CA2776759A1 - Offset hitch for mowing machine - Google Patents
Offset hitch for mowing machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2776759A1 CA2776759A1 CA 2776759 CA2776759A CA2776759A1 CA 2776759 A1 CA2776759 A1 CA 2776759A1 CA 2776759 CA2776759 CA 2776759 CA 2776759 A CA2776759 A CA 2776759A CA 2776759 A1 CA2776759 A1 CA 2776759A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- mower
- offset
- rotary
- hitch
- tractor
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01D—HARVESTING; MOWING
- A01D34/00—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
- A01D34/835—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters specially adapted for particular purposes
- A01D34/86—Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters specially adapted for particular purposes for use on sloping ground, e.g. on embankments or in ditches
Abstract
This rotary mower is a mower with an offset, floating hitch that allows for mowing in the ditch adjacent to the road while leaving the tractor to operate up on the road surface, outside of the mower cutting width. This rotary mower also allows mowing with the tractor positioned ahead of, and within the mower cutting width. In addition, this rotary mower can be moved through the whole range of tractor locations while mowing under full power. The power driveline of the offset, floating hitch is simple and does not require additional costly gearboxes. The offset, floating hitch may be mounted on either side of the mower, allowing assembly so that the operator can either drive "with" the traffic or "against"
the traffic. In addition, two or more rotary mowers equipped with the offset, floating hitches can be pulled behind one tractor.
the traffic. In addition, two or more rotary mowers equipped with the offset, floating hitches can be pulled behind one tractor.
Description
=
#, . =
OFFSET HITCH FOR MOWING MACHINE
This invention relates to a pull-type rotary mower with an offset, floating hitch. The offset, floating hitch allows the tractor to be outside of the mowing area, within the mower cutting width, or anywhere in between these two tractor positions. In addition, the offset, floating hitch allows more than one rotary mower to be towed behind one tractor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rotary mowers, disc mowers and rotary cutters are typically towed by a tractor and are used for mowing highway rights-of-way. Often ditches are quite steep and it is dangerous to have the tractor operate on the steep side-slope of a ditch. Recently, offset hitches have been developed where a standard, centerline-hitch mower is attached to the rear of one side of an offset hitch and a tractor is attached to the front of the other side of the offset hitch. The offset hitches are often supported with two wheels and the hitches typically have a combination of gearboxes, regular u-joints, and constant-velocity u-joints to transmit power from the tractor to the mower gearboxes. Other variations of mower hitches are available but they are complex and costly due to the addition of numerous gearboxes and other driveline components.
With current mowers, only one pull-type mower is typically pulled behind one tractor. When mowing a wide highway right-of-way, this involves significant labor costs for the mowing operation. It would be advantageous to be able to have a wider mowing width, while still accurately following the ground by using narrow sections within the mowers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This rotary mower is a mower with an offset, floating hitch that allows mowing in the ditch adjacent to the road while permitting the tractor to operate up on the road surface. The offset, floating hitch of the rotary mower also allows mowing with the tractor ahead of, and within the mower cutting width. In addition, the offset, floating hitch can be rotated through the whole range of motion while mowing under full power. The offset, floating hitch is simple and eliminates the need for any additional costly constant-velocity universal joints and gearboxes. When using the offset, floating hitch, at least one caster wheel is used to support the front of the rotary mower. Because the front of the rotary mower is supported in this way, the offset, floating hitch may be mounted on either side of the mower. This allows assembly of the mower and hitch so that the operator can either drive "with" the traffic or "against" the traffic. In addition, two or more rotary mowers equipped with the offset, floating hitch can be pulled behind one tractor.
With these and other advantages, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, and with the tractor located outside of the mower cutting width.
Fig. 2 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, and with the tractor located within the mower cutting width.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, showing the mower and tractor in transport position.
