GB2115668A - Mowers - Google Patents

Abstract

A mower comprises a series of arms pivoted together with hydraulic rams between them so that the reach of the cutting head from the tractor can be varied, and at the tractor end the arms are mounted on a bracket (18) which can be clamped in an adjusted position along the length of a beam so that the minimum reach position of the arms can be very close to the tractor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mowers This invention relates to mowers of the kind comprising a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers which is mounted at the other end on a tractor, with a series of hydraulic rams or the like for controlling the relative angles of the parts. By these means, as well known, the tractor may drive slowly along a road whilst the head is used to cut vegetation at the verge or trim the top or side of a hedge.

The designer of such equipment may be concerned to provide the maximum possible reach, to enable verges some distance from the tractor to be satisfactorily cut. Usually, equipment having a long reach is incapable of use particularly close to the tractor, and thus could not be used to "side" a hedge in a narrow lane.

The object of the invention is to provide equipment having a satisfactory reach without sacrificing ability to operate particularly close to the tractor.

In accordance with the invention, a mower comprises a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers of which the other end is mounted on a tractor, with a series of hydraulic rams or the like for controlling the relative positions of the parts, and is characterised in that the tractor end comprises a mounting which is adjustable laterally of the vehicle.

Preferably the mounting comprises a beam extending laterally of the tractor, and a bracket clamped to the beam at any of a range of positions along its length, the system of levers being pivoted to said bracket.

Preferably also, the beam is utilised as a hydraulic reservoir and/or power pack and is located at the rear of the tractor.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is more particularly described in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the mower; and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and perspective view showing the mounting.

Referring to the drawings, the cutting head 10 is pivoted at 12 to the outer end of a first arm 14 which is pivoted to a second arm 1 6 pivoted at its inner end to a bracket 1 8. Rams 20 and 22 control the relative angles of the arms to one another and ram 24 controls the angle of the cutting head to the arm 14.

Referring to Figure 2, a box beam 26 forms the hydraulic reservoir and may also house the pump and other power pack components, and is fixed to an end of the tractor, preferably the rear end.

As shown in the drawings, the beam has projecting flanges which can be clamped between parts of the bracket enabling the bracket to be adjusted along the length of the beam as illustratively shown in the full and chain dot lines of Figure 2. Moreover, the bracket can be turned through 1800 so as to be used for righthand mounting instead of lefthand mounting, and the beam flanges also extend across the ends of the beam to enable the bracket to be mounted on either end instead of on the top surface of the bracket, to give extra reach.

Figure 1 shows the arms fully extended with the bracket in the normal extreme position for maximum reach, although extra reach may be provided by removing the bracket from the top of the beam and mounting it on the end face of the beam. For minimum reach, the bracket can be adjusted towards the opposite end of the beam, and in this case the cutting head can be moved very close indeed to the tractor, and possibly can even cut vegetation vertically above the tractor.

1. A mower comprising a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers of which the other end is mounted on a tractor with a series of hydraulic rams or like for controlling the relative angles of the parts, characterised in that the tractor end comprises a mounting which is adjustable laterally of the vehicle.

2. The mower as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mounting comprises a bracket adapted to be clamped in position on a beam extending laterally of the tractor, one of the system of levers being pivoted to said bracket.

3. The mower as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the beam comprises hydraulic reservoir or power pack and is located at the rear of the tractor.

4. The mower as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the bracket can alternatively be mounted on the end of the beam to increase the mach.

5. A mower substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Mowers This invention relates to mowers of the kind comprising a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers which is mounted at the other end on a tractor, with a series of hydraulic rams or the like for controlling the relative angles of the parts. By these means, as well known, the tractor may drive slowly along a road whilst the head is used to cut vegetation at the verge or trim the top or side of a hedge. The designer of such equipment may be concerned to provide the maximum possible reach, to enable verges some distance from the tractor to be satisfactorily cut. Usually, equipment having a long reach is incapable of use particularly close to the tractor, and thus could not be used to "side" a hedge in a narrow lane. The object of the invention is to provide equipment having a satisfactory reach without sacrificing ability to operate particularly close to the tractor. In accordance with the invention, a mower comprises a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers of which the other end is mounted on a tractor, with a series of hydraulic rams or the like for controlling the relative positions of the parts, and is characterised in that the tractor end comprises a mounting which is adjustable laterally of the vehicle. Preferably the mounting comprises a beam extending laterally of the tractor, and a bracket clamped to the beam at any of a range of positions along its length, the system of levers being pivoted to said bracket. Preferably also, the beam is utilised as a hydraulic reservoir and/or power pack and is located at the rear of the tractor. One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is more particularly described in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an elevation of the mower; and Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary and perspective view showing the mounting. Referring to the drawings, the cutting head 10 is pivoted at 12 to the outer end of a first arm 14 which is pivoted to a second arm 1 6 pivoted at its inner end to a bracket 1 8. Rams 20 and 22 control the relative angles of the arms to one another and ram 24 controls the angle of the cutting head to the arm 14. Referring to Figure 2, a box beam 26 forms the hydraulic reservoir and may also house the pump and other power pack components, and is fixed to an end of the tractor, preferably the rear end. As shown in the drawings, the beam has projecting flanges which can be clamped between parts of the bracket enabling the bracket to be adjusted along the length of the beam as illustratively shown in the full and chain dot lines of Figure 2. Moreover, the bracket can be turned through 1800 so as to be used for righthand mounting instead of lefthand mounting, and the beam flanges also extend across the ends of the beam to enable the bracket to be mounted on either end instead of on the top surface of the bracket, to give extra reach. Figure 1 shows the arms fully extended with the bracket in the normal extreme position for maximum reach, although extra reach may be provided by removing the bracket from the top of the beam and mounting it on the end face of the beam. For minimum reach, the bracket can be adjusted towards the opposite end of the beam, and in this case the cutting head can be moved very close indeed to the tractor, and possibly can even cut vegetation vertically above the tractor. CLAIMS

1. A mower comprising a cutting head mounted on one end of a system of levers of which the other end is mounted on a tractor with a series of hydraulic rams or like for controlling the relative angles of the parts, characterised in that the tractor end comprises a mounting which is adjustable laterally of the vehicle.

2. The mower as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the mounting comprises a bracket adapted to be clamped in position on a beam extending laterally of the tractor, one of the system of levers being pivoted to said bracket.

3. The mower as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the beam comprises hydraulic reservoir or power pack and is located at the rear of the tractor.

4. The mower as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein the bracket can alternatively be mounted on the end of the beam to increase the mach.

5. A mower substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.