GB2233871A

GB2233871A - Vegetation cutting equipment

Info

Publication number: GB2233871A
Application number: GB9016082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Basil Crowther
Original assignee: MID WALES WELDED PRODUCTIONS L
Current assignee: MID WALES WELDED PRODUCTIONS L
Priority date: 1989-07-22
Filing date: 1990-07-23
Publication date: 1991-01-23
Also published as: GB9016082D0

Abstract

Vegetation cutting equipment is adapted to be towed by a vehicle and is self-contained, having a power unit 11 drivingly coupled to a pair of transversely spaced rotary cutter blades 8 mounted for rotation about generally vertical axes. The equipment is supported by a pair of ground support wheels 2, and the power unit drives the cutter blades 8 via a belt-pulley drive arrangement 14,15,16. The equipment is connected to a towing vehicle by a towbar comprising articulated sections 23, 24 pivoted to the equipment at 29. Section 24 only is used for central towing and both sections for side towing. <IMAGE>

Description

"VEGETATION CUTTING EQUIPMENT" The invention relates to a vegetation cutting equipment of the so-called "rotary mower" type, in which a rotary cutter blade is mounted for rotation about a normally vertical axis. It provides such equipment which in use can be towed by any suitable vehicle.

According to the invention vegetation cutting equipment is adapted to be towed by a vehicle and is self-contained, having a power unit drivingly coupled to a rotary cutter blade mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis.

The equipment of the invention preferably has a single pair of ground support wheels. The cutter blade may be one of two similar blades, with parallel rotational axes spaced transversely of the equipment so that the swept area of one blade just overlaps that of the other. The rotational axes of the cutter blades may respectively lead and trail the rotational axis of the ground support wheels by like amounts.

The provision of the power unit to drive the blade(s), conveniently via a belt-pulley drive arrangement, enables any suitable vehicle to be used for towing the equipment as the towing vehicle does not need to have a power take-off which is commonly required with towed. agricultural/horticultural equipment generally. The power unit is preferably an internal combustion engine, conveniently a 4-stroke petrol engine.

A tow bar may be provided at the front of the equipment, and this conveniently terminates in a standard ball hitch. This tow bar may be adapted to be stored lying across the front of the equipment, and to be adjustable for either central or side towing relative to the towing vehicle. Thus the tow bar may be in two sections and fixed at the inner end at one side of the equipment, in the central towing position the inner section lying across the front of the equipment and the outer section extending forwardly at the centre whereas in the other position both sections extend in line from the side fixing. In the latter or side towing position the extended tow bar is preferably outwardly inclined at a small angle, say 150, from a front corner of the equipment and a stabilizer bar may be fitted for support at this angle.

Side skids may be provided which are normally clear of the ground but which are engageable therewith if the equipment tips about the wheel axis to prevent the cutter blade(s) fouling the ground. The wheels may be mounted on side axle support arms, and for adjustment of the height of cut these arms may have front pivot mountings and be connected to height adjustment means at the rear.

Such adjustment means may comprise a centrally-mounted screw jack connected to the axle support arms by respective inclined rear struts.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying illustrations and drawings which illustrate, by way of example, a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the illustrations and drawings, which show towed agricultural equipment particularly suitable for cutting down vegetation such as thistles: Fig. 1 is a rear perspective view of the equipment as attached to a towing vehicle; Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the equipment; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the equipment with a top cover removed; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on the line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

The equipment illustrated has a tubular and pressed steel frame 1 which is supported centrally on a pair of side wheels 2 freely rotatable about a common lateral axis 3 and fitted with pneumatic tyres. Each wheel 2 is mounted on a stub axle 4a projecting from a corresponding one of two side support arms 4 pivotally secured to the frame 1 at pivot mountings 5. For adjustment of the height of cut to suit the cutting operation to be carried out, the rear ends of the arms 4 are supported by a screw jack 6, mounted centrally of the frame 1 at the rear thereof, through inclined rear struts 7. Thus, a top winding handle 6a of the jack 6 serves to adjust the height of the frame 1 relative to the ground.

Within the frame a pair of similar rotary cutter blades 8 are mounted for rotation about respective generally vertical axes 9 and 10. The axes 9,10 respectively lead and trail the wheel axis 3 by like amounts and they are spaced apart, transversely of the frame 1, by a distance such that the area swept by each of the blades 8 just overlaps the area swept by the other blade. The blades are driven by a 4-stroke petrol engine 11 mounted on top of a box-section pressed steel cross member 12 of the frame 1 with a vertical output shaft 13.

