Moa Unit

Abstract

This provides a moor deck that allows for more comfortable operation and adjustment of the wheel unit height. [Solution] The moor unit comprises a moor deck 2 and a wheel unit 4. The wheel unit 4 includes a wheel body 40 and a wheel support mechanism 5 that supports the wheel body 40 so as to be displaceable in the height direction relative to the moor deck 2. The wheel support mechanism 5 includes a support rod 7 connected to the wheel body 40, a boss bracket 50 having a boss body 51 that receives the support rod 7 so as to be displaceable in the height direction, an axially slidable operating rod 6 having a locking part 62 that locks the support rod 7 at a predetermined displaced position and a locking part 63 that allows the support rod 7 to be displaced in the height direction, arranged side by side in the axial direction, and an elastic member 65 that biases and holds the operating rod 6 in a locked state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mower unit including a blade rotatably supported inside a mower deck and a wheel unit disposed outside a side wall of the mower deck.

Background Art

[0002] In a mower unit equipped with a wheel unit, even if there are changes in the ground surface of the mowing field, the wheel unit touches the ground, preventing the blade from touching the ground. The wheel adjustment mechanism of the mower deck disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a support rod formed with a plurality of horizontal grooves, a gauge wheel functioning as a wheel unit connected to the lower end of the support rod, and a horizontal latch rod having a circumferential surface portion engaging with the horizontal grooves of the support rod and a circumferential surface recess not engaging with the horizontal grooves. The circumferential surface portion and the circumferential surface recess are disposed opposite to the axis of the horizontal latch rod, and when the circumferential surface portion engages with the horizontal grooves by rotation of the horizontal latch rod around its axis, the gauge wheel is held at a predetermined height.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the mower deck according to Patent Document 1, when the user rotates the horizontal latch rod functioning as an operation rod for height adjustment around its horizontal axis, the support rod is switched from an engaged state to a disengaged state, and the ground height of the support rod can be adjusted. Since the mower unit is suspended near the ground, the operation of rotating the horizontally arranged horizontal latch rod is not a comfortable operation.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a moor deck that allows for adjustment of the wheel unit height with more comfortable operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The moor unit according to the present invention comprises a moor deck having a top plate and a side wall extending downward from the outer peripheral end of the top plate, a blade rotatably supported inside the moor deck, and a wheel unit disposed outside the side wall, wherein the wheel unit includes a wheel body and a wheel support mechanism that supports the wheel body so as to be displaceable in the height direction relative to the moor deck, the wheel support mechanism includes a support rod connected to the wheel body, a boss bracket having a boss body that receives the support rod so as to be displaceable in the height direction, an axially slidable operating rod having a locking part that creates a locked state that locks the support rod at a plurality of predetermined displacement positions and a locking part that creates an unlocked state that allows the support rod to be displaced in the height direction, arranged in parallel in the axial direction, and an elastic member that holds the operating rod in the locked state.

[0007] With this configuration, the user can selectively create a locked or unlocked state simply by pushing the operating rod in its axial direction and sliding it. The pushing operation is easier than rotational operations, allowing the user to comfortably adjust the height of the wheel unit even while crouching. Furthermore, the elastic member biases and holds the operating rod in the locked state, reducing the likelihood of accidental unlocking.

[0008] For ease of manufacture and other reasons, the operating rod and support rod preferably have a circular or polygonal cross-section. In this case, the cross-sectional shape does not have to be the same along the entire length, and may be partially circular or polygonal. In particular, to ensure smooth axial sliding of the operating rod and to facilitate its mechanical manufacture, the operating rod is preferably a cylindrical rod. Furthermore, it is advantageous in mechanical manufacture if the locking and unlocking parts, which are arranged side by side in the axial direction, are formed with different diameters. Moreover, if the outer surface shape of the locking part on the operating rod and the outer surface shape of the curved concave surface that serves as the locked part on the support rod are complementary shapes, their locking engagement will be efficient (large engagement area). Therefore, in the present invention, the operating rod is a cylindrical rod, the locking portion is formed as a large-diameter portion, the unlocking portion is formed as a small-diameter portion smaller in diameter than the large-diameter portion, and the support rod is a cylindrical rod, with a plurality of curved concave surfaces formed on the circumferential surface of the support rod along the axial direction, and the locking state is created when the large-diameter portion fits into the curved concave surfaces.

