Pivoting Tool Bar Mower for Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wide wing type mowers in the prior art require jacking or raising the center section for maintenance, and debris accumulation on top of the mower decks poses a fire hazard and interferes with drivelines, as the center section remains on the ground during transport.
Innovation Solution
A mower apparatus with a tool bar that pivots to a vertical transport position, allowing all mowing units to be elevated, providing access for maintenance and causing debris to fall off, thus exposing the bottom of each unit at a low location for repair and self-cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the center section remains on the ground during transport, then the mower can be transported, but maintenance and repair of the mowing mechanism under the center section requires jacking or raising the center decks
Solution Approach 1:
The tool bar is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between operating and transport positions. When in transport position, the entire tool bar including center section and wing sections rotates to a vertical orientation, making all mowing units accessible from below without requiring jacking operations.
2Productivity
If the wing sections extend laterally perpendicular to the operating travel direction, then the mower can operate, but the mowing mechanism under the wing decks is inaccessible for maintenance and repair
Solution Approach 1:
The wing sections are pivotally attached to the tool bar, allowing them to rotate from a lateral operating position to a vertical transport position. This dynamic reconfiguration exposes the bottom of each mowing unit at a low location, providing easy access for maintenance and repair without requiring the sections to remain in a fixed lateral position.
3Ease of operation
If the center section remains on the ground during transport, then the mower can be transported, but debris collects on top of the mower decks where it can interfere with drive lines and present a fire hazard
Solution Approach 1:
Rotating the tool bar to a vertical transport position utilizes gravity to cause debris collected on top of the mower decks to fall off naturally, eliminating the fire hazard and interference with drive lines that would occur if the decks remained in a horizontal transport position.
Data Source
AI summary
A mower apparatus has a tool bar mounted on wheels has a center section and right and left wing sections pivotally attached to the center section. When the tool bar is in an operating position the wing sections extend laterally from the center section perpendicular to the operating travel direction, and in a transport position the wing sections extend rearward or forward from the center section. A plurality of mowing units is attached to the tool bar such that when the tool bar is in the operating position each mowing unit extends rearward from the tool bar, and when the tool bar is in the transport position each mowing unit extends upward from the tool bar.