A twin pulley 14 on the shaft 13 is drivingly coupled to the blades 8 by belts 15 driving respective blade pulleys 16. Thus both blades 8 rotate at the same speed, being relatively positioned angularly of the blade axes 9 and 10 so that they do not foul one another at the overlapping swept area region. The belt drives are housed within the cross member 12 which is inclined laterally of the frame 1, with the blades 8 mounted centrally of and below the cross member 12.

A removable flat steel sheet body cover 17 is secured to the frame 1, this cover being omitted in Fig. 3 to show internal detail, and a pressed steel side sheet 18 is secured at each side of the frame 1 so that the cutters 8 are effectively guarded. Tubular steel wheel guards 19 (omitted from Figs. 1 and 2) are fitted at the sides of the equipment and a full width rubber baffle 20, hinged at the top, extends across the otherwise open rear of the frame 1.

At each side a flat steel bar "skid" 21 is secured below the frame 1 which engages the ground to prevent the equipment tipping about the wheel axis 3 sufficiently for either of the cutters 8 to foul the ground.

The equipment is adapted for attachment to any suitable towing vehicle, a power take-off not being required, and it is shown in Fig. 1 as attached to a so-called ATV (all terrain vehicle) V such as is becoming increasingly popular for agricultural operations where the power of a normal tractor is not required. The equipment has a front tow bar 22 which comprises an inner section 23 articulated to an outer section 24 at pivot bolt 25. In Fig. 3 the tow bar 22 is shown in full lines in the storage position extending across the front of the equipment.

For central towing only the outer section 24 of the tow bar 22, which terminates in a standard 50 mm ball hitch 26 is employed, extending forwardly as shown in broken lines at 24'. In this condition the inner section 23 is locked in its lateral storage position by means of a locking pin 27 fitted through a fixed bracket 28.

For side towing, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and also in broken lines in Fig. 3, the two tow bar sections 23, 24 extend in line from the corner fixing of the inner section 23 which pivots about a securing pivot bolt 29. In this position, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 at 23",24", the tow bar 22 extends forwardly and outwardly at an inclination of about 150. To assist in maintaining this angle a stabilizer bar 30 is fitted and the tow bar is secured by a locking pin 32 through a fixed securing bracket 33 through which the pivot bolt 29 also passes, and a locking pin 34 at the articulation joint of the sections 23,24.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Vegetation cutting equipment adapted to be towed by a vehicle and which is self-contained, having a power unit drivingly coupled to a rotary cutter blade mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the equipment is supported by a single pair of ground support wheels.

3. Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said cutter blade is one of two similar blades with parallel rotational axes spaced transversely of the equipment so that the swept area of one blade just overlaps that of the other.

4. Equipment according to claim 2 and claim 3, wherein the rotational axes of the cutter blades respectively lead and trail the rotational axis of the ground support wheels by like amounts.

5. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power unit drives the cutter blade or blades via a belt-pulley drive arrangement.

6. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power unit is an internal combustion engine.

7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a tow bar is provided at the front of the equipment and terminates in a standard ball hitch.

8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a (or the) tow bar of the equipment is adapted to be stored lying across the front of the equipment.

9. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a (or the) tow bar is adjustable for either central or side towing relative to a towing vehicle.

10. Equipment according to claim 8 and claim 9, wherein the tow bar is in two sections and fixed at the inner end at one side of the equipment, in the central towing position the inner section lying across the front of the equipment and the outer section extending forwardly at the centre whereas in the other position both sections extend in line from the side fixing.

11. Equipment according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein when in the side towing position the extended tow bar is outwardly inclined from a front corner of the equipment.

12. Equipment according to claim 11, wherein the tow bar when in the side towing position is outwardly inclined at an angle of about 150.

13. Equipment according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein a stabilizer bar may be fitted for support of the tow bar at the outwardly inclined position.

14. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein side skids may be provided which are normally clear of the ground but which are engageable therewith, if the equipment tips about the wheel axis, before the cutter blade(s) foul the ground.

15. Equipment according to claim 2, or any one of claims 3 to 14 as dependent thereon, wherein the ground support wheels are mounted on side axle support arms, for adjustment of the height of cut these arms having front pivot mountings and being connected to height adjustment means at the rear.

16. Equipment according to claim 15, wherein the height adjustment means comprise a centrally-mounted screw jack connected to the axle support arms by respective inclined rear struts.

17. Vegetation cutting equipment constructed and arranged substantially as herein particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings.