Riding mower with deck height adjustment
View Patent ↗A riding mower includes an apparatus for adjusting the height of a mowing deck. The mowing deck is supported relative to a frame of the riding mower by a deck lift system. The deck lift system is actuated by a foot activated lever, with an arm linking the lever to the deck lift system. A cam wheel having an outer radial edge of varying radius is rotationally mounted near an operator seating area of the mower. A shoulder is disposed on the arm to contact the outer radial edge of the cam wheel when the mowing deck is in a lowered position. The height of the mowing deck relative to a ground surface is a function of the outer radial edge oriented for contact with the shoulder of the arm.
1. A riding mower having an apparatus for adjusting the height of a mowing deck relative to a ground surface, the riding mower having a frame supporting an operator seating area and a deck lift system, wherein the mowing deck is supported by the deck lift system, the apparatus comprising:
a lever pivotally connected to the frame of the mower proximate the operator seating area;
a moveable arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lever and a second end, opposite the first end, operably connected to the deck lift system, the arm comprising a shoulder between the first end and the second end generally adjacent the operator seating area, wherein the shoulder connects to and extends generally normal to the arm; and
a cam wheel rotationally connected to the frame of the mower proximate the shoulder of the arm, the cam wheel having an axis of rotation and an outer edge of varying radius relative to the axis of rotation, wherein the shoulder contacts a portion of the outer edge when the lever is in a first position, the shoulder is spaced from the outer edge when the lever is in a second position, and wherein the mowing deck height above the ground surface is a function of the radius of the cam outer edge in contact with the shoulder.
2. The riding mower of claim 1 wherein the lever is a foot actuatable lever.
3. The riding mower of claim 1 and further comprising a handle connected to the cam wheel, the handle enabling a user to rotate the cam wheel.
4. The riding mower of claim 3 wherein the cam wheel is fixed on a shaft rotatable by the handle, the shaft rotationally connected to the frame of the mower.
5. The riding mower of claim 4 and further comprising a height selector wheel fixed to the rotatable shaft adjacent to the cam wheel, the height selector wheel comprising a plurality of circumferential notches, wherein each notch corresponds to a different radius of the cam wheel.
6. The riding mower of claim 5 and further comprising a latch pivotally connected to the frame of the mower, the latch comprising a finger, the finger of the latch engaging a notch of the height selector wheel when the latch is in a first position, and the finger of the latch disengaging the notch when the latch is in a second position, the cam wheel being rotatable by the handle when the latch is in the second position.
7. The riding mower of claim 6 wherein the height selector wheel comprises a first planar surface oriented towards the operator seating area, the first planar surface having indicia at each notch indicative of a height of the mowing deck relative to the ground surface when the finger of the latch engages the notch.
8. The riding mower of claim 1 and further comprising a transport lock, the transport lock rotatably connected to the frame of the mower proximate the operator seating area, the transport lock having a handle and a finger, the finger engaging the shoulder of the moveable arm when the lever is in the second position and the transport lock is in a first position to secure the mowing deck in a fully raised position, and the finger disengaging the shoulder when the transport lock is in a second position to permit the lever to move to the first position.
9. A riding mower having a deck lift system for adjusting the height of a mowing deck relative to a ground surface, the mower having an operator seating area and a frame, the deck lift system comprising:
a rear rotating assembly rotatably connected to the frame and connected to a rear portion of the mowing deck;
a front rotating assembly rotatably mounted to the frame and connected to a front portion of the mowing deck;
linking members connecting the front and rear rotating assemblies;
a means for operating the deck lift system to raise and lower the mowing deck, wherein the means for operating comprises:
a lever pivotally connected to the frame proximate to the operator seating area; and
a displaceable arm having a first end pivotally connected to the lever and a second end connected to the rear rotating assembly of the deck lift system; and
means operable within the operating means for adjusting the height of the mowing deck, wherein the means for adjusting the deck height comprises:
a shoulder connected to the arm between the first end and the second end, the shoulder extending normal to a direction of displacement of the displaceable arm; and
a cam wheel rotationally connected to the frame of the mower proximate the shoulder of the arm, the cam wheel having an axis of rotation, an outer edge, and a varying radius relative to the axis of rotation, wherein a portion of the cam outer edge contacts the shoulder when the mowing deck is in the deck down position, and wherein the height of the mowing deck above the ground surface in the deck down position is a function of the radius of the cam outer edge in contact with the shoulder.
10. The riding mower of claim 9 wherein the means for adjusting the deck height at the deck down position additionally comprises means for locking the cam wheel at a position representative of a selected deck height.