelled mower and the rear towed mower.
Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the towed mower, showing the left hand side and rear of the towed mower.
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Fig~ 3 is a detail perspective of the trailer hitch connection between the front mower and towed Jnower.
~'ig. 4 is a plan view o~ a second embo~iment of the towed mQwer~ with the mower having three cutters in each side segment.
~ig. 5 is a plan view o~ another embodiment o~ the towed mower, wi~h the mower having a single cutter in each side segment.
~ig~ 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the towed mower with the mower having three cutters arranged in a staggere~ relationship in each si~e segment.
Eig. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment o~ the towed mower with the support wheels o~ the central segment being located beneath the central segment.
Figs. ~, 9, 10 and 11 are perspective illustrations of trailer hitch constructions which can be utilized to connect the towed mower to the front self propelled mower.
~ig. 12 is a plan view o~ the mower assembly o~
Fig. 1, and illustrating how the mower assembly performs wnen operating in a turn.
~ig. 13 is a schematic illustration o~ the mower ~5 assembly when in a turn, demonstrating how the proportions o~ the mower are calculated so as to ~rovide a swath cut in the grass by both the front s~lf propelled mower and the rear towed mower wi~hout having streaks o~ uncut grass appear in swaths of cut grass.
~r~ L~D DEs~LLE~IQ~
Rererring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate the like parts throughout ` the several views, ~ig. 1 illustrates the mower .` . ' ~ .
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assem~ly 2~ which includes a iron~ self propelled riding mowing tractor 21 and a rear tow~d mower 22.
~rhe ~ron~ selr propelled mowing tractor 21, referred to as the ~'front mower", is illustra~e~ as a slope S mower o~ the type that has rear powered driving wheels 24 and 25, front steerable wheels 26 and 27, with the rear powered wheels 24 ana 25 suppor~ing a power unit 29 an~ the ~ront steerable wneels supporting a cutter unit 3~.
he power unit 29 o~ the ~ront mower 21 includes an internal combustion engine 31 tha~ operates a plurality of pwnps 32, 33 and 34 wnich are mounted in series on the engine 31. Pump 32 is the wheel propulsion pump, pump 33 is the front deck drive pump, and pump 34 is the drive ror auxiliary functions such as power steering and lift cylinders. Other purnps (not shown~ are located behind and are driven by the engine which ~unction as the towed mower drive pumps.
A pivot connection 36 functions to connect the cutter uni~ 30 to the power unit 2~ so that the cutter unit 30 is pivotable about a longitudinal axis 3~.
~l~he pumps 32-34 project from the irlternal combustion engine 31 over the pivot connection. With this arrangement, the cutter unit 30 can tilt with respect to the power unit 2g during the-movement of the mower - assembly over uneven terrain, and the pumps 32, 33 and 34 renlain in a space above the cutter unit 30 without obstructing the tilting movements o~ the cutter unit with respect to the power unit.
'l'he power unit 29 includes a driverls seat 40 that is located rearwardly o~ the driving wheels 24 and 25, Wittl a steeri ng w ~leel 41 and v arious throttle controls, pump controls and other controls 42 located ` in ~ront o~ the driver's seat. A trailer tongue 44 proj~ects trom the power unit ~9 adjacent the driving .
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wheels 24 ana 25 rearwardly beneath the driver~s seat to the towed mower 22 ana is connected to the towe~
mower.
The cutter unit 3~ of the ~ront mower 21 has a hydraulic motor 4~ mounte~ to the decking of the cutter unit, an~ a drive sneave ~6 mounted on top o~
the motor 45 engages the driving belt 4~. The driving belt 4~ extenas tO driven sheaves 49, 50 and 51 and the sheaves are each connec~ed by means of a mandrel 1~ to a cutting blade beneath the decking or the cutter unit 3~. A spring biased idler sheave 52 maintains proper tension in the ariving belt 4~ he rotary cutters 53a, 53b ana 53c driven by the driving belt 48 are arranged in a triangular staggered relationship with respect tO each other so as to cut a single swath in the grass beneath the cutting deck 21, as indicated by the dash lines 54 ano 55.
'l'he ~ront self propelled mower 21 is steered by ~ its ~ront steerable wheels 26 and 27. Hydraulic cylinders 56 ana S7 impart steering motion to the wheels 26 and 27, ana the cylinders 56 and 5l are operated by a power s~eering pump 34, which is in turn controllea by the steering wheel 41 of the power unit 2~. E'uel tanks 5~ and 60 are mounted to the decking of the cutter unit 30 an~ supply fuel to the internal combustion engine 31.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the rear towed mower 22 comprises a support ~rame 61 having a central segment 62 and si~e segments 63 and 64 located on opposite si~es of the central seg~nent 62. 'l'he side segments 63 and 64 are covered by sneet metal decking, with the - decking ~orming part o~ the side segment support : frame. 'l~he side seg~nents 63 and 64 are tiltable with respect to the central segment by means of hinges 66,;
67 and ~8, 6~. Hydraulic cylinders 70 and 71 are each ' ; ., . -. :
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MO~ING q'RACTOR WITH 'TOWED MOWh'R
FIELD Q~ TH~ INVFNTION
The invention di~closed herein relates to a self propelled riding mowing tractor or mowing machine of the type adapted for cutting grass and other vegetation, and includes a towed mower which can be detachabl~ mounted to the front self propelled mowing tractor in trailer fashion,- and the towed mower can be attached to and work in combination with the ~ront mowing tractor for cutting over relatively flat, wide terrain, with the mowing tractor cutting a central swath in the grass and the towed mower cutting outer swaths in the grass that straddle the central swath.
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n~E5~ IoN l~'L'H~; P~IQ~ ~R'~
- Self propelled riding mowers are commonly used for the pur~ose o~ cutting grass and other ve~etation and the mowers have been constructed in several different design categories. Mowers are cornrnonly used for the ~urpose or cuttin~ grass ana other vegetation for agricultural anu ornamental purposès~ ~owers are constructed in di~erent categories such as walk behind, riding, ana remote controlled. Mowers are pushed, pulled, self propelled and self powered, or are powered and propelled by tractors or other accommodating units. The cuttees on mowers consist of one or more cutting devices, such as rotary blades, reel cutters, flail cutters and sickle bar cutters, which are grouped into cutter assemblies. Several cutter asselllblies may be used on one mowing machine.
For example, the prior art mower designs include the conventional high standing ~arm style tractor, garden tractor or mowing machine having cutter elements mounted beneath the belly of the tractor, ~ hehind the steerable rront wheels and in front o~ the rear power ed w heel s .
Another prior art mower assembly includes the conventional farln style tractor and a towed mower assen~bly ~ull ed behind the tractor, with the power take of~ system of the tractor functioning to power the cutter elements of the towed mower. In some instances, the towed mower includes a central, forwardly positioned rotary cu~ting blade and side blades positioned out to the side and slightly behind the forward blade, with a central gear box that is driven by the power take of~ of the tractor, and with driving sha~ts extending ~rom the central gear box to the side cutting blades. In some models the cutting blades are driven by hydraulic motors, with the ; 35 ~ ' , tractor having a pump ~hat operates the hydraulic motors. ~e individual si~e cutter assemblies on this style o~ mower ~sua~lly can ~e tilted to cut at dif~erent heights OL to reduce the width o~ the unit for better han~ling, particularly when ~he mower is in transit on a public road. When the side cutter blades are raised with respect to the cen~er cutter blade, the center cutter blade does not have shields that prevent objects ~rom being thrown to the side.
1~ qhere~ore the mower is unsafe to operate with side uctter blades raised.
Another type of prior art mower comprises a tractor or self propelled mower provided with cutter assemblies that are positioned out in front o~ ~he tractor, or under itS belly, and some include both ~ront and side mounted cutter assemblies to broaden the` swath cut by the assembly. '~hese side cutter attachments normally Iollow the contour of the ground but may be raised and lowered to cut over objects or to ~acilitate transit.
Another type prior art mower configuration used for slope mowing is the type generally illustrated in O.S. Patent 4,700,536 anà comprises a low profile slope mower which includes a power unit having rear driving wheels and a ~orwardly positione~ cutter unit which supports t~e cutter blades. 'l'he low pro~ile of this unit together wi~h the relatively high engine power an~ good maneuverability of the unit makes the unit stable when cutting on sloped surfaces, such as along the em~ankments o~ interstate highways, gol~
course embankments, ditch ban~s, ski slopes and other finish, re~ined or roughly vegetated sloped terrains.
However, none o~ the prior art mowers known to the inventor have successfully inclu~ed a ~ront self ` propelled riding mowing tractor with its own cutter :
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an~ a rear trailing towe~ rnower connecte~ to the ~ront tractor by ~ central pivoting nitch, ~rith side cutters that straddle an~ broa~en the swat~l cut in the grass ~y the ~ront mo~rer an~ which can be tilted u~rardly.
It is to this arrangement of mower elements that this invention is directed.
SUMMARY O~ THE I~V~N'I`ION
Brie~ly described, the present invention comprises a front cutting or belly cutting self propelled riding lnowing ~rac~or or mowing machine, with a rear towed mower, whereby the towed mower is pulled along in trailer ~as~ion behind the ~orwardly positioned self propelled mowing traclor. The front self propelled mowing tractor or mowing machine, re~erred ~o sometimes herein as the "~ront mower", includes its own cutting unit with an engine that is used to power its driving wneels as well as its front or belly mounted mower. A trailer connecting device is mounted between the ~ront mower and the towed mower so that the towed mower is connected to and follows the ~ront mower in trailer fashion.
'l~he towed mower has three frame segments. 'l~he ; cen~ral frame segment includes ground engaging support wheels, a portion of the connecting device to the ~5 ~ront mower an~ hinge means ~or the two side frame segn~ents. 'l'he side frame segments each i~cludes at least one cutter an~ a supporting wneel melnber. The cutters or the towed mower assembly prererably are powered by tne engine o~ the rront mower; however, the towed m-ower can be constructed with its own independent source of power to its cutters. q~he noncutting central frame segment o~ the towed mower is positione~ so as to ride over the swath previously cut by the cutter unit of the ~ront sel~ propelle~ mower, . ~
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whereas the side segments of the towed mower are ~ posicioned so that their cutters cut swaths that strad~l~ and illtersect the central swath, resultirlg in the formation of one wi~e uninterrupted cut.
lrhe prior art towed mowers of ~he type having a center cutter and hinged side cutters typically have the cutters arranged in a longitudinally staggered, overlapped relationship so as to avold leaving streaks of uncut grass. Because of this requirement these cutter assemblies are long in relation to their wiath. ~owever, the ~owed mower of this invention has its central frame segment constructed without a cutter. Therefore the cutters o~ the side frame segments of the towed mower do not have to be offset lonyitudinally with respect to a central cutter and the length of the towed mower of this invention is shortened by the absence o~ the usual central cut~er.
~oreover, the overall length of the combined sel~
propelled ~ront mower and towed mower is shortened.
~urther, the distance between the supporting wheels of the towed mower an~ the rear driving wheels of the rorwardly positioned self propellea mower is ~inimized by the ~hort configuration of the towed mower. 'l~his configuration results in the towed n~ower closely ~ollowing the swath cut by tbe ~orwardly positioned ?S cutter of the sel~ propelled mower when the sel~
propelled n~ower ano ~owed mower are driven through a turn, as well as when trailing over undulating turr.
When the two cu~ter units are raised vertically on the ~owed mower the width of the towed mower is less than ~ the width of the front mower ana the ~ront mower can be used to trim close to and arow~d objects since the non~unctioning towed mower will trail within the cut swath of the rront mower. This configuration provides the best trimming capability of the front mower as the .
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rear mower does not engage an obstacle outside the path of the front mower.
Optionally, the trailer connecting device that connects the towed mower in trailer fashion to the front mower can be made easily detachable, enabling the operator to quickly attach and detach the towed mower from the self propelled front mower, so that the operator can mow the broad, flat surfaces of an area with the combination of the self propelled front mower and the rear towed mower, and the operator can quickly detach the towed mower from the front mower and use the front mower separately to mow in confined areas, to perform slope mowing or to power or propel various attachments that can be mounted to the front mower.
Thus, the invention seeks to provide an improved self propelled front mower and towed mower combination, whereby the towed mower is towed behind the front mower in trailer fashion and the cutters of the towed mower straddle and broaden the cut swath formed by the cutters of the front mower.
Further, this invention seeks to provide a towed mower that is adaptable for being towed behind a front self propelled mower, whereby the towed mower has laterally displaced side cutting elements which are arranged to straddle the swath cut by the forwardly positioned cutter unit of the self propelled mower, and includes a central frame segment that does not have a cutting element and rides over the swath cut by the forwardly positioned self propelled mower and which allows the towed mower to be relatively short in length and highly maneuverable.
Still further, the invention seeks to provide a towed mower for attachement to a front mower which has a central frame segment and vertically hinged side frame segments which can be raised to nonoperating :
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vertical positions for transport and to facili-tate trimming with the front mower and to avoid collision between the rear mower and obstacles being trimmed around.
The invention in one broad aspect pertains to a self propelled front mower and a towed rear mower combination for cutting grass and other vegetation, the front mower comprising rear driving wheels engaging the ground surface for moving the front mower in a forward direction and front cutter means arranged for cutting a swath in the grass and like vegetation beneath the front mower. The rear mower includes a support frame extending laterally on opposite sides of the swath to be cut by the front mower and wheel means supports the suppor-t frame on the ground surface. Rear cut-ters are mounted to the support frame and are spaced from each other on opposite sides of the swath cut by the front mower a distance to cut swaths in the grass and the like beneath the rear mower that partially overlap the swath cut by the front mower. Connecting means connect the rear mower to the front mower in trailer fashion and there is power means for driving the driving wheels, the front cutter means and the rear cutters.
In one preferred aspect the rear mower pivots with respect to the front mower about a substantially upright axis, and the dimensions between the upright axis of the connecting pivot means and the rear driving wheels of the front mower, and between the upright axis of the connecting pivot means and the wheel means of the support frame of the rear mower, and the placement of the front cutter means and of the rear cutters of the support frame of the rear mower are selected to cause the rear cutters to straddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter means as the front mower and towed rear mower move throuqh a turn.
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Ano-ther aspect of the invention provides the support frame of the rear mower wi-th three laterally extending segments including a central segment and side segments positioned on opposite sides of the cen-tral segment, the side segments each movably connected to the central segment and with each segment including wheels for supporting the rear portions of the segments from the ground surface. The connecting means is mounted to the central segment and the rear cutters are carried by the side segments. The connecting means comprises an approximately U-shaped forward hitch member connected at the free ends of its arms to the front mower at the rear driving wheels, and a universal joint is connected between the forward hitch member and the central segment of the rear mower.
Another aspect of the invention provides a tilt connector mounted to a power unit on the front mower and to the front cutter and arranged to permit the front cutter to tilt with respect to the power unit about an axis extending in the forward direction of movement of the power unit. The towed mower comprises first and second side cutters with cutting blades positioned in overlapping straddling relationship with respect to the swath cut by the cutting blades of the front cutter when the mower and towed mower move ln a forward direction. A
hitch assembly extends forwardIy from the towed mower and is connected to the power unit, the hitch assembly including a universal joint that permits pivot~ing of said towed mower about upright, lateral and longitudinal axes with respect to the front mower.
Preferably the driving dimensions between the upright axis and the- driving wheels of said front mower and between the upright axis and the wheel means of the towed mower and the placement of the cutting blades of said front cutter and the cutting blades of said side : ~
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-8a-cutters are selected to cause the rear cutters -tostraddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter as the front and rear mower move through a turn.
Other aspects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective illustration of a mower assembly showing the front and right hand side of both the front self propelled mower and the rear towed mower.
Fig. 2 is a perspective illustration of the towed mower, showing the left hand side and rear of the towed mower.
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Fig~ 3 is a detail perspective of the trailer hitch connection between the front mower and towed Jnower.
~'ig. 4 is a plan view o~ a second embo~iment of the towed mQwer~ with the mower having three cutters in each side segment.
~ig. 5 is a plan view o~ another embodiment o~ the towed mower, wi~h the mower having a single cutter in each side segment.
~ig~ 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the towed mower with the mower having three cutters arranged in a staggere~ relationship in each si~e segment.
Eig. 7 is a plan view of another embodiment o~ the towed mower with the support wheels o~ the central segment being located beneath the central segment.
Figs. ~, 9, 10 and 11 are perspective illustrations of trailer hitch constructions which can be utilized to connect the towed mower to the front self propelled mower.
~ig. 12 is a plan view o~ the mower assembly o~
Fig. 1, and illustrating how the mower assembly performs wnen operating in a turn.
~ig. 13 is a schematic illustration o~ the mower ~5 assembly when in a turn, demonstrating how the proportions o~ the mower are calculated so as to ~rovide a swath cut in the grass by both the front s~lf propelled mower and the rear towed mower wi~hout having streaks o~ uncut grass appear in swaths of cut grass.
~r~ L~D DEs~LLE~IQ~
Rererring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate the like parts throughout ` the several views, ~ig. 1 illustrates the mower .` . ' ~ .
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assem~ly 2~ which includes a iron~ self propelled riding mowing tractor 21 and a rear tow~d mower 22.
~rhe ~ron~ selr propelled mowing tractor 21, referred to as the ~'front mower", is illustra~e~ as a slope S mower o~ the type that has rear powered driving wheels 24 and 25, front steerable wheels 26 and 27, with the rear powered wheels 24 ana 25 suppor~ing a power unit 29 an~ the ~ront steerable wneels supporting a cutter unit 3~.
he power unit 29 o~ the ~ront mower 21 includes an internal combustion engine 31 tha~ operates a plurality of pwnps 32, 33 and 34 wnich are mounted in series on the engine 31. Pump 32 is the wheel propulsion pump, pump 33 is the front deck drive pump, and pump 34 is the drive ror auxiliary functions such as power steering and lift cylinders. Other purnps (not shown~ are located behind and are driven by the engine which ~unction as the towed mower drive pumps.
A pivot connection 36 functions to connect the cutter uni~ 30 to the power unit 2~ so that the cutter unit 30 is pivotable about a longitudinal axis 3~.
~l~he pumps 32-34 project from the irlternal combustion engine 31 over the pivot connection. With this arrangement, the cutter unit 30 can tilt with respect to the power unit 2g during the-movement of the mower - assembly over uneven terrain, and the pumps 32, 33 and 34 renlain in a space above the cutter unit 30 without obstructing the tilting movements o~ the cutter unit with respect to the power unit.