[0009] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the shape of the locking portion, which works in cooperation with the cylindrical operating rod to create a locked state, can be formed by simple machining such as drilling. Therefore, in this invention, it is proposed that the curved concave surface is formed by removing the circumferential surface of the support rod with a cylindrical body extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support rod.

[0010] If the operation to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state can be done simply by pushing the operating rod, and the system automatically transitions from the unlocked state to the locked state when this operation is stopped, then the operation of the operating rod becomes even simpler. Therefore, in this invention, it is proposed that the unlocked state is created when the operating rod in the locked state is slid against the biasing force of the elastic member so that the small diameter portion faces the circumferential surface of the cylindrical rod, and the locked state is returned when the sliding operation is released.

[0011] When operating an operating rod by pushing it, a larger operating surface on the operating rod makes operation easier. For this reason, the present invention proposes that an operating head with a larger diameter than the large-diameter portion is formed at one end of the operating rod, and a retaining pin is attached to the other end of the operating rod. In this configuration, since an operating head with a large diameter is formed at one end of the operating rod and a retaining pin is provided at the other end of the operating rod, the advantage of preventing the operating rod from falling out is also obtained.

[0012] Since the wheel body generally rolls on uneven ground, it is susceptible to damage. To simplify the replacement of a damaged wheel body, a structure that allows only the wheel body to be removed, rather than the entire wheel support mechanism being removed from the moor deck, is preferable. Furthermore, since multiple wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, if the wheel body is common to all wheel units, fewer spare wheel bodies will be needed for replacement. For these reasons, the present invention proposes that multiple wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, all of the wheel bodies are interchangeable, and the wheel body is detachably attached to the wheel support mechanism via a connecting shaft that is coaxial with the wheel body. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a moor unit in which multiple wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, the wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, the wheel body is connected to the wheel support mechanism via a connecting shaft coaxial with the rotation axis of the wheel body and integrated as the wheel unit, the wheel unit is detachably connected to a stay 23 fixed to the moor deck and is interchangeable with at least one other wheel unit. With this configuration, the wheel unit, which is integrated by connecting the wheel body, the connecting shaft, and the wheel support mechanism, is interchangeable with other wheel units. In this case, if the mounting orientation of the wheel body and the wheel support mechanism differs between the left and right wheel units, the left-side wheel units can be interchanged with each other, or the right-side wheel units can be interchanged with each other. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the entire Mohr unit. [Figure 2] This is a right-side view of the mower unit. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the wheel unit. [Figure 4] This is a partial cross-sectional view of the wheel unit in plan view. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the wheel unit, seen from the front, showing the operating rod and support rod in a disengaged state. [Figure 6] This is a side view of the operating rod. [Figure 7] This is a front view of the wheel unit with the operating rod and support rod engaged. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view of the boss bracket. [Figure 9] This is a side view of the support rod and the wheel body. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] In this specification, unless otherwise specified, "front" refers to the forward direction of the aircraft in the longitudinal direction (direction of travel), and "rear" refers to the rear direction of the aircraft in the longitudinal direction (direction of travel). Also, the left-right direction or lateral direction refers to the transverse direction of the aircraft (aircraft width direction) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aircraft. "Up" or "down" refers to the positional relationship of the aircraft in the vertical direction (vertical direction), and means the relationship at ground level.

[0015] Next, one specific embodiment of the mower unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole of the mower unit 1, and FIG. 2 is a right side view of the mower unit 1. The mower unit 1 is equipped on the body of a tractor or a lawn mower via a link mechanism or the like, and can be raised and lowered between a lower position in contact with the ground and an upper position spaced a predetermined distance from the ground. The lateral direction (left - right direction) of the mower unit 1 is the direction across the traveling direction of the body of the mower unit 1 equipped on the body, and the front - rear direction of the body is the front - rear direction of the mower unit 1. The vertical direction (ground height direction) of the body is the height direction (up - down direction) of the mower unit 1.