#, . =
OFFSET HITCH FOR MOWING MACHINE
This invention relates to a pull-type rotary mower with an offset, floating hitch. The offset, floating hitch allows the tractor to be outside of the mowing area, within the mower cutting width, or anywhere in between these two tractor positions. In addition, the offset, floating hitch allows more than one rotary mower to be towed behind one tractor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Rotary mowers, disc mowers and rotary cutters are typically towed by a tractor and are used for mowing highway rights-of-way. Often ditches are quite steep and it is dangerous to have the tractor operate on the steep side-slope of a ditch. Recently, offset hitches have been developed where a standard, centerline-hitch mower is attached to the rear of one side of an offset hitch and a tractor is attached to the front of the other side of the offset hitch. The offset hitches are often supported with two wheels and the hitches typically have a combination of gearboxes, regular u-joints, and constant-velocity u-joints to transmit power from the tractor to the mower gearboxes. Other variations of mower hitches are available but they are complex and costly due to the addition of numerous gearboxes and other driveline components.
With current mowers, only one pull-type mower is typically pulled behind one tractor. When mowing a wide highway right-of-way, this involves significant labor costs for the mowing operation. It would be advantageous to be able to have a wider mowing width, while still accurately following the ground by using narrow sections within the mowers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This rotary mower is a mower with an offset, floating hitch that allows mowing in the ditch adjacent to the road while permitting the tractor to operate up on the road surface. The offset, floating hitch of the rotary mower also allows mowing with the tractor ahead of, and within the mower cutting width. In addition, the offset, floating hitch can be rotated through the whole range of motion while mowing under full power. The offset, floating hitch is simple and eliminates the need for any additional costly constant-velocity universal joints and gearboxes. When using the offset, floating hitch, at least one caster wheel is used to support the front of the rotary mower. Because the front of the rotary mower is supported in this way, the offset, floating hitch may be mounted on either side of the mower. This allows assembly of the mower and hitch so that the operator can either drive "with" the traffic or "against" the traffic. In addition, two or more rotary mowers equipped with the offset, floating hitch can be pulled behind one tractor.
With these and other advantages, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicant and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, and with the tractor located outside of the mower cutting width.
Fig. 2 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, and with the tractor located within the mower cutting width.
Fig. 3 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the left side of the mower, showing the mower and tractor in transport position.
Fig. 4 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the right side of the mower, and with the tractor located outside of the mower cutting width.
Fig. 5 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the right side of the mower, and with the tractor within the mower cutting width Fig. 6 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the right side of the mower, showing the mower and tractor in transport position.
Fig. 7 is a top view of two rotary mowers towed behind one tractor, in mowing position.
Fig. 8 is a top view of two rotary mowers towed behind one tractor, in transport position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Pull-type rotary mowers are used for mowing ditches throughout the world. Many of these mowing conditions in the ditches are hazardous to the operator of the tractor due to extreme side-slopes and rough terrain. In addition, broken bottles and other sharp litter in the ditches are harmful to the tractor tires. It is therefore advantageous to utilize a rotary mower with a hitch that allows the tractor to operate on the road surface while the mower is engaging the hazardous ditch adjacent to the roadway. In some other situations, the tractor must be operated within the mowing width, so it is a benefit to be able to shift the tractor position relative to the mower, so that the tractor can easily be set to mow outside the mower cutting width or within the mower cutting width. In addition, the tractor should be positioned to provide a narrow transport width, for safe transport on a highway.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated in two different operating positions in Figure1 and Figure 2, as well as a transport position in Figure 3. The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 is pivotally attached to the front of a pull-type mower assembly 2 about a horizontal pivot axis 3 that is approximately perpendicular to the forward motion of the mower. Horizontal pivot axis 3 is located to the front of mower 2 and off to one side of mower 2. At least one caster wheel 4 supports the front of the pull-type mower 2. The front of the offset, floating hitch assembly is typically attached to an agricultural tractor which does not form part of the invention.
Offset, floating hitch assembly 1 comprises a hitch beam 5 and a rotary link 6. Said hitch beam 5 is pivotally attached to said rotary link 6 about a vertical axis 7.
Hydraulic actuator 8 is pivotally attached to hitch beam 5 and also pivotally attached to rotary link 6 to provide power for rotation of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6 about vertical axis 7. Figure 1 shows one position of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6 and Figure 2 shows a different position of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6. Movement between these positions is provided by hydraulic actuator 8.
An embodiment of pull-type mower assembly 2 comprises center section 9 and bolt-on frame extension 10. By providing a bolt-on frame extension 10, the pull-type mower assembly 2 can be assembled so that offset, floating hitch assembly 1 is either to the front, right of center section 9 or to the front, left of center section 9. This allows the tractor operator to either drive in the same direction as the traffic or in a direction opposite (facing) the traffic, depending on personal preference and the laws in place where the mower is in use.
Figure 4 shows a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch assembly 1 on the right side of the mower, and with the tractor located outside of the mower cutting width.
Figure 5 shows this assembly with tractor inside of the mower cutting width, and Figure 6 shows this assembly with the rotary mower in transport position.
Power driveline 11 transmits power from the agricultural tractor to a multi-mount gearbox 12 located on center section 9 of the mower assembly 2. Power driveline 11 is supported by offset, floating hitch 1 and frame extension 10. Power driveline 11 is a simple, in-line driveline with universal joints, and not requiring gearboxes. In Figure 1, multi-mount gear box 12 is shown with thru-shaft oriented from front-left to rear-right, facilitating power arriving from the front-left of the center section 9. Figure 4 shows multi-mount gearbox 12 rotated 180 degrees about a horizontal axis in the direction of travel. In Figure 4, multi-mount gear box 12 is shown with thru-shaft oriented from front-right to rear-left, facilitating power arriving from the front-right of the center section 9. Thus, with properly designed components: hitch beam 5, rotary link 6, frame extension 10, power driveline 11, and multi-mount gearbox 12, the rotary mower may be marketed as a unit that can have the tractor operating either on the left side of the rotary mower or the right side of the rotary mower.
Determining the tractor location is accomplished by assembling the components in the desired orientation.
Fig. 5 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the right side of the mower, and with the tractor within the mower cutting width Fig. 6 is a top view of a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch on the right side of the mower, showing the mower and tractor in transport position.
Fig. 7 is a top view of two rotary mowers towed behind one tractor, in mowing position.
Fig. 8 is a top view of two rotary mowers towed behind one tractor, in transport position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Pull-type rotary mowers are used for mowing ditches throughout the world. Many of these mowing conditions in the ditches are hazardous to the operator of the tractor due to extreme side-slopes and rough terrain. In addition, broken bottles and other sharp litter in the ditches are harmful to the tractor tires. It is therefore advantageous to utilize a rotary mower with a hitch that allows the tractor to operate on the road surface while the mower is engaging the hazardous ditch adjacent to the roadway. In some other situations, the tractor must be operated within the mowing width, so it is a benefit to be able to shift the tractor position relative to the mower, so that the tractor can easily be set to mow outside the mower cutting width or within the mower cutting width. In addition, the tractor should be positioned to provide a narrow transport width, for safe transport on a highway.
A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is illustrated in two different operating positions in Figure1 and Figure 2, as well as a transport position in Figure 3. The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 is pivotally attached to the front of a pull-type mower assembly 2 about a horizontal pivot axis 3 that is approximately perpendicular to the forward motion of the mower. Horizontal pivot axis 3 is located to the front of mower 2 and off to one side of mower 2. At least one caster wheel 4 supports the front of the pull-type mower 2. The front of the offset, floating hitch assembly is typically attached to an agricultural tractor which does not form part of the invention.
Offset, floating hitch assembly 1 comprises a hitch beam 5 and a rotary link 6. Said hitch beam 5 is pivotally attached to said rotary link 6 about a vertical axis 7.
