GB2050790A - A mower device - Google Patents

Abstract

A mower includes an extendable- retractable outrigger arm 12, 13 carrying mower 9 means such as a fluid pressure operated piston and cylinder unit 19, 20 for extending and retracting the outrigger arm and bracket means, such as an adjustable yoke assembly 1, for securing the mower device to the tractor and for carrying the outrigger arm in such a manner that it extends laterally outwardly from the tractor. The outrigger arm is pivotally connected to the yoke assembly to permit the arm to selectively pivot in a vertical plane. The outrigger arm may also be connected to the yoke assembly so as to be selectively pivotable in a horizontal plane particularly when the mower device strikes a fixed object. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mower device The present invention relates to a power-driven mower device for cutting brush, trees, vines, weeds, grass, etc. particularly in locations inaccessible to a tractor, or mowers carried on the front or rear of such tractors, such as roadsides, ditches, steep road banks, and for cutting beneath fences,.

A most difficult problem faced by both governmental and industrial maintenance departments, as well as farmers, is cutting of grass and weeds on steeply inclined slopes, inaccessible places such as bridge approaches, around walls, railroad right-of ways, and under fences. In many such areas, the ground slopes at an angle which makes it dangerous or inconvenient for the use of a conventional mower to operate in the areas and insofar as fence rows are concerned, particuarly on farms, mowing under the fence rows with conventional handmowers is impractical.

The invention provides a mower device for attachment to a tractor for movement therewith including: a) outrigger means including extensibleretractable arm means adapted to carry mower means adjacent the outermost end thereof; b) motive means to extend and retract said arm means.

c) bracket means to be in use secured to said tractor and to carry said outrigger means in such a manner that in use said arm means extends laterally outwardly from said tractor; and d) first pivot means connecting said outrigger means to said bracket means to permit said arm means to selectively pivot in a vertical plane.

Preferably, said outrigger means is connected to said bracket means by second pivot means to permit said out-rigger means to be selectively pivoted in a horizontal plane. The second pivot means includes releasable retainer means to preferentially hold said arm means in a first position in said pivot and to release said arm means for angular movement about said pivot when said arm means strikes a fixed object.

It is thus possible to provide a straightforward, relatively inexpensive mower device to be connected to a tractor to extend laterally from the tractor at a location beneath the tractor body where the device can be selectively raised or lowered, can be pivoted in a vertical plane and which also has the capability of movement in a horizontal plane when the mower encounters a fixed object. Such devices are particularly useful in applications where it is necessary to mow around fixed objects or where the surface to be mowed is inclined relative to a horizontal plane.

More particularly, it is possible to provide a mower device which is not damaged when it inadvertently strikes a fixed object.

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a mower device according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a plane view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevational view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the pivot and release mechanism of the embodiment shown Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the hydraulic circuit utilised in the embodiment shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a mower device according to the present invention; and Figures A-D are schematic illustrations of examples of operation of the mower device shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1,an adjustable yoke assembly 1 is provided which includes upstanding channel members 2 and 3 where channel member 2 carries a laterally extending arm 4 and channel 3 carries a laterally extending channel arm 6 where channel arm 6 overlaps arm 4. Bolts 7 can be provided to secure arm 6 to arm 4 where channel 4 includes slots (Figure 2) so that channel 6 can be adjustably moved over channel 4 to selectively adjust the distances between channels 2 and 3 or yoke assembly 1. The yoke assembly is positioned with arms 4 and 6 beneath the body of a tractor so channels 2 and 3 are on either side of the tractor secured to the tractor by means of bolts (not shown) inserted through apertures 8 of channel 3.

A mower assembly 9, described hereinafter, is carried on a telescoping arm assembly including a sliding arm 12 and a receiving arm 13.

The mower assembly includes a shroud 14 adapted to recieve a fluid power motor 16 to drive a rotating blade 17 shown in Figure 3. An aperture 18 is provided in the downwardly extending sides of shroud 14 for emission of cuttings from the mower.