[0016] The mower unit 1 includes a mower deck 2. The mower deck 2 has a top plate 21 whose left - right width is longer than the front - rear width and side walls 22 extending downward from the outer peripheral ends of the top plate 21. As shown in FIG. 2, three blades 30 arranged in the left - right direction are disposed in the internal space IS of the mower deck 2. Each blade 30 extends in the up - down direction and is fixed to the lower end of a blade shaft 32 that is rotatably supported by the mower deck 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the blade shaft 32 is rotationally driven by a belt - type blade drive mechanism 31 provided on the top plate 21 of the mower deck 2. Although not shown, power is supplied to the blade drive mechanism 31 from the body side. A mowing discharge port 10 is provided at the right - hand end in the left - right direction of the mower deck 2, and the internal space IS of the mower deck 2 opens at the mowing discharge port 10. The mowed grass cut by each blade 30 is discharged from the mowing discharge port 10 by the conveying wind generated by the rotation of the blade 30.

[0017] Four wheel units 4 are arranged outside the side walls 22 of the mower deck 2. That is, two wheel units 4 are arranged in the left - hand end region and the right - hand end region of the front side wall 22 (front wall), and two wheel units 4 are arranged in the left - hand end region and the right - hand end region of the rear side wall 22 (rear wall).

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, the wheel unit 4 is composed of a wheel body 40 and a wheel support mechanism 5 that rotatably supports the wheel body 40 and is displaceable in the height direction with respect to the mooring deck 2. The wheel unit 4 is supported by the top plate 21 and the side wall 22 of the mooring deck 2 via the stay 23. When the wheel body 40 is displaced in the height direction with respect to the mooring deck 2, the ground clearance of the mooring deck 2 changes.

[0019] The wheel support mechanism 5 includes a support rod 7, a boss bracket 50, and an operation rod 6. The support rod 7 is connected to the wheel body 40 at its lower end. The boss bracket 50 has a boss body 51 that receives the support rod 7 and is displaceable in the height direction. As shown in FIG. 6, the operation rod 6 is a cylindrical body having an axis 6x, and is composed of a first portion 61, a second portion 62, a third portion 63, and a fourth portion 64 formed in order along the axis 6x. The first portion 61 and the third portion 63 are small-diameter portions having the same small diameter (denoted as d1 in FIG. 6), and the second portion 62 and the fourth portion 64 are large-diameter portions having the same large diameter (denoted as d2 in FIG. 6). That is, the first portion 61 and the third portion 63 have a diameter difference of d2 - d1 compared to the second portion 62 and the fourth portion 64.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 8, the boss bracket 50 is integrally formed with a boss body 51 that receives the support rod 7 and a rod guide boss 52 that guides the sliding operation of the operation rod 6. The boss body 51 is provided with a boss hole 51a that guides the support rod 7 to slide vertically, and the rod guide boss 52 is provided with a guide hole 52a that guides the operation rod 6 to slide axially. Further, the boss bracket 50 is provided with a plurality of connection holes 53 for bolt connection with the stay 23.

[0021] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the operating rod 6 is axially slidable into the guide hole 52a of the rod guide boss 52. Furthermore, the support rod 7 is inserted into the boss hole 51a of the boss body 51. In this configuration, the axis 6x of the operating rod 6 (which coincides with the axis of the guide hole 52a) is perpendicular to the axis 7x of the support rod 7 (which coincides with the axis of the boss hole 51a), creating a positional relationship in which the large-diameter portion of the operating rod 6 and the support rod 7 interfere with each other.

[0022] As shown in Figure 9, the support rod 7 is a cylindrical rod, and multiple curved concave surfaces 71 are formed on its circumferential surface along the axial direction. These curved concave surfaces 71 have a shape formed by removing the circumferential surface of the support rod 7 by one side of a cylindrical body in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support rod 7. More specifically, the curved concave surfaces 71 are machining marks made by drilling with a drill set at a position that intersects the axis 7x of the support rod 7 and penetrates a predetermined depth from the circumferential surface of the support rod 7. The drill diameter here corresponds to the diameter of the large diameter portion (second portion 62 and fourth portion 64) of the operating rod 6, and the predetermined depth is set to create a positional relationship that prevents vertical displacement of the support rod 7 by interfering with the large diameter portion of the operating rod 6, but does not interfere with the small diameter portion (first portion 61 and third portion 63) of the operating rod 6. The curved concave surfaces 71 and the large diameter portion of the operating rod 6 have complementary shapes.