'l'he power unit 29 includes a driverls seat 40 that is located rearwardly o~ the driving wheels 24 and 25, Wittl a steeri ng w ~leel 41 and v arious throttle controls, pump controls and other controls 42 located ` in ~ront o~ the driver's seat. A trailer tongue 44 proj~ects trom the power unit ~9 adjacent the driving .
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wheels 24 ana 25 rearwardly beneath the driver~s seat to the towed mower 22 ana is connected to the towe~
mower.
The cutter unit 3~ of the ~ront mower 21 has a hydraulic motor 4~ mounte~ to the decking of the cutter unit, an~ a drive sneave ~6 mounted on top o~
the motor 45 engages the driving belt 4~. The driving belt 4~ extenas tO driven sheaves 49, 50 and 51 and the sheaves are each connec~ed by means of a mandrel 1~ to a cutting blade beneath the decking or the cutter unit 3~. A spring biased idler sheave 52 maintains proper tension in the ariving belt 4~ he rotary cutters 53a, 53b ana 53c driven by the driving belt 48 are arranged in a triangular staggered relationship with respect tO each other so as to cut a single swath in the grass beneath the cutting deck 21, as indicated by the dash lines 54 ano 55.
'l'he ~ront self propelled mower 21 is steered by ~ its ~ront steerable wheels 26 and 27. Hydraulic cylinders 56 ana S7 impart steering motion to the wheels 26 and 27, ana the cylinders 56 and 5l are operated by a power s~eering pump 34, which is in turn controllea by the steering wheel 41 of the power unit 2~. E'uel tanks 5~ and 60 are mounted to the decking of the cutter unit 30 an~ supply fuel to the internal combustion engine 31.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the rear towed mower 22 comprises a support ~rame 61 having a central segment 62 and si~e segments 63 and 64 located on opposite si~es of the central seg~nent 62. 'l'he side segments 63 and 64 are covered by sneet metal decking, with the - decking ~orming part o~ the side segment support : frame. 'l~he side seg~nents 63 and 64 are tiltable with respect to the central segment by means of hinges 66,;
67 and ~8, 6~. Hydraulic cylinders 70 and 71 are each ' ; ., . -. :
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connected between a central ~rame element /2 on the central segn)ent 62 and ~o stanchions 73, 74 mounted to the side segments 63, 64. When the cylinders 70 an~
71 are retracted, the side segments 63 and 64 are tilted up to a vertical attitude suitable for highway travel, an~ when the cylinders 7~, 71 are extended the side segments 73 ana 74 are tilted back down to a horizontal attitude suitable ~or mowing.
Central support wheels 75 and 76 are positioned 1~ behina and slightly out to the side oX central segment ~2 of the rear towed mower 22 with the wheels being mounted to axle 78. 'l`he axle in turn is mounted to support arms 79 and 80, with the support arms being pivotably mounted at their forwara end portions to stanchions Bl an~ 82 of central segment 62. Hydraulic cylinders 83 and 84 extend between central frame element 72 in a downwardly sloped direction and each cylinder 83, 84 is connected at its lower end to suppor~ arm 7g or 80. When the cylinders 83 and 84 are extenaed, the rear portion of the support frame 61 is raised away ~rom the yround sur~ace by the downward tilting o~ the support arms ~9 and 8~. Likewise, when the cylinoers ~3 and 84 are retracted, the support arms 79 and 80 ten~ to assume a horizontal attitude, thereby lowering the rear portion of the support rrame 61. 'l`his permits the o~erator ko selectively elevate tl~e rear ~rtion of the support ~`rame o~ the central seglnent 62.
As illustrated in E`igs. 2 ana 3, the trailer tongue assembly 44 wnich connects the ~ront self pro~elled mower 21 to the rear towed mower 22 c~mprises an approximately U-shaped forward tongue n~ember 86 having side legs 87 ana 8~, a base leg 89 and converging legs 9~ ana gl. ~'he distal ends o~ the side legs 87 an~ 88 have laterally extending pins 93 .
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and 94 rigialy mounted thereto, an~ the pins ~3 and 94 -are pivot about axis ~7 an~ are releasibly received in so~kets ~5 connected to the ~rame o~ the front sel~
propelled mower 21 immediately adjacent the axis Ol' 5 rotation of the rear powered w~,eels 24 and 25. The conne~tion o~ the forward tongue member 86 to the ~rame o~ the front sel~ propelled mower imlnediately adjacent the driving wheels 24 and 25 causes the weight o~ the rear towed mower 22 that is applied to 1~ the front self ~ro~ell,ed mower 21 to be applied adjacent the wheels 24 and 25, thereby minimizing any tilting e~fect o~ the applied weight to the ~ront mower. When the towed mower is to be detached from the front mower the pins 93 ana 94 are withdrawn from the sockets 95.
~l~he trailer tongue assembly 44 ~urther includes a univer~l joint 9~ (~'ig. 3), which includes a double clevis connector 9'~ and a swivel assembly 99. Double clevis connector 9~ includes a hase plate 100 and ~orwardly extending vertical clevis leaves 101 ~nd 102 and rearwardly exten~ing norizontal clevis leaves 103 and 104. A socket 105 is mounted in a horiæontal attitude to the rear portion of forward tongue member U6, and pivot pin 106 extends through socket 105 and `~ 25 aligned openings of the ~orwardly extending vertical clevis leaves 101 and 102. This forms a hori~ontal pivot connection between the double clevis connector 9~ and ~orwar~ hitch men~ber 86 about the horizontally extending axis 10~. , Swivel assenlbly 99 includes a pair o~ spaced parallel support bars 110 and 111, with a vertical socket 112 mounted between the bars 110 and 111 at their forward en~ portions. 'l'he socket 112 is oriented vertically ~an~ is positioned between aligned openings o~ the rearwardly extending hori~ontal clevis ~ .
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I eaYes 1~3 an~ 104, an~ pivot pin 113 extends through - the socket 112 an~ ~he openings of the clevis leaves 103 and 10~, ~orming a vertical pivot axis 114.
'l~he rear ena portions of support bars 110 ana 111 of the universal joint 96 are rigidly connected together by Irleans of ~lates 116 and 117, and the plates 116 and 117 together with the support bars 110 and 111 surro~nd lateral ~rame element 11~, angle ~rame legs 11~ and 120 and base leg 121. Pivot pin 122 extends through lateral frame element 11~ and base ley 121, an~ through plates 116 and 117. ~`he support bars 110 an~ 111 are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the lateral frame element 11 and base leg 121, so that these elements can tilt with respect to each other around pivot pin 122. ~l~his construction permits the U-shaped rorward ton~ue member 86 to rotate about tbe longitudinal axis 123 with respect to the support frame 61, with the longitudinal axis 123 extending along the length o~
`~ tne pivot pin 122. ~hus, the universal joint 96 ; 20 allows the rear towed mower 22 to have freedoln of movement around the two axes '114 and 123 while the hitch pins 93 and 94 ana their sockets 95 permit lreedom o~ movement about axis 97 as tbe rear towed mower 22 is pulled by the ~ront self propelled mower 21 over uneven terrain.
he height o~ the ~orward portion o~ the support frame 61 is adjustable by means of hydraulic cylinder 124. q'he ena portions o~ cylin~er 124 are connected to the stanchions 125a an~ 125b, with the retraction or the cylinaer ro~ into the cylinder causing the stanchions 125a an~ 125b to move closer together and there~ore moYe the trailer tongue 44 down towara the groun~ ana thereby moving the ~'orward portion o~' the support ~rame 61 downwardly, wnereas when the cylinder ~;~ 3S ' ~ ' , ., .
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rod o~- cylinder 124 is extencled, the stanchions 125a - ana 125b are urgea apart so as to tend tO lift the trailer hitch away ~rom ~he ground and to raise the forward portion of support ~rame 61.
With this arrangement, when cylinders 83, 84 and 12q are extended, the support fraMe 61 of the rear towed mower will be lifted away ~rom the ground sur~ace~ Likewise~ when the cylinders 83, 84 and 124 are retracted, the support frame 61 will be lowered ~oward the grounci.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, side segments 63 and ~4 o~ the support frame 61 of rear towed mower 22 are supported by caster wheels 12~ and 127, with ~he caster whe~ls each having a support arm 12~ extending from the stem 12~ c)f each caster wheel laterally over to the decking of the side segment 63 or 64 of the rear towed mower 22. With this arrangement, the outer side portions of the side segments 63 and 64 o~ the support ~rarne 61 are supported by the caster wheels 126 and 127, so that the side segments can undulate or pivot with respect to the central segment 62 in bat-wing ~ashion.
~ach si~e segment 63 an~ 64 includes a hydraulic motor 130 that drives a sheave 131, with the sheave powering the ariving belt 132. 'l~he driving belt 132 extends about the cutter blade sheaves 134 and 135, with one or more spring urge~ idler sheaves 136 anci 137 applying tension to the driving belt 132. 'l~he cutter sheaves 134 ana 13S each are mounted to a mandrel that is connected to a cutting blade 13 ~â and 138b, respectively, beneath the decking of the side segments 63 and 64, so that the driving belt 132 rotates the cuttiny blades at high angular velocities :~ ~ so as to cause the cutting ~lades to cut the c~rass or .` ' .
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otner vegetation imme~iately beneath the side segments 63 and 69.
~he embo~iment o~ the towed cu~ter illustrated in ~igs. 1-3 includes two rstary cutting blades 13~a and 13~b positioned in each side segmen~ 63 and 64 of the support fraMe 61 of the rear towe~ mower 22, with the cutting blades sloped rearwar~ly on opposite sides of the mower asserllbly so that they slightly overlap with respect to each other as the mower assembly moves in a 1~ forward direction as indicated by direction arrow 140~ q~he overlar~ping cutting blades therelore cut a continuous swath in the grass as indicated by dash lines 141 and 142, an~ 143, 144, respectivelyO The swath lines 142 ana 143 are positioned so as to overlap the swath cut by the ~ront mower 21, as inaicated by swath lines 54 and 55.
As illustrated in ~ig. 1, the forward edge portions or skirts 146 o~ the decking o~ the cutter unit 30 of the ~ront mower 21 curve about the paths of the outer en~ portions o~ the cutting blades 53a and 53b. 'l~he ~ront skirts 148 o~ the side segments 63 and 64 o~ the rear towed mower 22 are slope~ rearwardly and outwardly. '~his slanted arrangement provides a ~ender e~ect ~or the towed snower, in that if the ~ender 14~ o~ either side segment 63 or 64 should engage an ob~truction the ~ender tends to either push the obstruction out o~ the path o~ the towed mower, or i~ the obstruction is immovable, the fender engages the obstruction and urges the towed mower laterally and gui~es the towed mower around the obstruction.
~'he towed mower ten~s to skew laterally abou~ its trailer tongue vertical axis 114 when encountering the immovable object, and the relatively light weight o~
the towed mower, together with the caster wlleels 126 ~`~ and 127, tend to permit this ~kewing movement. qhe ~ .
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wheels 15 an~ 76 ~end to skid laterally during this movement .
~umpers 149 are mountea to the decking to provide additional protection for ~he ~ront skirts 148 when 5the side segments are raised to upright ~ositions.
Likewise, bumpers 77 ex~end ~rom the support arms 7~
in ~ront of wheels 7~ to protect the wheels from obstructions. In the pre~erred embodirnent, the outside width o~ tne towed mower with the vertically 1~hinged side frame segments pivoted up to vertical nonoperating positions is less than the outside width of the front mower so tha~ the towed mower will avoid collision with objects trimmed around with the rront InOW er~
15~ig. 4 illustrates another embodiment o~ the towed mower 150, in which three rotary cut~ing blades, 151, 152 and 153 are mounted in each side segment 155, 156. The blades 151-153 in each.siae segment are angled rearwardly in bat-wing ~ashion so that the 20blades slightly overlap one another in the forward direction of movement to avoid streaks of uncut grass ~eing le~t in the`swath of cut grass.
: Fig~ 5 illustrates another embodiment 160 of the towed mower, whereby a single cutting blade 161 is : mounted in each side segment 162, 163 o~ the towe~
mow erO
Fig. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the towed mower w~ereb~ the towed mower 170 has three cutting blades 171, 172 and 1-13 arranged in triangular relationship in each side segment 175, 176.
30~ig. 7 .discloses another emboaiment o~ the towed mower 1~0 which includes side segments 1~1 and 1~2 constructed in a manner similar to that illustrated in : Figs. 1-3, but a central segsnent 1~3 that has its - central support wheels 1~5 and 1~6 located ~eneath ~he !
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central se~lnent or the support rrame. ~l`he location of the wheels 1~5 an~ lh6 in ~his manner tends to cause more o~ the weight of the towed Inower to be supported on its w,heels rather than on i~s trailer hitchq While the prior art towed mowers require the operator to loo~ ~ack to view the operation of the towed mowers when trimming about obstacles, this invention utilizes the ~ront mower for trimming. One or bott~ o~ the two side segrnents 63 and 64 are raise~
1~ to their vertical nonfunctionillg positions w~ere they are located inside the swath c~t by the front cutter and are out of the way or ~he obstacle being ~rimmea around. q`his allows the operator to cut with the ~ront mower adjacent an obstacle without having to worry about a rear mower empacting the obstacle and permits the operator to observe the trimming operation while still looking in the direction or movement of the mower.
As illustrated in Fig. ~/ the trailer hitch 1~0 can be su~stituted for the trailer hitch o~ Fig. 3 i~
the ~orward hitcn member 1~1 is rigidly, not pivotally, attached to the ~ront mower. 'rhe ball 1~2 is mounted to the rorward hitch member lgl, and the socket 1~3 is mounted to the support frame 194 o~ the towed mower. ~`he socket 193 simply receives and rests on the ball 1~2 in the conventional trailer hitch manner .
As illustrated in ~ig. ~, another trailer hitch connection can be ~ormed between the ~ront mower and the towed mower, by mounting a caster wheel 1~ to the rorward portion o~ the support frame 1~9 of the towed mower so that the ~ront portion o~ the towed mower is `~ supported by the caster wheel 1~ ana the towed mower remains in a fixed attitude and is sel~-supporting.
'~'he U-shaped rorward hitch member 200 has the distal .
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en~s of i~s arms pivotally connected in clevises 201 - and 2~2, an~ a soc~et 203 is mounted to the rorward hitch melnber 200 so as to receive and rest upon the ball 204 o~ the towed cutter.
~ig. 10 illustrates another trailer hitch constructi~n which includes a caster w~leel 2~6 that supports the ~orward portion o the towed snower, a rigi~ ~`orward hitch member 207 is mounted to the rear of the tront mower an~ supports the ball 2~, and the rear hitch member 20~ is pivotally connected in 1~ clevises 210 and 211 to the central segment 212 o~ the towed mower. q~he socket 214 is rnounte,d to rear hitch member 20~ an~ receives ball 20~.
Fig. 11 illustrates another trailer hitch construction which includes a caster wheel 22U mounted ~o tongue 221 that supports the rorward portion of the towed mower, a U-sha~ed rorward hitch member 222 pivotally connected in clevises 223 and 224 about horizontal axis 225 to the ~ront mower (not shown) ana universal joint 226 extending between the Lront mower and the towed mower. 'l`he universal joint includes first connector 22~ w~-ich extends through ~-shaped hitch member 222 and is connectéd thereto by a washer 22~ and bolt 230 so that the rirst connector is pivotable about longitudinal axis 131. '~he rear end ~5 portion of first connector 228 comprises a clevis 232. The ~orward end portion o~ tongue 221 also comprises a clevis 234, and intermediate link 235 is connected at its en~s to the clevises. 'l~he clevises , and their pivot pins 236 and 237 are oriented at 90~
;` 30 angles with respect to each other and link 235 is pivotable about vertical axis 240 an~ hori~ontal axis ~, 241.
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-2~-E`ig. 12 is a schelrl~tic plan view o~ ~he mower and _ shows how ti~e Inower assembly 20 ~er~or~ns w~len moving through a rigilt nan~J turn. lhe rotary cutters of the cutter unit 30 OL the front rnower 21 cut a swath as inciicated ~y ti~e right anc~ left swath cuts 5~ ana 55.
In the meantime the ~owed cucter 22 cuts swatlls that straddle ana slightly overlap the swath ~4, 55 as in`t~icated by the swath cut lines 141 142 and 143, 144. rl~e ~istance (~ll) OL the vertical axis 114 of the trailer tongut- 44 to the rear driving wi~eels 24 1~ ana 25 o~ the L`ront mower as colnpared to the distance tH2) ~rom the vertical axis 114 of the trailel tongue to the central su~)port wheels 75, 76 is constructed so that the towed n~ower always cuts its swath in straddling, overlapped relationship with the lS swatil cut by the ~ront mower even when tne mower assembly ~noves througll a sharp curn in wllich the front ower is angle~ up to 6~ Wit~l respect to the towed mower. lhese distances are indicated on E`ig. 13 by ~he àesicJnations Hl and fl2.
The following formulas show the dimensional relationship between the front mower and towed mower necessary to eliminate streaking in which:
H1 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of rear driving wheels 25/26 of front mower 21 _S
H2 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of central support wheels 75/76 of rear towed cutter 22 WB = Wheelbase = Hl + H2 3~ AA = Artlculation Angle H2 = WB - H1 Hl = H cos AA + WB - ~ _ R~ ~ cos AA
1 ~ (tan (9oo-AA3) 7 , ~
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l ~l C05 AA + ~B -[R~ + l12 tan AA] Lcos AA ~ cos (90~ - AA)~
W~ere K~ an~ R~t are such that R3 - Rl = R2 - R4 where Rl is the radius from the turning center of the mower to the inside edge 55 of the swath of the cutter unit 30, R~ ls the radius from the center to the outside edge 54 of that swath, R3 is the radius from the center to the swath cut line 142, R4 is the radius from the center to the swath cut line 143, r~ = (Hl COs AA 1- f~) tarl (gO~ -- AA) (co~ AA) R~ _ H1 cos AA -~ H2 H2 tan AA
cos AA . cos (90 - AA) H2 = WB - Hl R~ l cos AA + ~ ) tan (90~ - AA) (cos AA
R ~ = ~. co s AA ~ WB - H
tan (9D - ~A) (cos AA ) ~ r~,~ ]____ . co s AA = H cos AA + WB - H
Hl = Hl cos AA WB - ; [t~ S ~ M) ~s AA
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R~ cos AA -~ Il2 ~ ~3 tan cos AA . cos ( ~o t~ _ AA) 2 132 = w~ where W~3 = wheelbase ~ cos AA + w~ - H - ~I tan AA
cos AA . cos (90 - AA) 2 R~ + H2 tan A~ = 111 cos AA + wB - f;l cos AA , cos (90 - A~) ~R~ ~ H2 tan AA] [cos AA . cos (90 - AA)]
= Hl cos AA ~ WB ~1 ~0 ~1 + lR ~ + ~12 tan A~ lcos AA , cos (90~ - AA)]
= Hl cos AA + ~
1 ~1 cos AA + W~ -LR ~ -~ 112 tan ~A] [cos AA . cos ~90~ - AA)]
rhe rormula describes in nlathematic terms the relationship ot` the dimensions o~ the ~ront and rear mower that must be maintained to accomplish tracking where the rear swaths will coincide with the front swath.~ qhe actual relatiorlsllip ~etween these comyonents can be deviated LrOIll so long as the ~0 ~iesi~ned overlap in cutting swaths are adequate to compensate Lor tllese deviations. l~le cutting swaths o~ the rear cutters must always overlap the cutting swath o~ the lront cutter so as to coJnpensate ~or errors in the rear mower tracking behind the ~ront ~5 Inower. l?or example, when ~he mower assernbly is o~erating on a sloped sur~ace~the towed n~ower tenas to skid sideways down the slol)e~ sur~ace. ~lso when the ~ower asselnbly is driven at a ~`as~ ~ace through a turn the rear mower is urgea by centri~`u~al ~orce outwardly o~ the turn. Also there Inay ~e intentional and - unintentional manu~acturing deviations rronl the formula wl-ich cause the towed mower to incorrectly track behind t~le ~ront rnower.