A hydraulic cylinder 19 is provided and carried by arm 13, as shown, and includes an extensible power shaft 20 connected to sliding arm 12 by means of a fastener assembly 21 so that operation of cylinder 19 extends and retracts sliding arm 12 and mower assembly 9.

A runner 22, as described hereinafter, can be carried on sliding arm 12 and fastened thereto by means of a bracket 23.

Arm 13 is pivoted for vertical movement and in this connection includes spaced aligned brackets 26 at the ends thereof as shown in Figure 4, which includes aligned apertures 26A adapted to receive a pivot pin 27. A sleeve 28 is provided and is connected to a plate 29 (which provides part of the release mechanism described hereinafter) by means of a post 31 and pin 27 is received through aperture 28A of sleeve 28 so brackets 26 pivot about pin 27 while the pin is retained in sleeve 28.

Sleeve 28 is secured, as previously described, between brackets 26 by means of a pin 27 where a cam 32, as described hereinafter, is carried on pin 27.

A keyway 27A is provided in sleeve 28, and a key (not shown) can be provided to be received in keyway 27A and a cooperative keyway in pin 27 (not shown) so that cam 32 does not move with arm 13, as described hereinafter.

Plate 29 carries an upstanding post 33 having a cooperative aperture 34 to be utilized as described hereinafter. Plate 29 has a generally V-shaped end 29A and a notch 29B in the crotch of the V-shaped end to provide a "breakaway" to release pivotal movement of arm 13 in a horizontal plane as described hereinafter.

Plate 29 and post 33 are connected to arm 2 of yoke 1 by means of a sleeve 36 carried by arm 2 and adapted to receive post 33. A pin 37 is inserted through aperture 34 of post 33 after post 33 is received within sleeve 36. In this position, the assembly including sleeve 28, plate 29, is retained in sleeve 36 by post 33 and the assembly is rotatable in a horizontal plane. Therefore, arm 13, which is carried by sleeve 28, is also rotatable in a horizontal plane.

One feature as shown in the embodiment represented in the Figures is the provision of a breakaway arrangement mentioned above and described hereinafter.

Specifically, arm 2 includes a bracket assembly 41 extending laterally behind arm 2 where second spaced brackets 42, 43 are provided as shown and include cooperative aligned apertures 44 provided to receive a bolt 46 secured buy a nut 47.

A pivot arm assembly 48 is provided and includes an upstanding sleeve 49 having an aperture 51 where sleeve 49 is received between brackets 42, 43 and bolt 46 is inserted through apertures 44 of backets 42,43 and aperture 51 of pivot arm 48 so pivot arm 48 is freely rotatable about bolt 46 in a horizontal plane. A post 50 is advantageously provided on arm 48 and positioned, as shown in Figure 4, to be received in notch 29B when pivot assembly 48 is rotated to a position that post 50 can be so received. A horizontal sleeve 52 is provided at the end of pivot assembly 48 opposite sleeve 49 and includes a horizontally oriented aperture 53.

A second bracket 54 extends laterally from arm 2, as shown and includes an aperture 56 adapted to receive a bolt 57. Bolt 57 is adapted to carry a compression spring 58 and has adjusting nuts 59.

When in the assembled form, bolt 56 is inserted through aperture 53 of sleeve 52 so that one end of sleeve 52 engages a washer 61 carried on bolt 57 in front of compression spring 58 and the free end of bolt 57 extends through aperture 53 of pivot assembly 48 and aperture 56 of bracket 54 and is adapted to receive a nut. Thus, in this assembly, the compression spring 58 urges sleeve 52 toward bracket 54 and likewise because of the pivot assembly, urges post 50 into notch 29B.