[0023] The positional relationship between the curved concave surface 71 of the support rod 7 and the large-diameter and small-diameter portions of the operating rod 6 creates a locked state (see Figure 7) in which the support rod 7 is locked at a predetermined displacement position, and an unlocked state (see Figure 5) that allows the support rod 7 to be moved in the height direction. The large-diameter portion of the operating rod 6 functions as the locking portion that creates the locked state, and the small-diameter portion of the operating rod 6 functions as the unlocking portion. In this embodiment, the locking portion (second portion 62) and the unlocking portion (third portion 63) are adjacent, but the locking portion and the unlocking portion may be spaced apart.

[0024] As shown in Figures 5, 6, and 7, a coil spring 65, which acts as an elastic member, is fitted onto the first portion 61, which is the small-diameter section of the operating rod 6. After the operating rod 6 is inserted into the guide hole 52a of the rod guide boss 52 together with the coil spring 65, a retaining pin 66 is inserted into the pin hole 66a formed at the tip of the first portion 61, and the operating rod 6 is held in place by the rod guide boss 52.

[0025] The operating rod 6, held by the rod guide boss 52, is restricted to a position controlled by the retaining pin 66 by the biasing force of the coil spring 65. In this restricted position, the second portion 62, which is the larger diameter part of the operating rod 6, faces the curved concave surface 71, which is the circumferential surface of the support rod 7, and the second portion 62 engages with one of the curved concave surfaces 71, locking the support rod 7 and the operating rod 6 together (see Figure 7). In this locked state, by sliding the operating head 67, which is larger in diameter than the larger diameter part and formed at the tip of the fourth portion 64 of the operating rod 6, against the biasing force of the coil spring 65, the third portion 63, which is the smaller diameter part of the operating rod 6, faces the curved concave surface 71 of the support rod 7. However, since the third portion 63 does not interfere with the circumferential surface of the support rod 7, the support rod 7 and the operating rod 6 are unlocked (see Figure 5). As a result, the support rod 7 can be displaced in the height direction, and the height position of the wheel body 40 can be freely adjusted. When the desired height position is reached, stopping the sliding operation of the operating rod 6 causes the operating rod 6 to slide due to the biasing force of the coil spring 65, and the second portion 62 engages with the desired curved concave surface 71, returning the locked state.

[0026] As shown in Figure 9, a connecting portion 72 is provided at the lower end of the support rod 7. A connecting shaft 41, which has a rotation axis coaxial with the wheel body 40, is inserted into this connecting portion 72. The wheel body 40 is supported by the connecting shaft 41, which has a rotation axis coaxial with the wheel body 40. The connecting portion 72 and the free end of the connecting shaft 41 are detachably attached to the free end of the connecting shaft 41 by bolts.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 9, four wheel units 4 are arranged on the moor deck 2, and the wheel bodies 40 of each wheel unit 4 are interchangeable. Furthermore, the wheel support mechanisms 5 of the wheel units 4 can be easily attached to and detached from the stays 23 using bolts. This facilitates maintenance and inspection of the wheel units 4.

[0028] Furthermore, as is clear from Figures 3 and 8, the boss bracket 50 has a vertically symmetrical structure, and all (four in this embodiment) operating rods 6 for adjusting the height of the wheel body 40 can be mounted and operated by pushing them from the outside to the inside of the moor deck 2. In other words, in Figure 1, the operating rods 6 for the left front and left rear wheel units 4 are mounted from the outside to the inside on the left side of the moor deck 2, and the operating rods 6 for the right front and right rear wheel units 4 are mounted from the outside to the inside on the right side of the moor deck 2, making them operable. This makes the mounting and operation of these operating rods 6 easier.

