Patent Application
20060053761
The present invention relates to linkage assembly for mounting an attachment to a prime mover. In particular, the linkage assembly enables a pitch of the attachment to be initially set and maintained during operation while allowing for vertical movement and rotational movement of the attachment about an axis along a forward path of travel while restricting lateral movement of the attachment.
Attachments, such as mowers, that are mounted to prime movers, such as skid steer loaders, are known in the art. However, the linkage that attaches the attachment to the prime mover typically does not allow the pitch of the attachment to be set prior to use and maintained during use even as the attachment travels over uneven terrain. Additionally, linkages that mount attachments to prime movers in the prior art do not allow the attachment to float over the terrain by providing for vertical and rotational movement of the attachment. Especially in the case of a mower, the inability of the mower to float about the terrain causes an uneven cutting which may provide a unsatisfactory result.
The present invention includes a mower having a housing with an open bottom for mowing underneath the housing. A mower blade or blades are positioned within the housing and is driven by a motor mounted to the housing. A linkage assembly connects a prime mover to the mower housing where the prime mover moves the housing. The linkage assembly allows the housing to vertically move and rotationally move about an axis along a path of travel while limiting the lateral movement of the mower housing.
A linkage assembly of the present invention is generally illustrated at 10 in
The linkage assembly 10 allows the flail mower 12 to move vertically and rotate about an axis 14 of movement along a forward path of travel while limiting the lateral movement of the flail mower 12 with respect to the loader 16. The linkage assembly 10 can also be used to mount other attachments besides a flail mower to the loader 16.
Referring to
Each of the linkages 18,20,22 is preferably a rigid member and are approximately the same length. Each of the linkages 18,20,22 also have ball joints 40 proximate each end for attaching each linkage 18,20,22 to the flail mower 12 and to the prime mover 16. Although a linkage assembly 10 having three linkages is preferred, a linkage assembly having four or more linkages is also within the scope of the present invention.
Each ball joint 40 in the left linkage 18, the right linkage 20, and the top linkage 22 are similarly constructed and the components of the ball joint 40 are given the same reference characters. Referring to
Although a generally uniform radius ball 42 is preferred, a spheroidal member is also within the scope of the present invention. What is meant by spheroidal is objects having portions of the outer surface which are arcuate although the portion of the outer surface need not be defined by a consistent radial distance from a center of the member such as ellipsoids.
Referring to
The other end of the top linkage 22 is mounted to the attachment plate mounting bracket 66 fixedly attached proximate the top end 38 of the attachment plate 32. The top linkage 22 is positioned between two parallel vertical plates 68 having aligned apertures 54 and retained to the attachment plate mounting bracket 66 with the bolt 50 positioned through the aligned apertures 54 in the plates 68 and the through bore 52 in the ball 42.
The left and right linkages 18,20 are adjustably attached to the left and right side panels 21,23, respectively, by positioning the bolt 50 of the ball joint 40 into one of the plurality of apertures 74,76 in left and right side panels 21,23, respectively. The apertures 74,76 are in a generally arcuate alignment within the side panels 21,23 such that adjusting the position of the left and right linkages 18,20 on the left and right side panels 21,23 of the mower housing 24 adjusts a pitch of the flail mower 12 relative to the attachment plate 32. By pitch is meant the height of a front end 25 of the housing 24 relative to a back end 27 of the housing 24 at which the attachment is operated. The plurality of arcuate apertures 74,76 allows the pitch of the housing 24 to be adjusted from generally parallel to ground level to a raised pitch that raises the front end 25 of the housing 24 such that the flail mower 12 better accepts and cuts brush and other tall vegetation.
With the mower housing 24 at the selected pitch, the mower housing 24 is moveable in three axes of movement. However, the lateral movement of the mower housing 24 relative to the prime mover 16 is limited by the left and right linkages 18,20 contacting the mower housing 24.
The left linkage 18 and the right linkage 30 are mounted to both the attachment plate 32 and the flail mower housing 24 to limit lateral movement of the flail mower 12 relative to the loader 16 and also to maintain a parallel alignment of the left and right linkages 18,20, respectively. The left and right linkages 18,20, while each allowing lateral movement of the flail mower housing 24 away from the attachment plate 32, together limit the lateral movement of the flail mower housing 24 relative to the loader 16. When the mower housing 24 begins to move laterally left, the left linkage 18 contacts the mower housing 24 thereby limiting lateral movement in a left direction. Similarly, as the flail mower housing 24 begins to move in a right direction, the right linkage 20 contacts the mower housing 24 thereby limiting movement in a right lateral direction. Therefore, the cooperation of the left and right linkages 18,20 prevents lateral movement of the mower 12 relative to the attachment plate 32 and the prime mover 16.
A height of the flail mower 12 is adjusted with the prime mover 16 by raising or lowering the attachment plate 32 which also raises and lowers the flail mower housing 24. The housing 24 is lowered until a roller 80 attached proximate a bottom edge 19 of the mower housing 24 contacts a ground surface. Although a roller is illustrated, other ground contacting mechanisms are also within the scope of the present invention including, but not limited to, a skid plate.
Referring to
Additionally, the mower housing 24 can adjust vertically to follow the contour of the ground. An upper vertical limit is reached when the mower housing 24 engages arms 82 attached to the attachment plate 32 and extending over the housing 24. Preferably, the arms 82 have pads 84 that contact the mower housing 24 and cushion the impact between the mower housing 24 and the arms 82 when raised by the terrain. When the flail mower 12 is in operation, the floating linkage assembly 10 preferably allows the mower housing 24 to vertically travel about 12 inches.
Additionally, the linkages 18,20,22 are also designed to limit the fore and aft movement of the mower housing 24. Because the linkages 18,20,22 are of a rigid construction that does not readily expand or contract, the fore and aft movement is limited to between preferably about zero and four inches.
The mower 12 is raised by raising the attachment plate 32 with the prime mover 16. As the attachment plate 32 is raised, the left, right and middle linkages 18,20,22 begin to pivot about the ball joints 40. The pivoting left and right linkages 18,20 contact left and right stops 90,92 extending from the mower housing 24. The contact of the left and right stops 90,92 with the left and right linkages 18,20, respectively, prevents further pivotal movement of the left and right linkages 18,20 and causes the mower 12 to raise as the attachment plate 32 raises. Preferably, the stops 90,92 are constructed of a compressive material such as rubber or a compression spring to limit damage caused by the impact of the left and right linkages 18,20 and the left and right stops 90,92.
Referring to
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