Referring again to Figures 1 and 3, arm 2 also carries a bracket 66. A power source, for example a hydraulic cylinder 67, is connected to bracket 66 by means of a sadle 68. Hydrualic cylinder 67 includes a power shaft 69 connected by means of a saddle 72 to a bracket 71, carried by arm 13, so that bracket 26 of arm 13 pivots about pin 27 and responds to movement of shaft 69 within hydraulic cylinder 67 to move arm 13 in a vetical plane. Bracket 66 also carries a saddle 74 connected to chain 76 connected, in turn, to a spring 77 which is connected to arm 13 by a pin and bracket assembly 78 carried by arm 13 to provide an upward bias for arm 13 when the mower is in operation, as described hereinafter.

Arm 2 further carries a post 81 adapted to receive an angle bracket 82 where a second post 83 is carried by bracket 82 to retain a control device 84 to operate the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 Control 84 includes three valve members 86,87, 88, as shown in Figures 1 to 5 where the valves are operated by levers 86A, 87A and 88A respectively.

All of the apparatus for the embodiment shown in the drawings can be operated hyraulically. Referring to FigureS, a source of hydraulic fluid including a pump 39 (Figure 5) which is powered bythetractor (not shown) and a fluid reservoir 89A is provided where pump 89 and reservoir 89A can be the hydraulic system of the tractor. A return fluid conduit 91 is provided from control 87 to the hydraulic fluid reservoir 89A and a pressurized fluid supply conduit 110 is provided to supply pressurized fluid to the elements of the assembly.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, blade 17 of mower assembly 9 is driven by a fluid motor 16 powered by pressurized fluid from pump 89. Valve 88 is controlled by valve operator 88A and, as shown, can be of the piston type including a piston 88B positioned by operator 88A to align a valve part 88C to permit fluid flow when operation of motor 16 is desired. Preferably, a conduit 104 is connected to the outlet of valve 88 and connects to a second valve 102 controlled by an actuator 103. Valve 102 can be a spring biased piston valve where actuator 103, which is positioned by cam 32, works against a spring 1 02C to hold a part 102B in open position so long as actuator 103 is in contact with the lower portion of cam 32. As arm 13 is raised, cam 32 being fixed, actuator 103 rides along the cam surface.

Cam 32 includes irregular cam surfaces 32A and 32B so that, as arm 13 is pivoted upwardly, actuator 103 remains in contact with surface 32A until an altitude is reached where actuator 103 engages surface 32B and spring 1 02C closes valve 102 to terminate operation of motor 16. This particular feature can be included as a safety measure to prevent operation of the mower when arm 13 is inclined about a pre-selected angle determined by the intersection of cam surfaces 32A and 32B.

The outlet from valve 102 is connected, by means of conduit 101 to motor 16. Thus, in the example shown, motor 16 will operate when valve 88 is acutated and then only where valve 102 is in operating position. In other embodiments, valve 102 can be eliminated where it is necessary to operate the mower at extended elevation.

As previously described, single acting hydraulic cylinder 67 is provided to raise arm 13 and arm 13 is lowered by its own weight but it will be recognized that a double-acting cylinder can be provided to raise and lower arm 13.

The power side of cylinder 67 can be connected by conduit 108 to the outlet ofvalve 86, which can be a piston valve having a dual port piston 86B operated by means of operator 86A between the position shown in Figure 5 where pressurized fluid flows through part 86C to cylinder 67 to a second position (not illustrated) where return part 86D is aligned with conduit 108 from cylinder 67 and port 86D to outlet 86E communicating with fluid return 91 to reservoir 89A so that when fluid is returned, cylinder 67 is relaxed and arm 13 is lowered by its own weight.

A double-acting cylinder 19 is provided to extend and retract shaft 20 connected to telescoping arm 12 where arm 12, and mower assembly 9 are likewise extended and retracted by movement of shaft 20.

Referring to FigureS, operation of cylinder 19 is controlled by valve 87 where operator 87 moves a piston valve member 87B to direct fluid flow through valve 87 to cylinder 19. In the example shown, valve member 87B is provided with two sets of cooperative fluid flow parts 87C and 87D. Cooperative fluid flow conduits 106 and 107 can be connected to valve 87 and opposite ends of cylinder 19 as shown.