Hydraulic actuator 8 is pivotally attached to hitch beam 5 and also pivotally attached to rotary link 6 to provide power for rotation of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6 about vertical axis 7. Figure 1 shows one position of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6 and Figure 2 shows a different position of hitch beam 5 relative to rotary link 6. Movement between these positions is provided by hydraulic actuator 8.
An embodiment of pull-type mower assembly 2 comprises center section 9 and bolt-on frame extension 10. By providing a bolt-on frame extension 10, the pull-type mower assembly 2 can be assembled so that offset, floating hitch assembly 1 is either to the front, right of center section 9 or to the front, left of center section 9. This allows the tractor operator to either drive in the same direction as the traffic or in a direction opposite (facing) the traffic, depending on personal preference and the laws in place where the mower is in use.
Figure 4 shows a rotary mower assembled with the offset, floating hitch assembly 1 on the right side of the mower, and with the tractor located outside of the mower cutting width.
Figure 5 shows this assembly with tractor inside of the mower cutting width, and Figure 6 shows this assembly with the rotary mower in transport position.
Power driveline 11 transmits power from the agricultural tractor to a multi-mount gearbox 12 located on center section 9 of the mower assembly 2. Power driveline 11 is supported by offset, floating hitch 1 and frame extension 10. Power driveline 11 is a simple, in-line driveline with universal joints, and not requiring gearboxes. In Figure 1, multi-mount gear box 12 is shown with thru-shaft oriented from front-left to rear-right, facilitating power arriving from the front-left of the center section 9. Figure 4 shows multi-mount gearbox 12 rotated 180 degrees about a horizontal axis in the direction of travel. In Figure 4, multi-mount gear box 12 is shown with thru-shaft oriented from front-right to rear-left, facilitating power arriving from the front-right of the center section 9. Thus, with properly designed components: hitch beam 5, rotary link 6, frame extension 10, power driveline 11, and multi-mount gearbox 12, the rotary mower may be marketed as a unit that can have the tractor operating either on the left side of the rotary mower or the right side of the rotary mower.
Determining the tractor location is accomplished by assembling the components in the desired orientation.
In some markets, for simplicity, it may be advantageous to weld center section 9 to frame extension 10. .
Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate two rotary mowers being pulled behind one tractor, in mowing position and transport position, respectively. The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 of the rear rotary mower is pivotally attached to a rear hitch 13 of the front rotary mower.
The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 of the rear rotary mower is pivoted using hydraulic actuator 8. This allows the rear rotary mower to be offset adequately, for operation in the cutting position, relative to the front rotary mower. It also allows the rear rotary mower to be moved toward the centerline of the front rotary mower for clearing obstacles and for transport position as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 7 and Figure 8 illustrate two rotary mowers being pulled behind one tractor, in mowing position and transport position, respectively. The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 of the rear rotary mower is pivotally attached to a rear hitch 13 of the front rotary mower.
The offset, floating hitch assembly 1 of the rear rotary mower is pivoted using hydraulic actuator 8. This allows the rear rotary mower to be offset adequately, for operation in the cutting position, relative to the front rotary mower. It also allows the rear rotary mower to be moved toward the centerline of the front rotary mower for clearing obstacles and for transport position as shown in Figure 8.
Claims (13)
1. Rotary mower with an offset, floating hitch assembly. The offset, floating hitch assembly is pivotally attached to the front of the mower in an offset manner, about a horizontal pivot axis that is approximately perpendicular to the forward direction of travel of the mower. The forward portion of the offset, floating hitch assembly is attached to a tractor drawbar. The weight of the front of the rotary mower is carried on at least one caster wheel that is pivotally attached to the front of the mower to support the front of the mower and to allow raising and lowering of the front of the mower.
2. Rotary mower of claim 1, where the offset, floating hitch may be assembled to either the front-left side or the front-right side of the mower.
3 Rotary mower of claim 1, where the offset, floating hitch supports the drive shaft for power means to rotary mower.
4. Rotary mower of claim 1, where a multi-mount gearbox is designed to be rotated 180 degrees about a horizontal axis in the direction of travel, allowing power means to come in from either front-left or front-right of the mower.