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Ihe inven~ion has been cii~closed with l:he internal combustion en~3ine :~1 ancl ~>WIlp~ 32, 33 and 34 serving as power means tor operatirl~3 ~ e hydraulic motor 45, ~;ower steerir,~ cylin~ers, hydraulic cylinclers 7U, 71, ~3, ~4 ancl 124. Aciditional pumps can l)e mounteci to the cluster of pumps 3~-34, ir desired so as to provide more sources oi~ power, as may be desired~ q'he hydraulic con(luits wnich extenci trom the pumps to the motors and cylinders have not been snown to simplif~y the drawinys. However, it will be understoo~ by those skillecl in ~he art that other power units can be utilized, if desirecl. ~or example, a separate internal combustion engine can be mounted to the towe~
mower unit an~ can provide the power Lor the cutters o~ the siae segments. ~urther, when the towed mower is used behind the type o~ power unit that includes a nlecnanical power take-of~ system, a conventional cJear~ox an<~ shalts extenclirlg rrorn the gearbox out to the cutting blades or each side frame segment can ~e useà.
E!urther, the rront mower can comprise the ty~?e o~
mower that includes a support ~rame with one or more cutters suspen~ecl rrom the ~ramc.
'l'he cutters illustrated ancl described herein ~5 comprise rotary cutting blades; nowever, other type cutters can be used, i~ desired, sucn as reel, sickle an~i ~lail cutters.
It should be un~lerstoocl that the embocliments ot the invention disclosed hef ein illustrate principles 3~) o~ the invention in a pre~erred form. Other modi~ications, additions anci deletions may be made thereto without cleparture ~rorn the spirit and scope ot tne invention as set ~orth in the ~ollowiny claims.
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connected between a central ~rame element /2 on the central segn)ent 62 and ~o stanchions 73, 74 mounted to the side segments 63, 64. When the cylinders 70 an~
71 are retracted, the side segments 63 and 64 are tilted up to a vertical attitude suitable for highway travel, an~ when the cylinders 7~, 71 are extended the side segments 73 ana 74 are tilted back down to a horizontal attitude suitable ~or mowing.
Central support wheels 75 and 76 are positioned 1~ behina and slightly out to the side oX central segment ~2 of the rear towed mower 22 with the wheels being mounted to axle 78. 'l`he axle in turn is mounted to support arms 79 and 80, with the support arms being pivotably mounted at their forwara end portions to stanchions Bl an~ 82 of central segment 62. Hydraulic cylinders 83 and 84 extend between central frame element 72 in a downwardly sloped direction and each cylinder 83, 84 is connected at its lower end to suppor~ arm 7g or 80. When the cylinders 83 and 84 are extenaed, the rear portion of the support frame 61 is raised away ~rom the yround sur~ace by the downward tilting o~ the support arms ~9 and 8~. Likewise, when the cylinoers ~3 and 84 are retracted, the support arms 79 and 80 ten~ to assume a horizontal attitude, thereby lowering the rear portion of the support rrame 61. 'l`his permits the o~erator ko selectively elevate tl~e rear ~rtion of the support ~`rame o~ the central seglnent 62.
As illustrated in E`igs. 2 ana 3, the trailer tongue assembly 44 wnich connects the ~ront self pro~elled mower 21 to the rear towed mower 22 c~mprises an approximately U-shaped forward tongue n~ember 86 having side legs 87 ana 8~, a base leg 89 and converging legs 9~ ana gl. ~'he distal ends o~ the side legs 87 an~ 88 have laterally extending pins 93 .
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and 94 rigialy mounted thereto, an~ the pins ~3 and 94 -are pivot about axis ~7 an~ are releasibly received in so~kets ~5 connected to the ~rame o~ the front sel~
propelled mower 21 immediately adjacent the axis Ol' 5 rotation of the rear powered w~,eels 24 and 25. The conne~tion o~ the forward tongue member 86 to the ~rame o~ the front sel~ propelled mower imlnediately adjacent the driving wheels 24 and 25 causes the weight o~ the rear towed mower 22 that is applied to 1~ the front self ~ro~ell,ed mower 21 to be applied adjacent the wheels 24 and 25, thereby minimizing any tilting e~fect o~ the applied weight to the ~ront mower. When the towed mower is to be detached from the front mower the pins 93 ana 94 are withdrawn from the sockets 95.
~l~he trailer tongue assembly 44 ~urther includes a univer~l joint 9~ (~'ig. 3), which includes a double clevis connector 9'~ and a swivel assembly 99. Double clevis connector 9~ includes a hase plate 100 and ~orwardly extending vertical clevis leaves 101 ~nd 102 and rearwardly exten~ing norizontal clevis leaves 103 and 104. A socket 105 is mounted in a horiæontal attitude to the rear portion of forward tongue member U6, and pivot pin 106 extends through socket 105 and `~ 25 aligned openings of the ~orwardly extending vertical clevis leaves 101 and 102. This forms a hori~ontal pivot connection between the double clevis connector 9~ and ~orwar~ hitch men~ber 86 about the horizontally extending axis 10~. , Swivel assenlbly 99 includes a pair o~ spaced parallel support bars 110 and 111, with a vertical socket 112 mounted between the bars 110 and 111 at their forward en~ portions. 'l'he socket 112 is oriented vertically ~an~ is positioned between aligned openings o~ the rearwardly extending hori~ontal clevis ~ .
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I eaYes 1~3 an~ 104, an~ pivot pin 113 extends through - the socket 112 an~ ~he openings of the clevis leaves 103 and 10~, ~orming a vertical pivot axis 114.
'l~he rear ena portions of support bars 110 ana 111 of the universal joint 96 are rigidly connected together by Irleans of ~lates 116 and 117, and the plates 116 and 117 together with the support bars 110 and 111 surro~nd lateral ~rame element 11~, angle ~rame legs 11~ and 120 and base leg 121. Pivot pin 122 extends through lateral frame element 11~ and base ley 121, an~ through plates 116 and 117. ~`he support bars 110 an~ 111 are spaced apart a distance greater than the thickness of the lateral frame element 11 and base leg 121, so that these elements can tilt with respect to each other around pivot pin 122. ~l~his construction permits the U-shaped rorward ton~ue member 86 to rotate about tbe longitudinal axis 123 with respect to the support frame 61, with the longitudinal axis 123 extending along the length o~
`~ tne pivot pin 122. ~hus, the universal joint 96 ; 20 allows the rear towed mower 22 to have freedoln of movement around the two axes '114 and 123 while the hitch pins 93 and 94 ana their sockets 95 permit lreedom o~ movement about axis 97 as tbe rear towed mower 22 is pulled by the ~ront self propelled mower 21 over uneven terrain.
he height o~ the ~orward portion o~ the support frame 61 is adjustable by means of hydraulic cylinder 124. q'he ena portions o~ cylin~er 124 are connected to the stanchions 125a an~ 125b, with the retraction or the cylinaer ro~ into the cylinder causing the stanchions 125a an~ 125b to move closer together and there~ore moYe the trailer tongue 44 down towara the groun~ ana thereby moving the ~'orward portion o~' the support ~rame 61 downwardly, wnereas when the cylinder ~;~ 3S ' ~ ' , ., .
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rod o~- cylinder 124 is extencled, the stanchions 125a - ana 125b are urgea apart so as to tend tO lift the trailer hitch away ~rom ~he ground and to raise the forward portion of support ~rame 61.
With this arrangement, when cylinders 83, 84 and 12q are extended, the support fraMe 61 of the rear towed mower will be lifted away ~rom the ground sur~ace~ Likewise~ when the cylinders 83, 84 and 124 are retracted, the support frame 61 will be lowered ~oward the grounci.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, side segments 63 and ~4 o~ the support frame 61 of rear towed mower 22 are supported by caster wheels 12~ and 127, with ~he caster whe~ls each having a support arm 12~ extending from the stem 12~ c)f each caster wheel laterally over to the decking of the side segment 63 or 64 of the rear towed mower 22. With this arrangement, the outer side portions of the side segments 63 and 64 o~ the support ~rarne 61 are supported by the caster wheels 126 and 127, so that the side segments can undulate or pivot with respect to the central segment 62 in bat-wing ~ashion.
