Electric implement lift system for mower cutting units

1. An apparatus comprising:

a mower cutting unit on a lift arm extending from a mowing vehicle;

an electric motor having a rotatable output shaft with a pivot bracket mounted to the output shaft;

a lift link having a first end connected to the pivot bracket and a second end connected to the lift arm;

the output shaft rotatable in a first direction to raise the mower cutting unit and in a second direction to lower the mower cutting unit;

wherein the output shaft is rotatable in the first direction to move the cutting unit to a top/center position and rotatable further in the first direction to move the cutting unit to a raised/transport position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stop limiting the rotation of the output shaft in the first direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mower cutting unit is a cutting reel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the raised/transport position is lower than the top/center position.

5. An electric implement lift system for a mower cutting unit on a lift arm extending from a mowing vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor turning an output shaft having an axis of rotation;

a lift link having a first end pivotably attached to the shaft and extending laterally from the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft, and a second end pivotably attached to the lift arm;

the electric motor selectively turning the output shaft to move the lift link relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft between a first position in which the mower cutting unit is on the ground, and a second position in which the mower cutting unit is off the ground.

6. The electric implement lift system of claim 5 further comprising a pair of cutting units on lift arms, and a pair of lift links.

7. The electric implement lift system of claim 5 further comprising a gear reducer between the electric motor and the output shaft.

8. The electric implement lift system of claim 5 further comprising a slot in the second end of the lift arm, and a pin inserted through the slot and engaging the lift arm.

9. The electric implement lift system of claim 5 wherein the mower cutting unit has a weight tending to hold the unit in the second position.

10. An electric implement lift system for a mower cutting unit on a lift arm extending from a mowing vehicle, comprising:

an electric motor turning an output shaft;

a lift link having a first end pivotably attached to the shaft and extending laterally from the shaft in a direction perpendicular to the shaft, and a second end pivotably attached to the lift arm;

the electric motor selectively turning the output shaft between a first position in which the mower cutting unit is on the ground, and a second position in which the mower cutting unit is off the ground;

wherein the electric motor may raise the cutting unit to a top center position above the second position.

11. An electric implement lift system for mower cutting units, comprising:

a lift arm having an outer end pivotably attached to the mower cutting unit, and an inner end pivotably attached to a mowing vehicle;

an electrically powered rotatable shaft mounted to the mowing vehicle; the shaft having an axis of rotation; and

a lift link extending laterally from the shaft to the lift arm adjacent the inner end of the lift arm; the shaft rotating in a first direction to move the lift link radially outwardly perpendicular to the shaft's axis of rotation to raise the mower cutting unit to a top/center position.

12. The implement lift system of claim 11 further comprising an electric motor and a gear reducer connected to the shaft.

13. The implement lift system of claim 11 further comprising a pair of lift arms having their outer ends pivotably attached to mower cutting units, and a pair of lift links to raise the pair of cutting units.

14. An electric implement lift system for mower cutting units, comprising:

a lift arm having an outer end pivotably attached to the mower cutting unit, and an inner end pivotably attached to a mowing vehicle;

an electrically powered rotatable shaft mounted to the mowing vehicle; and

a lift link extending laterally from the shaft to the lift arm adjacent the inner end of the lift arm; the shaft rotating in a first direction to move the lift link radially outwardly to raise the mower cutting unit;

wherein the shaft is rotatable past a top center position to move the cutting unit to the raised position.