5. Rotary mower of claim 1 where two or more mowers can be towed and operated behind one tractor.
6. Rotary mower with an offset, floating hitch assembly, where the offset, floating hitch assembly contains a hitch beam and a rotary link. Said hitch beam is pivotally attached to said rotary link about a vertical axis. Said rotary link is pivotally attached to the front of the rotary mower about a horizontal pivot axis that is approximately perpendicular to the forward direction of travel of the mower.
7. Rotary mower of claim 6 that utilizes a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the hitch beam relative to the rotary link about said vertical axis, thus allowing the tractor to be either offset from mowing area or within mowing area.
8. Rotary mower of claim 6 where the offset, floating hitch may be assembled to either the front-left side or the front-right side of the mower.
9. Rotary mower of claim 6, where the offset, floating hitch supports the drive shaft for power means to rotary mower.
10. Rotary mower of claim 6, where a multi-mount gearbox is designed to be rotated 180 degrees about a horizontal axis in the direction of travel, allowing power means to come in from either front-left or front-right of the mower.
11. Rotary mower of claim 6, where two or more mowers can be towed and operated behind one tractor.
ELEMENTS NUMBERED ON FIGURES:
1. Offset, floating hitch assembly 2. Pull-type mower assembly 3. Horizontal pivot axis 4. Caster wheel 5. Hitch beam 6. Rotary link 7. Vertical axis 8. Hydraulic actuator 9. Center section 10. Frame Extension 11. Power driveline
ELEMENTS NUMBERED ON FIGURES:
1. Offset, floating hitch assembly 2. Pull-type mower assembly 3. Horizontal pivot axis 4. Caster wheel 5. Hitch beam 6. Rotary link 7. Vertical axis 8. Hydraulic actuator 9. Center section 10. Frame Extension 11. Power driveline
12. Multi-mount gearbox
13. Rear hitch Prior art:
1. CA 580441 Patent, GANG MOWER
2. CA 1104351 Patent, TRANSPORT MECHANISM FOR SINGLE AND MULTIPLE
UNIT PULL TYPE IMPLEMENTS
3. CA 1226739 Patent, PULL-TYPE SWATHER
4. CA 2241162 Patent, OFFSET HITCH FOR USE IN TOWING AN IMPLEMENT
5. CA 2369907 Patent Pending, VARIABLE OFFSET ROTARY MOWER
6. CA 2406155 Patent, OFFSET ARM FOR TOWING ROTARY MOWERS AND THE
LIKE
7. CA 2417428 Patent Pending, OFFSET HITCH FOR MOWING MACHINES
1. CA 580441 Patent, GANG MOWER
2. CA 1104351 Patent, TRANSPORT MECHANISM FOR SINGLE AND MULTIPLE
UNIT PULL TYPE IMPLEMENTS
3. CA 1226739 Patent, PULL-TYPE SWATHER
4. CA 2241162 Patent, OFFSET HITCH FOR USE IN TOWING AN IMPLEMENT
5. CA 2369907 Patent Pending, VARIABLE OFFSET ROTARY MOWER
6. CA 2406155 Patent, OFFSET ARM FOR TOWING ROTARY MOWERS AND THE
LIKE
7. CA 2417428 Patent Pending, OFFSET HITCH FOR MOWING MACHINES
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2776759 CA2776759A1 (en) | 2012-05-02 | 2012-05-02 | Offset hitch for mowing machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2776759 CA2776759A1 (en) | 2012-05-02 | 2012-05-02 | Offset hitch for mowing machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2776759A1 true CA2776759A1 (en) | 2013-11-02 |
Family
ID=49510714
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2776759 Abandoned CA2776759A1 (en) | 2012-05-02 | 2012-05-02 | Offset hitch for mowing machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2776759A1 (en) |
-
2012
- 2012-05-02 CA CA 2776759 patent/CA2776759A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |
Effective date: 20160504 |