~ach si~e segment 63 an~ 64 includes a hydraulic motor 130 that drives a sheave 131, with the sheave powering the ariving belt 132. 'l~he driving belt 132 extends about the cutter blade sheaves 134 and 135, with one or more spring urge~ idler sheaves 136 anci 137 applying tension to the driving belt 132. 'l~he cutter sheaves 134 ana 13S each are mounted to a mandrel that is connected to a cutting blade 13 ~â and 138b, respectively, beneath the decking of the side segments 63 and 64, so that the driving belt 132 rotates the cuttiny blades at high angular velocities :~ ~ so as to cause the cutting ~lades to cut the c~rass or .` ' .
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otner vegetation imme~iately beneath the side segments 63 and 69.
~he embo~iment o~ the towed cu~ter illustrated in ~igs. 1-3 includes two rstary cutting blades 13~a and 13~b positioned in each side segmen~ 63 and 64 of the support fraMe 61 of the rear towe~ mower 22, with the cutting blades sloped rearwar~ly on opposite sides of the mower asserllbly so that they slightly overlap with respect to each other as the mower assembly moves in a 1~ forward direction as indicated by direction arrow 140~ q~he overlar~ping cutting blades therelore cut a continuous swath in the grass as indicated by dash lines 141 and 142, an~ 143, 144, respectivelyO The swath lines 142 ana 143 are positioned so as to overlap the swath cut by the ~ront mower 21, as inaicated by swath lines 54 and 55.
As illustrated in ~ig. 1, the forward edge portions or skirts 146 o~ the decking o~ the cutter unit 30 of the ~ront mower 21 curve about the paths of the outer en~ portions o~ the cutting blades 53a and 53b. 'l~he ~ront skirts 148 o~ the side segments 63 and 64 o~ the rear towed mower 22 are slope~ rearwardly and outwardly. '~his slanted arrangement provides a ~ender e~ect ~or the towed snower, in that if the ~ender 14~ o~ either side segment 63 or 64 should engage an ob~truction the ~ender tends to either push the obstruction out o~ the path o~ the towed mower, or i~ the obstruction is immovable, the fender engages the obstruction and urges the towed mower laterally and gui~es the towed mower around the obstruction.
~'he towed mower ten~s to skew laterally abou~ its trailer tongue vertical axis 114 when encountering the immovable object, and the relatively light weight o~
the towed mower, together with the caster wlleels 126 ~`~ and 127, tend to permit this ~kewing movement. qhe ~ .
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wheels 15 an~ 76 ~end to skid laterally during this movement .
~umpers 149 are mountea to the decking to provide additional protection for ~he ~ront skirts 148 when 5the side segments are raised to upright ~ositions.
Likewise, bumpers 77 ex~end ~rom the support arms 7~
in ~ront of wheels 7~ to protect the wheels from obstructions. In the pre~erred embodirnent, the outside width o~ tne towed mower with the vertically 1~hinged side frame segments pivoted up to vertical nonoperating positions is less than the outside width of the front mower so tha~ the towed mower will avoid collision with objects trimmed around with the rront InOW er~
15~ig. 4 illustrates another embodiment o~ the towed mower 150, in which three rotary cut~ing blades, 151, 152 and 153 are mounted in each side segment 155, 156. The blades 151-153 in each.siae segment are angled rearwardly in bat-wing ~ashion so that the 20blades slightly overlap one another in the forward direction of movement to avoid streaks of uncut grass ~eing le~t in the`swath of cut grass.
: Fig~ 5 illustrates another embodiment 160 of the towed mower, whereby a single cutting blade 161 is : mounted in each side segment 162, 163 o~ the towe~
mow erO
Fig. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of the towed mower w~ereb~ the towed mower 170 has three cutting blades 171, 172 and 1-13 arranged in triangular relationship in each side segment 175, 176.
30~ig. 7 .discloses another emboaiment o~ the towed mower 1~0 which includes side segments 1~1 and 1~2 constructed in a manner similar to that illustrated in : Figs. 1-3, but a central segsnent 1~3 that has its - central support wheels 1~5 and 1~6 located ~eneath ~he !
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central se~lnent or the support rrame. ~l`he location of the wheels 1~5 an~ lh6 in ~his manner tends to cause more o~ the weight of the towed Inower to be supported on its w,heels rather than on i~s trailer hitchq While the prior art towed mowers require the operator to loo~ ~ack to view the operation of the towed mowers when trimming about obstacles, this invention utilizes the ~ront mower for trimming. One or bott~ o~ the two side segrnents 63 and 64 are raise~
1~ to their vertical nonfunctionillg positions w~ere they are located inside the swath c~t by the front cutter and are out of the way or ~he obstacle being ~rimmea around. q`his allows the operator to cut with the ~ront mower adjacent an obstacle without having to worry about a rear mower empacting the obstacle and permits the operator to observe the trimming operation while still looking in the direction or movement of the mower.
As illustrated in Fig. ~/ the trailer hitch 1~0 can be su~stituted for the trailer hitch o~ Fig. 3 i~
the ~orward hitcn member 1~1 is rigidly, not pivotally, attached to the ~ront mower. 'rhe ball 1~2 is mounted to the rorward hitch member lgl, and the socket 1~3 is mounted to the support frame 194 o~ the towed mower. ~`he socket 193 simply receives and rests on the ball 1~2 in the conventional trailer hitch manner .
As illustrated in ~ig. ~, another trailer hitch connection can be ~ormed between the ~ront mower and the towed mower, by mounting a caster wheel 1~ to the rorward portion o~ the support frame 1~9 of the towed mower so that the ~ront portion o~ the towed mower is `~ supported by the caster wheel 1~ ana the towed mower remains in a fixed attitude and is sel~-supporting.
'~'he U-shaped rorward hitch member 200 has the distal .
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en~s of i~s arms pivotally connected in clevises 201 - and 2~2, an~ a soc~et 203 is mounted to the rorward hitch melnber 200 so as to receive and rest upon the ball 204 o~ the towed cutter.
~ig. 10 illustrates another trailer hitch constructi~n which includes a caster w~leel 2~6 that supports the ~orward portion o the towed snower, a rigi~ ~`orward hitch member 207 is mounted to the rear of the tront mower an~ supports the ball 2~, and the rear hitch member 20~ is pivotally connected in 1~ clevises 210 and 211 to the central segment 212 o~ the towed mower. q~he socket 214 is rnounte,d to rear hitch member 20~ an~ receives ball 20~.
Fig. 11 illustrates another trailer hitch construction which includes a caster wheel 22U mounted ~o tongue 221 that supports the rorward portion of the towed mower, a U-sha~ed rorward hitch member 222 pivotally connected in clevises 223 and 224 about horizontal axis 225 to the ~ront mower (not shown) ana universal joint 226 extending between the Lront mower and the towed mower. 'l`he universal joint includes first connector 22~ w~-ich extends through ~-shaped hitch member 222 and is connectéd thereto by a washer 22~ and bolt 230 so that the rirst connector is pivotable about longitudinal axis 131. '~he rear end ~5 portion of first connector 228 comprises a clevis 232. The ~orward end portion o~ tongue 221 also comprises a clevis 234, and intermediate link 235 is connected at its en~s to the clevises. 'l~he clevises , and their pivot pins 236 and 237 are oriented at 90~
;` 30 angles with respect to each other and link 235 is pivotable about vertical axis 240 an~ hori~ontal axis ~, 241.
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-2~-E`ig. 12 is a schelrl~tic plan view o~ ~he mower and _ shows how ti~e Inower assembly 20 ~er~or~ns w~len moving through a rigilt nan~J turn. lhe rotary cutters of the cutter unit 30 OL the front rnower 21 cut a swath as inciicated ~y ti~e right anc~ left swath cuts 5~ ana 55.
In the meantime the ~owed cucter 22 cuts swatlls that straddle ana slightly overlap the swath ~4, 55 as in`t~icated by the swath cut lines 141 142 and 143, 144. rl~e ~istance (~ll) OL the vertical axis 114 of the trailer tongut- 44 to the rear driving wi~eels 24 1~ ana 25 o~ the L`ront mower as colnpared to the distance tH2) ~rom the vertical axis 114 of the trailel tongue to the central su~)port wheels 75, 76 is constructed so that the towed n~ower always cuts its swath in straddling, overlapped relationship with the lS swatil cut by the ~ront mower even when tne mower assembly ~noves througll a sharp curn in wllich the front ower is angle~ up to 6~ Wit~l respect to the towed mower. lhese distances are indicated on E`ig. 13 by ~he àesicJnations Hl and fl2.
