Configurable lift actuator for lawn mower cutting unit

1 . A cutting assembly for a mower, the cutting assembly comprising:

a cutting unit comprising a plurality of blades;

a lift arm including a float plate, wherein the cutting unit is connected to the lift arm via a yoke and wherein a slot is provided in the float plate;

a lift actuator comprising a lift pin disposed in the slot; and

a control system for selectively controlling a position of the lift actuator;

wherein the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator; and

wherein each position is configurable.

2 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a master control unit (MCU) for issuing commands to the lift actuator for controlling the position of the lift actuator.

3 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cutting unit comprises a rotating cutting unit.

4 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lift actuator comprises an electric actuator.

5 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the lift actuator is in the crosscut position, the lift actuator is neither fully extended nor fully retracted.

6 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the lift actuator is in the transport position, the lift actuator is fully retracted.

7 . The cutting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cutting assembly is electrically connected to a control panel for selecting the position of the actuator, wherein the control panel comprises a touch screen.

8 . A mower comprising:

a plurality of cutting assemblies, wherein each of the cutting assemblies comprises:

a cutting unit comprising a plurality of blades;

a lift arm including a float plate, wherein the cutting unit is connected to the lift arm via a yoke and wherein a slot is provided in the float plate; and

an electric lift actuator comprising a lift pin disposed in the slot; and

a control system for selectively controlling a position of each of the lift actuators in response to user input provided via a graphical user interface (GUI);

wherein for each of the lift actuators, the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, wherein each position is configurable using the GUI; and

wherein positions of the lift actuators are controlled collectively.

9 . The mower of claim 8 , wherein the user input is provided by pressing a soft key on the GUI.

10 . The mower of claim 8 , further providing a switch panel for providing input signals to the control system in response to user-activation of one of the switches, wherein the input signals indicate a desired mode of operation of the mower.

11 . The mower of claim 8 , wherein the control system includes a master control unit (MCU) for issuing commands to the lift actuators for controlling the positions of the lift actuators.

12 . The mower of claim 8 , wherein when the lift actuator is in the crosscut position, the lift actuator is extended less than a maximum distance and more than a minimum distance.

13 . The mower of claim 8 , wherein when the lift actuator is in the transport position, the lift actuator is fully retracted.

14 . A control system for a mower cutting assembly comprising a cutting unit, a lift arm connected to the cutting unit, wherein a slot is provided in the lift arm, and a lift actuator comprising a lift pin secured in the slot, the control system comprising:

an input device for receiving user input regarding a position of the lift actuator; and

a master control unit (MCU) for receiving the user input from the input device and for selectively controlling a position of the lift actuator in accordance with the received user input;

wherein the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, wherein each position is configurable.

15 . The control system of claim 14 , further comprising a controller area network (CAN) bus, wherein the MCU selectively controls the position of the lift actuator using control signals provided to the lift actuator via the CAN bus.

16 . The control system of claim 14 , wherein the input device comprises at least one of a switch, a joystick, and a display unit including a graphical user interface.

17 . The control system of claim 16 , wherein the display unit comprises a touch screen.