Flexible Mower Deck With Pivotable Wing Decks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mower decks on zero turning radius mowers cannot mow at reduced widths when wing decks are pivoted up, are prone to hydraulic fluid leaks, and require operator intervention to adjust cutting height.
Innovation Solution
A flexible mower deck design featuring pivotable wing decks with electric or hydraulic motors to rotate cutting blades, allowing operation at reduced widths and adjustable cutting heights from the operator seat, with a belt-driven system that maintains blade rotation across positions and includes position sensors and height adjustment mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a belt-driven system is used to rotate cutting blades, then the system can operate at reduced widths with wing decks pivoted up, but the system complexity increases due to additional motors and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wing decks are made dynamically adjustable through pivotable connections that allow them to transition between horizontal mowing positions and vertical transport positions. This dynamic configuration enables the deck to adapt to different mowing widths while maintaining operational capability, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity by making the structure adaptable rather than fixed
Solution Approach 2:
The belt-driven system with independent motors on each wing deck creates a universal power transmission mechanism that can rotate cutting blades regardless of the wing deck position. The same belt system serves multiple functions: transmitting power to center deck blades and maintaining power transmission to wing deck blades whether the wings are in mowing or transport position, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms for different operating modes
2Reliability
If hydraulic motors are used to rotate cutting blades, then power transmission is reliable, but hydraulic fluid leaks occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic motor system with a belt-driven mechanical transmission system. The belt connects to pulleys on spindles that rotate the cutting blades, eliminating hydraulic fluid and associated leakage problems while maintaining reliable power transmission through the mechanical belt-pulley mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic system and its associated fluid are completely extracted from the power transmission mechanism. By removing the hydraulic motors and fluid lines, the patent eliminates the source of fluid leakage while transitioning to a cleaner mechanical belt-driven system that achieves the same function without the harmful hydraulic fluid
3Ease of operation
If manual height adjustment mechanisms are used on each wing deck, then cutting height can be adjusted, but operator intervention is required which reduces productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The height adjustment mechanism is designed to be self-operating through hydraulic cylinders that automatically adjust the wing deck cutting height based on operator input from the seat. The system serves itself by converting the operator's control signals into automatic mechanical adjustment, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
Hydraulic cylinders act as intermediaries between the operator's control inputs and the physical wing deck positioning. The cylinders translate control signals into precise height adjustments automatically, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for direct manual adjustment while maintaining operational control and productivity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables mowing at reduced widths without hydraulic leaks and allows for seamless height adjustments from the operator seat, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
A flexible mower deck includes a center deck with a plurality of rotary cutting blades rotated by a belt engaging a driven pulley for each blade
Implementation Method 2
An electric or hydraulic motor is mounted on each of the wing decks to rotate a rotary cutting blade under each of the wing decks
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible mower deck includes a center deck with a plurality of belt driven pulleys for rotating a plurality of rotary cutting blades under the center deck. A wing deck is pivotably attached to each of the first and second ends. A motor on each wing deck rotates a rotary cutting blade by actuating a switch in an operator station to pivot each wing deck to a mowing position.