The following formulas show the dimensional relationship between the front mower and towed mower necessary to eliminate streaking in which:
H1 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of rear driving wheels 25/26 of front mower 21 _S
H2 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of central support wheels 75/76 of rear towed cutter 22 WB = Wheelbase = Hl + H2 3~ AA = Artlculation Angle H2 = WB - H1 Hl = H cos AA + WB - ~ _ R~ ~ cos AA
1 ~ (tan (9oo-AA3) 7 , ~
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l ~l C05 AA + ~B -[R~ + l12 tan AA] Lcos AA ~ cos (90~ - AA)~
W~ere K~ an~ R~t are such that R3 - Rl = R2 - R4 where Rl is the radius from the turning center of the mower to the inside edge 55 of the swath of the cutter unit 30, R~ ls the radius from the center to the outside edge 54 of that swath, R3 is the radius from the center to the swath cut line 142, R4 is the radius from the center to the swath cut line 143, r~ = (Hl COs AA 1- f~) tarl (gO~ -- AA) (co~ AA) R~ _ H1 cos AA -~ H2 H2 tan AA
cos AA . cos (90 - AA) H2 = WB - Hl R~ l cos AA + ~ ) tan (90~ - AA) (cos AA
R ~ = ~. co s AA ~ WB - H
tan (9D - ~A) (cos AA ) ~ r~,~ ]____ . co s AA = H cos AA + WB - H
Hl = Hl cos AA WB - ; [t~ S ~ M) ~s AA
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R~ cos AA -~ Il2 ~ ~3 tan cos AA . cos ( ~o t~ _ AA) 2 132 = w~ where W~3 = wheelbase ~ cos AA + w~ - H - ~I tan AA
cos AA . cos (90 - AA) 2 R~ + H2 tan A~ = 111 cos AA + wB - f;l cos AA , cos (90 - A~) ~R~ ~ H2 tan AA] [cos AA . cos (90 - AA)]
= Hl cos AA ~ WB ~1 ~0 ~1 + lR ~ + ~12 tan A~ lcos AA , cos (90~ - AA)]
= Hl cos AA + ~
1 ~1 cos AA + W~ -LR ~ -~ 112 tan ~A] [cos AA . cos ~90~ - AA)]
rhe rormula describes in nlathematic terms the relationship ot` the dimensions o~ the ~ront and rear mower that must be maintained to accomplish tracking where the rear swaths will coincide with the front swath.~ qhe actual relatiorlsllip ~etween these comyonents can be deviated LrOIll so long as the ~0 ~iesi~ned overlap in cutting swaths are adequate to compensate Lor tllese deviations. l~le cutting swaths o~ the rear cutters must always overlap the cutting swath o~ the lront cutter so as to coJnpensate ~or errors in the rear mower tracking behind the ~ront ~5 Inower. l?or example, when ~he mower assernbly is o~erating on a sloped sur~ace~the towed n~ower tenas to skid sideways down the slol)e~ sur~ace. ~lso when the ~ower asselnbly is driven at a ~`as~ ~ace through a turn the rear mower is urgea by centri~`u~al ~orce outwardly o~ the turn. Also there Inay ~e intentional and - unintentional manu~acturing deviations rronl the formula wl-ich cause the towed mower to incorrectly track behind t~le ~ront rnower.
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Ihe inven~ion has been cii~closed with l:he internal combustion en~3ine :~1 ancl ~>WIlp~ 32, 33 and 34 serving as power means tor operatirl~3 ~ e hydraulic motor 45, ~;ower steerir,~ cylin~ers, hydraulic cylinclers 7U, 71, ~3, ~4 ancl 124. Aciditional pumps can l)e mounteci to the cluster of pumps 3~-34, ir desired so as to provide more sources oi~ power, as may be desired~ q'he hydraulic con(luits wnich extenci trom the pumps to the motors and cylinders have not been snown to simplif~y the drawinys. However, it will be understoo~ by those skillecl in ~he art that other power units can be utilized, if desirecl. ~or example, a separate internal combustion engine can be mounted to the towe~
mower unit an~ can provide the power Lor the cutters o~ the siae segments. ~urther, when the towed mower is used behind the type o~ power unit that includes a nlecnanical power take-of~ system, a conventional cJear~ox an<~ shalts extenclirlg rrorn the gearbox out to the cutting blades or each side frame segment can ~e useà.
E!urther, the rront mower can comprise the ty~?e o~
mower that includes a support ~rame with one or more cutters suspen~ecl rrom the ~ramc.
'l'he cutters illustrated ancl described herein ~5 comprise rotary cutting blades; nowever, other type cutters can be used, i~ desired, sucn as reel, sickle an~i ~lail cutters.
It should be un~lerstoocl that the embocliments ot the invention disclosed hef ein illustrate principles 3~) o~ the invention in a pre~erred form. Other modi~ications, additions anci deletions may be made thereto without cleparture ~rorn the spirit and scope ot tne invention as set ~orth in the ~ollowiny claims.
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Claims (24)
1. In combination a self propelled front mower and a towed rear mower for cutting grass and other vegetation, said front mower comprising rear driving wheels engaging the ground surface for moving the front mower in a forward direction and front cutter means arranged for cutting a swath in the grass and like vegetation beneath the front mower, said rear mower including a support frame extending laterally on opposite sides of the swath to be cut by said front mower, wheel means supporting said support frame on the ground surface, rear cutters mounted to said support frame and spaced from each other on opposite sides of the swath cut by said front mower a distance to cut swaths in the grass and the like beneath the rear mower that partially overlap the swath cut by said front mower, connecting means for connecting said rear mower to said front mower in trailer fashion for allowing said rear mower to pivot with respect to said front mower about a substantially upright axis, the dimensions between the upright axis of said connecting means and the rear driving wheels of said front mower, and between the upright axis of said connecting means and the wheel means of the support frame of said rear mower, and the placement of the front cutter means and of the rear cutters of the support frame of said rear mower are selected to cause the rear cutters to straddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter means as the front mower and towed rear mower move through a turn, and power means for driving said driving wheels, said front cutter means and said rear cutters.
2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said power means comprises an internal combustion engine mounted to said front mower in a position in front of said driving wheels, and wherein said front cutter means comprises at least one rotary cutter positioned in front of said internal combustion engine.
3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein said front mower comprises a power unit with said internal combustion engine and said driving wheels mounted on said power unit and a cutter deck positioned in front of said power unit and said rotary cutter mounted on said cutter deck, and pivot connecting means connecting together said power unit and said cutter deck about an axis extending longitudinally with respect to the forward direction of movement of said front mower.
4. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the support frame of said rear mower comprises three laterally extending segments including a central segment and side segments positioned on opposite sides of said central segment, said side segments each movably connected to said central segment and with each segment including wheels or the like for supporting the rear portions of the segments from the ground surface, said connecting means being mounted to said central segment, and said rear cutters being carried by said side segments.
5. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said connecting means pivotally connects said rear mower to said front mower adjacent said rear driving wheels and applies a portion of the weight of the rear mower to the front mower at the rear driving wheels of the front mower.
6. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said connecting means pivotally connects the forward portion of the central segment of said rear mower to said front mower adjacent the rear driving wheels of said front mower and applies a portion of the weight of said rear mower to the front mower at the rear driving wheels of the front mower.
7. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the central segment of said rear mower includes a wheel or the like for supporting the forward portions of the segments from the ground surface.
8. In combination, a self propelled front mower and a towed rear mower for cutting grass and other vegetation, said front mower comprising rear driving wheels engaging the ground surface for mowing the front mower in a forward direction and front cutter means arranged for cutting a swath in the grass and like vegetation beneath the front mower, said rear mower including a support frame extending laterally on opposite sides of the swath to be cut by said front mower, wheel means supporting said support frame on the ground surface, rear cutters mounted to said support frame and spaced from each other on opposite sides of the swath cut by said front mower a distance to cut swaths in the grass and the like beneath the rear mower that partially overlap the swath cut by said front mower, connecting means connecting said rear mower to said front mower in trailer fashion, said support frame of said rear mower comprising three laterally extending segments including a central segment and side segments positioned on opposite sides of said central segment, said side segments each movably connected to said central segment and with each segment including wheels for supporting the rear portions of the segments from the ground surface, said connecting means being mounted to said central segment, and said rear cutters being carried by said side segments, said connecting means comprising an approximately U-shaped forward hitch member connected at the free ends of its arms to the front mower at said rear driving wheels, and a universal joint connected between said forward hitch member and the central segment of said rear mower, and power means for driving said driving wheels, said front cutter means and said rear cutters.
9. The combination of claim 8 and wherein said forward hitch member is pivotally connected to the front mower at said rear driving wheels, and further including means for adjusting the height of the universal joint from the ground surface.
10. The combination of claim 8 and further including means for adjusting the height of said central segment from the ground surface.
11. In combination, a self propelled front mower and a rear towed mower, said front mower comprising a power unit with driving wheels engaging the ground surface and for moving the front mower in a forward direction and a front cutter with wheels engaging the ground surface, said front cutter positioned in front of said power unit and including blades for cutting a swath of grass or the like as the mower moves in a forward direction, a tilt connector mounted to said power unit and to said front cutter and arranged to permit the front cutter to tilt with respect to said power unit about an axis extending in the forward direction of movement of the power unit, said towed mower comprising first and second side cutters with cutting blades positioned in overlapping straddling relationship with respect to the swath cut by the cutting blades of said front cutter when the mower and towed mower move in a forward direction, wheel means mounted to said towed mower for movably supporting the towed mower on the ground surface, a hitch assembly extending forwardly from said towed mower and connected to said power unit, said hitch assembly including a universal joint that permits pivoting of said towed mower about upright, lateral and longitudinal axes with respect to said front mower.
12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein the dimensions between the upright axis and the driving wheels of said front mower and between the upright axis and the wheel means of the towed mower and the placement of the cutting blades of said front cutter and the cutting blades of said side cutters are selected to cause the rear cutters to straddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter as the front and rear mower move through a turn.
13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein the structure of the front and rear mowers are formed in accordance with:
H1 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of rear driving wheels of front mower H2 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of central support wheels of rear towed cutter WB = Wheelbase = H1 + H2 AA = Articulation Angle H2 = WB - H1 H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - cos AA
H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - [ Roo + H2tan AA]
[cosAA.cos(90°-AA)]
where R? and R?? are such that R3 - R1 = R2 - R4 where R1 is the radius from the turning center of the mower to the inside edge of a swath of the front mower, R2 is the radius from said center to the outside edge of that front mower swath, R3 is the radius from said center to an inside edge of a swath cut line of the towed mower, and R4 is the radius from said center to an outside edge of the towed mower swath cut line.
R? = and R?? = H2 = WB - H1 R? = . cos AA = H1 cos AA + WB - H
H1 = H1 COS AA + WB - R?? = - H2 tan AA
H2 = WB - H1 where WB = wheelbase R?? = - H2 tan AA
R?? + H2 tan AA = [R?? + H2 tan AA][cos AA . cos( 90° - AA)] =
H1 cos AA + WB - H1 H1 + [R?? + H2 tan AA][cos AA . cos(90° - AA)]=
H1 cos AA + WB
H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - [R?? + H2 tan AA]
[cos AA . cos(90° - AA)]
H1 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of rear driving wheels of front mower H2 = distance between vertical axis 114 and the axis of rotation of central support wheels of rear towed cutter WB = Wheelbase = H1 + H2 AA = Articulation Angle H2 = WB - H1 H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - cos AA
H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - [ Roo + H2tan AA]
[cosAA.cos(90°-AA)]
where R? and R?? are such that R3 - R1 = R2 - R4 where R1 is the radius from the turning center of the mower to the inside edge of a swath of the front mower, R2 is the radius from said center to the outside edge of that front mower swath, R3 is the radius from said center to an inside edge of a swath cut line of the towed mower, and R4 is the radius from said center to an outside edge of the towed mower swath cut line.
R? = and R?? = H2 = WB - H1 R? = . cos AA = H1 cos AA + WB - H
H1 = H1 COS AA + WB - R?? = - H2 tan AA
H2 = WB - H1 where WB = wheelbase R?? = - H2 tan AA
R?? + H2 tan AA = [R?? + H2 tan AA][cos AA . cos( 90° - AA)] =
H1 cos AA + WB - H1 H1 + [R?? + H2 tan AA][cos AA . cos(90° - AA)]=
H1 cos AA + WB
H1 = H1 cos AA + WB - [R?? + H2 tan AA]
[cos AA . cos(90° - AA)]
14. In combination, a self propelled front mower and a rear towed mower for cutting grass and other vegetation, said front mower comprising a power unit with driving wheels engaging the ground surface and for moving the front mower in a forward direction and a front cutter with wheels engaging the ground surface, said front cutter includlng blades for cutting a swath of grass or the like as the mower moves in a forward direction, said towed mower comprising first and second side cutters with cutting blades positioned in overlapping straddling relationship with respect to the swath cut by the cutting blades of said front cutter when the mower and towed mower move in a forward direction, wheel means mounted to said towed mower for movably supporting towed mower on the ground surface, a hitch assembly extending forwardly from said towed cutter and connected to said power unit said hitch assembly including a universal joint that permits pivoting of said towed mower about upright, lateral and longitudinal axes with respect to said front mower, the driving dimensions between the upright axis and the driving wheels of said front mower and between the upright axis and the wheel means of the towed mower and the placement of the cutting blades of said front cutter and the cutting blades of said side cutters are selected to cause the rear cutters to straddle and overlap the swath cut by the front cutter as the front and rear mower move through a turn.
15. In combination, a self propelled front mower and a detachable rear towed mower, said front mower comprising a power unit with driving wheels engaging the ground surface and for moving the front mower in a forward direction, and a front cutter positioned in front of the driving wheels of said power unit for cutting a swath of grass or the like as the front mower moves in a forward direction, said towed mower comprising a frame formed in three segments extending laterally with respect to each other and with respect to the direction of forward movement of said mower including a central frame segment and side frame segments positioned on opposite sides of said central frame segment, said central frame segment being aligned with said front cutter along the direction of forward movement of said front mower so as to follow in the swath cut by said front cutter, a connector means including a universal joint connecting the central frame segment of said towed mower to said front mower, and wheels mounted to said central frame segment for supporting said central frame segment from the ground surface, pivot connectors mounted between each of said side frame segments and said central frame segment for partially supporting said side frame segments from said central frame segment and to permit said side frame segments to pivot up and down with respect to said central frame segment, at least one wheel means mounted to each of said side frame segments for supporting each side frame segment from the ground surface, cutters mounted to each side frame segment for cutting swaths in the grass and the like that straddle the swath cut by said front cutter, and means mounted to said frame for transmitting power to the cutters of said side frame segments.
16. The combination of claim 15 and wherein at least one wheel means mounted to each of said side frame segments comprises a caster wheel normally in engagement with the ground surface behind each said side frame segment, and wherein the wheels mounted to said central frame segment comprise at least two wheels mounted beneath said central frame segment.
17. The combination of claim 15 and wherein said at least one wheel means mounted to each of said side frame segments comprise a caster wheel normally in engagement with the ground surface behind said frame.
18. The combination of claim 15 and wherein said wheels mounted to said central frame segment comprise at least two wheels mounted beneath said central frame segment between said side frame segments.
19. The combination of claim 15 and wherein said wheels mounted to said central frame segment comprise at least two wheels with each wheel mounted laterally out to one side and to the rear of said central frame segment.
20. The combination of claim 15 and wherein said wheels mounted to said central frame segment are positioned between said side frame segments.
21. The combination of claim 15 and wherein central frame segment further includes a-t its forward end portion a ground engaging support means so that said towed mower is self supporting in a proper cutting attitude, and wherein said connector means is pivotably mounted to said central frame segment about a laterally extending axis.
22. The combination of claim 21 and wherein said ground engaging support means comprises a caster wheel.
23. The combination of claim 21 and wherein said connector means is pivotably mounted to said power unit about a laterally extending axis.
24. The combination of claim 15 and further including pivot connecting means connecting together said power unit and said front cutter unit about an axis extending longitudinally with respect to said power unit and said front cutter unit.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US19709488A | 1988-05-20 | 1988-05-20 | |
| US197,094 | 1988-05-20 | ||
| US281,061 | 1988-07-12 | ||
| US07/281,061 US4926621A (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1988-12-07 | Mowing tractor with towed mower |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1316355C true CA1316355C (en) | 1993-04-20 |
Family
ID=26892536
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000598845A Expired - Lifetime CA1316355C (en) | 1988-05-20 | 1989-05-05 | Mowing tractor with towed mower |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4926621A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0342700B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE113165T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1316355C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE68918986T2 (en) |
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| DE19951080A1 (en) * | 1999-10-23 | 2001-04-26 | Deere & Co | Self-propelled agricultural vehicle |
| DE19959484A1 (en) * | 1999-12-10 | 2001-06-13 | Deere & Co | Mower |
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| NL1015621C2 (en) * | 2000-07-05 | 2002-01-08 | Marinus Reincke | Device for maintaining lawns. |
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| US20140223878A1 (en) * | 2013-02-08 | 2014-08-14 | Robert Sassone | Lawn Mower Assemblies |
| US9554514B2 (en) * | 2013-03-14 | 2017-01-31 | Clark Equipment Company | Rotary cutter implement with ball joint connection to a power machine |
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| ITUA20163912A1 (en) * | 2016-05-30 | 2017-11-30 | Multione Srl | ATTACK DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR OPERATING MACHINES FOR AGRICULTURAL OR SIMILAR USE, AND OPERATING MACHINE INCLUDING THIS DEVICE. |
| EP3251481B1 (en) * | 2016-05-30 | 2021-01-27 | Brielmaier Motormäher GmbH | Single axle device support and add-on for a single axle device support |
| US10443760B2 (en) * | 2016-06-20 | 2019-10-15 | The Board Of Trustees Of The University Of Arkansas | Trailer, labeling system, control system, and program for field implementation of computerized hole selection for layflat irrigation pipe |
| US11019766B2 (en) | 2017-09-11 | 2021-06-01 | Worldwind Services, Llc | Low profile vehicle |
| USD898780S1 (en) * | 2019-06-27 | 2020-10-13 | Embankscape Equipment LLC | Slope mower |
| USD898779S1 (en) * | 2019-06-27 | 2020-10-13 | Embankscape Equipment LLC | Slope mower |
| USD898778S1 (en) * | 2019-06-27 | 2020-10-13 | Embankscape Equipment LLC | Slope mower |
| IT202000000388A1 (en) | 2020-01-13 | 2021-07-13 | Matteo Faccin | "MOWER" |
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| US4876846A (en) * | 1986-10-02 | 1989-10-31 | Kut Kwick Corporation | Mower with tandem pumps |
| US4744580A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1988-05-17 | Ryan Charles C | Tow hitch for a tractor |
-
1988
- 1988-12-07 US US07/281,061 patent/US4926621A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1989
- 1989-05-05 CA CA000598845A patent/CA1316355C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-19 EP EP89109075A patent/EP0342700B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-05-19 AT AT89109075T patent/ATE113165T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-05-19 DE DE68918986T patent/DE68918986T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ATE113165T1 (en) | 1994-11-15 |
| EP0342700A1 (en) | 1989-11-23 |
| DE68918986T2 (en) | 1995-03-02 |
| DE68918986D1 (en) | 1994-12-01 |
| EP0342700B1 (en) | 1994-10-26 |
| US4926621A (en) | 1990-05-22 |
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| MKEX | Expiry |