This invention relates to mower decks and more specifically to self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheels.
Mower decks for cutting grass and similar vegetation typically may have several gauge wheels to prevent scalping or cutting grass too short on uneven ground. Gauge wheels typically are supported by brackets mounted to the top surface or outer wall at each of the four corners of the mower deck.
Gauge wheels may be adjustable to different heights. Each gauge wheel typically may be set at a height less than the cutting height of the rotary blades. For example, each gauge wheel may be set at 2.5 inches if the cutting height is 3 inches. This prevents the rotary blades cutting grass any lower than 2.5 inches. Many mower decks allow the operator to adjust the cutting height while seated, but not the gauge wheels without getting off the seat.
The operator also must disengage or move gauge wheels out of the way before driving a tractor over a drive-over mower deck when attaching or removing the mower deck. For example, the operator may move the gauge wheels up to a retracted position as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,240,470 assigned to Deere & Company.
Self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheels are needed that do not require the operator to get off the seat to adjust them. Self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheels are needed that do not require the operator to move the gauge wheels to a fully retracted position on a drive-over mower deck.
A self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel is rotatably mounted to a gauge wheel shaft sliding in a first hydraulic cylinder. A piston slides in a second hydraulic cylinder connected to the first hydraulic cylinder. An orifice provides a high damping rate by restricting hydraulic fluid flow between the first and the second hydraulic cylinders. A coil spring attached to the piston provides a low spring rate. The self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel may slide to the desired position without requiring the operator to leave the seat.
In one embodiment shown in
In one embodiment shown in
In one embodiment, each self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel 100 moves automatically from an extended position to a retracted position as the mower deck moves to the ground before driving over the mower deck. The weight of the mower deck forces the self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheels to retract fully in about 5-10 seconds. Each self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel also moves automatically from the retracted position back to an extended position when the deck is lifted off the ground. Additionally, each self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel has sufficient time to extend or retract to a new position contacting the ground whenever the operator moves the mower deck to a different cutting height. However, each self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel does not have time to move between an extended and retracted position when hitting bumps during mowing.
In one embodiment, each self-adjusting mower deck gauge wheel 100 may provide a high damping rate by restricting the rate of hydraulic fluid flow between first and second hydraulic cylinders 112 and 120. Hydraulic fluid or other liquid in the two cylinders may provide an axial force to dampen movement of gauge wheel shaft 108 which slides in the first or damper side cylinder 112, and also dampens movement of piston 122 which slides in the second or accumulator side cylinder 120. Orifice 128 may restrict the flow rate of liquid between the first and second cylinders. As a result, about 5-10 seconds may be required for gauge wheel shaft 108 to travel between its lowest position at the bottom of damper side cylinder 112 shown in
In one embodiment shown in
Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2967388 | Watkins | Jan 1961 | A |
3032957 | Boyer | May 1962 | A |
4153237 | Supalla | May 1979 | A |
4178005 | Kent, Jr. | Dec 1979 | A |
4325211 | Witt et al. | Apr 1982 | A |
4928799 | Zschiesche | May 1990 | A |
5085044 | Freier, Jr. | Feb 1992 | A |
5355665 | Peter | Oct 1994 | A |
5628377 | Le Gloan | May 1997 | A |
5845471 | Seegert | Dec 1998 | A |
5957252 | Berthold | Sep 1999 | A |
6041584 | Hohnl | Mar 2000 | A |
6497086 | Bergsten et al. | Dec 2002 | B2 |
6711885 | Ferris | Mar 2004 | B2 |
7240470 | Clement et al. | Jul 2007 | B2 |
9327553 | Woodrum | May 2016 | B2 |
9924633 | Ressler et al. | Mar 2018 | B2 |
10952372 | Carlson | Mar 2021 | B2 |
20030028997 | Plate | Feb 2003 | A1 |
20040244348 | Ferris | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20070170025 | Presley | Jul 2007 | A1 |
20090077939 | Fox | Mar 2009 | A1 |
20160183454 | Akita | Jun 2016 | A1 |
20170020068 | Ressler | Jan 2017 | A1 |
20190037768 | Brunner | Feb 2019 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20210345543 A1 | Nov 2021 | US |