MOWER DECK WITH SUSPENSION
A mower deck can include a suspension that allows a rear roller to pivot rearwardly and upwardly when the rear roller encounters a bump in the ground. The suspension can include brackets having a front end that is coupled to a housing of the mower deck at a pivot point. The rear roller can be coupled between rear ends of the brackets. Springs can be used to bias the brackets into a maximum angle of less than 90 degrees to the horizontal.
1 . A mower deck comprising:
a housing that is supported off the ground by one or more rear rolling mechanisms;
one or more cutting units housed within the housing; and
a suspension by which each rear rolling mechanism is coupled to the housing, the suspension comprising opposing brackets that are each connected to the housing at a pivot point and oriented rearwardly relative to the housing at a maximum angle less than 90 degrees from horizontal and opposing springs that bias the respective brackets into the maximum angle.
2 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the opposing springs are configured to enable the opposing brackets to pivot rearwardly and upwardly to a reduced angle when the one or more rear rolling mechanisms encounter a bump.
3 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rear rolling mechanisms are a rear roller.
4 . The mower deck of claim 3 , wherein the pivot point is towards front ends of the opposing brackets and the rear roller is coupled between rear ends of the opposing brackets.
5 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rear rolling mechanisms comprise opposing wheels.
6 . The mower deck of claim 5 , wherein the pivot point is towards front ends of the opposing brackets and each opposing wheel is coupled to a rear end of the respective opposing bracket.
7 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the mower deck does not include a front rolling mechanism.
8 . The mower deck of claim 1 , further comprising:
opposing stops that prevent the opposing brackets from pivoting beyond the maximum angle.
9 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein the opposing springs comprise one or more of a compression spring, a leaf spring, or a polymer insert.
10 . The mower deck of claim 1 , wherein a spring rate of the opposing springs is adjustable.
11 . The mower deck of claim 1 , further comprising:
a support structure that supports the mower deck from a mower, the support structure locking a pitch of the mower deck.
12 . A mower deck comprising:
a housing that is supported from a mower by a support structure;
one or more cutting units housed within the housing;
a rear roller; and
a suspension by which the rear roller is coupled to the housing, the suspension comprising opposing brackets that are each connected to the housing at a pivot point and oriented rearwardly relative to the housing at a maximum angle less than 90 degrees from horizontal and opposing springs that bias the respective brackets into the maximum angle.
13 . The mower deck of claim 12 , further comprising:
stops that prevent the opposing brackets from pivoting beyond the maximum angle.
14 . The mower deck of claim 12 , wherein the opposing springs are configured to enable the opposing brackets to pivot rearwardly and upwardly to a reduced angle when the one or more rear rolling mechanisms encounter a bump.
15 . The mower deck of claim 12 , wherein the maximum angle is between 35 and 70 degrees.
16 . The mower deck of claim 12 , wherein the maximum angle is between 55 and 65 degrees.
17 . The mower deck of claim 12 , wherein a spring rate of the opposing springs is adjustable.
18 . A mower deck comprising:
a housing in which one or more cutting units are housed;
a rear rolling mechanism that supports the housing above the ground;
a bracket by which the rear rolling mechanism is coupled to the housing, the bracket being angled rearwardly relative to the housing at a maximum angle less than 90 degrees from horizontal; and
a spring that biases the bracket into the maximum angle and allows the bracket to pivot to a reduced angle when the rear rolling mechanism encounters a bump in the ground.
19 . The mower deck of claim 18 , wherein the rear rolling mechanism is a rear roller, the bracket is a first bracket that couples a first end of the rear roller to the housing, and the spring is a first spring the biases the first bracket into the maximum angle, the mower deck further comprising:
a second bracket that couples a second end of the rear roller to the housing, the second bracket being angled rearwardly relative to the housing at a maximum angle less than 90 degrees from horizontal; and
a second spring that biases the second bracket into the maximum angle and allows the second bracket to pivot to the reduced angle.
20 . The mower deck of claim 18 , wherein a spring rate of the spring is adjustable.