Likewise pressurized fluid conduit 11 0A and return fluid conduit 91A are connected to communicate with valve 87 as shown. The arrangement shown provides means to secure operation of shaft 20 of cylinder 19 in a selected direction. For example, in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, pressurized fluid is applied to conduit 106 while conduit 107 is open to the low pressure fluid return so shaft 20 moves outwardly with respect to cylinder 19. When operator 87A is activated to index parts 87A with conduits 106, 107, 110A and 91A, the converse situation exists. That is, pressurized fluid is applied to conduit 107 and conduit 106 is open to the fluid return so shaft 20 is moved into cylinder 19 and mower assembly is drawn toward its tractor.

In operation, the assembly shown in the Figures is attached to a tractor by means of yoke assembly 1, where bolts are received through apertures 8 and secured to the tractor.

The appropriate connections are made to supply pressurized hydrualic fluid for operation of the device as described hereinbefore.

When the device is in operation, for example in an application where it is utilized to mow under a fence, the tractor can be driven in a path parallel to the fence. Mower devices as above described are particularly useful in such applications because they can be adapted so the outrigging arm 12, 13 is generally parallel with the surface to be mowed so that extension or retraction of mower assembly 9 does not substantially change the elevation of the mower assembly with respect to the surface to be mowed.

The mower is in fully lowered position and shroud 14 extends beneath the lowermost edge of the fence with runner 22 riding over the surface of the ground.

The truncated ends provided on runner 22 facilitate the movement of runner 22. In this mode of operation some of the weight of arm 13 and mower assembly 9 is taken off runner 22 by proper selecting of the length of chain 76. As previously described, chain 76 is connected to tension spring 77 which is connected to arm 13. The arrangement can be adjusted so that arm 13 effectively floats with minimum support by runner 22 and can further be adjusted so that runner 22 does not touch the ground except where there are irregularities in the surface. In applications where there are minimal irregularities in the surface, runner 22 can be eliminated and, likewise, the roller supports utilized in previous devices can also be eliminated.

In such applications, where the device is utilized to cut under fencing, and where the tractor follows a path parallel to the fence, it is necessary to avoid the fence posts supporting the fence. Thus, cylinder 19 can be utilized to extend and withdraw mower assembly 9 to avoid the fence posts.

In operation where the example of the mower device shown in the Figures is caried on a moving tractor, the outrigger assembly could be substantially damaged if it inadvertently struck a fixed object such as a fence post, tree stump or partially buried large rock. The breakaway assembly including pivotable plate 29, which receives a spring-biased locking post 50 in a notch 29B is provided to release the outrigger assembly 12, 13, 14for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane in the vent any part of the outrigger assembly 12, 13, 14 strikes such a fixed object.

Referring now to Figure 6 which iliustrates another embodiment, the device illustrated is similar to the one illustrated in Figures 1-3 except that mower assembly 9 is connected to telescoping arm 12 by means of an arm 111 connected to mower assembly 9 for example by welding, where arm 111 is connected to arm 12 by a pivot pin 112 so that mower assembly 9 can be selectively pivoted in a vertical plane.

Advantageously, a generally vertically extending arm 113 is connected at one end to arm 111 and a pivot 112 is provided at the uppermost end adapted to receive the power shaft 114 of a hydraulic cylinder 116. Hydraulic cylinder 116 is connected to arm 113 by means of a pivot 112. Hydraulic cylinder 116 is supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid by means of conduit 117 and 118,to move shaft 114 in known manner. Conduits 117 and 118 are connected to a valve (not shown) operated by handle 119 to move power shaft 114 in cylinder 116.

Advantageously, movement of shaft 114 pivots arm 113 through an angle Ato pivot mower assembly 9 accordingly so that mower assembly 9 can be tilted in a vertical plane to incline shroud 114 parallel to a non level surface, or even vertical surface.

The latter feature advantageously allows the mower assembly to be cooperatively positioned as shown schematically in Figures 7A-C to mow in awkward positions. Specifically, as shown in Figure 7A, an offset elevated surface 121A can be mowed where yoke 122, carried by a tractor (not shown) moves over surface 121 where outrigger 123 is elevated and mower assembly 124 is horizontally set to cut surface 121A.

As illustrated in Figure 7B, a downwardly inclined surface 1 26A can be mowed where a tractor (not shown moves along surface 126 with outrigger 123 extended outwardly from yoke 121 and mower assembly 124 downwardly inclined parallel to surface 126A.

Finally, in another example of use of the arrangement shown in Figure 7C, an upwardly inclined surface 1 27A is mowed where a tractor (not shown) moves along surface 127 with outrigger 123 ex tended and mower assembly 124 upwardly inclined to mow surface 127A.

Also shown schematically in Figure 7D, the mower assembly 124 can be adapted to vertical orientation to, for example, trim hedges 128 as yoke 122 moves over the surface 129.

Claims (11)

CLAIMS:

1. A mower device for attachment to a tractor for movement therewith including: a) outrigger means including extensibleretractable arm means adpated to carry mower means adjacent the outermost end thereof; b) motive means to extend and retract said arm means; c) bracket means to be in use secured to said tractor and to carry said outrigger means in such a manner that in use said arm means extends laterally outwardly from said tractor; and d) first pivot means connecting said outrigger means to said bracket means to permit said arm means to selectively pivot in a vertical plane.

2. A mower device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said outrigger means is connected to said bracket means by second pivot means to permit said outrigger means to be selectively pivoted in a horizontal plane.

3. A mower device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said second pivot means includes releasable retainer means to preferentially hold said arm means in a first position in said pivot and to release said arm means for angular movement about said pivot when said arm means strikes a fixed object.

4. A mower device as claimed in Claim 2, or Claim 3, wherein said second pivot means includes: a) vertically open first sleeve means carried by said bracket means; b) pivot connector means including a pivot plate having a generally "V" shaped end with a cooperative pin receiving notch in the crotch of the "V" shaped end, carrying downwardly extending outrigger connector means adjacent the end of the pivot plate opposite the "V' shaped end, upwardly extending first post means in generally aligned relation with said connector means where said first post means is adapted to be pivotably received in said first sleeve means, whereby said outrigger means is connected to said bracket by said first post means and is pivoted thereabout in a horizontal plane;; c) spring-biased pin means carried by said arm means to be received in said pivot plate notch to preferentially return said pivot plate in a disposition wherein said outrigger means extends laterally from said tractor and where abrupt movement of said outrigger means releases said pin means from said pivot plate notch whereby said outrigger arm means is free to move in a horizontal plane.

5. A mower device as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said outrigger connector means includes said first pivot means to permit selected vertical pivotal movement of said outrigger means.

6. A mower device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein lift means are connected between said bracket means and said outrigger means to selectively pivot said outrigger means about said first pivot means to selectively raise and lower said outrigger means.

7. A mower device as claimed in any one of ciaims 4-6, including spring-bias means connected between said outrigger means and said bracket means to support said outrigger means at a selected angular orientation relative to the surface to be mowed.

8. A mower device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said outrigger means is arranged to extend in use outwardly from said tractor in a plane generally parallel to the surface to be mowed so that extension and retraction of said arm means moves said mower means over said surface to be mowed without substantial vertical movement of said mower means.

9. A mower device as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said mower means is connected to said outrigger means by mower means is connected to said outrigger means by mower pivot means to permit said mower means to be pivoted in a vertical plane relative to the outrigger means.

10. A mower device as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said mower means includes a generally flat rotating mower blade adapted to be rotated in a selected plane wherein said mower means is pivoted about said mower pivot means to position the plane of rotation of said mower blade in spaced parallel relation from a surface to be mowed.

11. A mower device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1-5 or Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.