[0029] [Another embodiment] (1) In the embodiment described above, there were four wheel units 4 in total, one each in the front, rear, left, and right regions of the moor deck 2. However, the arrangement is not limited to this configuration, and more or fewer wheel units 4 may be arranged.

[0030] (2) In the above-described embodiment, the coil spring 65 fitted onto the first portion 61 of the operating rod 6 served as the elastic member that biased and held the operating rod 6 in a locked state. However, the type of elastic member may be a leaf spring or other elastic structure, and the location of the member may be another part of the operating rod 6 or on the outside of the operating rod 6.

[0031] (3) In the above-described embodiment, the locked state of the operating rod 6 was created by the engagement of the second portion 62 of the operating rod 6 into the curved concave surface 71, but the geometric shape that creates such a locked state may be an angular face or a prism, etc. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the operating rod 6 and the support rod 7 were configured as cylindrical rods, but they may be configured as rods having a circular cross-section or a polygonal cross-section.

[0032] Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no inconsistencies arise. Moreover, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the object of the present invention. [Industrial applicability]

[0033] The present invention is applicable to a mower unit equipped with a wheel unit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1: Moa Unit 2: Moa Deck 4: Wheel Unit 5: Wheel support mechanism 6: Operating rod 7: Support rod 10: Clipped grass outlet 21: Tabletop 22: Side wall 23: Stay 30: Blade 40: Wheel body 41: Connecting shaft 50: Boss bracket 51: Boss form 51a: Boss hole 52a: Guide hole 53: Connecting hole 61 :1st part 62: Part 2 (Rock section) 63: Part 3 (Unlocking section) 64: 4th part 65: Coil spring (elastic component) 66: Retaining pin 66a: Pinhole 67: Operating head 71: Curved concave surface 72:Connection part IS: interior space

Claims

1. It is a Moa unit, A moor deck having a top plate and side walls extending downward from the outer edge of the top plate, A blade rotatably supported inside the moor deck, A wheel unit positioned outside the aforementioned side wall, Equipped with, The wheel unit includes a wheel body and a wheel support mechanism that supports the wheel body so as to be displaceable in the height direction relative to the moor deck. The wheel support mechanism is a moor unit comprising a support rod connected to the wheel body, a boss bracket having a boss body that receives the support rod so as to be displaceable in the height direction, an axially slidable operating rod having a locking part that creates a locked state that locks the support rod at a plurality of predetermined displacement positions and a locking part that creates an unlocked state that allows the support rod to be displaced in the height direction, arranged in parallel in the axial direction, and an elastic member that biases and holds the operating rod in the locked state.

2. The moor unit according to claim 1, wherein the operating rod and the support rod have a circular or polygonal cross-section.

3. The operating rod is a cylindrical rod, the locking portion is formed as a large-diameter portion, and the unlocking portion is formed as a small-diameter portion with a smaller diameter than the large-diameter portion, and The moor unit according to claim 2, wherein the support rod is a cylindrical rod, and a plurality of curved concave surfaces are formed on the circumferential surface of the support rod along the axial direction, and the lock state is created when the large diameter portion is fitted into the curved concave surfaces.

4. The moor unit according to claim 3, wherein the curved concave surface is formed by removing the circumferential surface of the support rod with a cylindrical body extending in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the support rod.

5. The mower unit according to claim 3, wherein the operating rod in the locked state is slid against the biasing force of the elastic member so that the small diameter portion faces the circumferential surface of the cylindrical rod, thereby creating the unlocked state, and the locked state is returned when the sliding operation is released.

6. The mower unit according to claim 3, wherein an operating head with a larger diameter than the large diameter portion is formed at one end of the operating rod, and a retaining pin is attached to the other end of the operating rod.

7. The moor unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, all of the wheel bodies are interchangeable, and the wheel bodies are detachably attached to the wheel support mechanism via a connecting shaft that is coaxial with the wheel body.

8. The moor unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the wheel units are arranged on the moor deck, the wheel body is connected to the wheel support mechanism via a connecting shaft coaxial with the rotation axis of the wheel body and integrated as the wheel unit, and the wheel unit is detachably connected to a stay fixed to the moor deck and is interchangeable with at least one other wheel unit.

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