GB1180645A - Improvements relating to Mowers - Google Patents

Abstract

1,180,645. Mowers; hitches. ORCHARD EQUIPMENT Ltd. 29 May, 1968 [30 May, 1967; 26 Aug., 1967], Nos. 24812/67 and 39364/67. Headings A1F and A1P. A mower comprises a plurality of rotatable scythe-like cutters 21 having parallel axes and mounted on a casing 10 and a further auxiliary cutter mounted on a swinging arm 60 at one lateral end of the casing, the arm 60 being adapted to move arcuately about an axis 61 parallel to the cutter axis. The swinging arm 60 is urged forward by spring 80 extending between stop 81 on the casing and stop 82 on the ram 83 of an hydraulic cylinder 85. When a probe 90 attached to the swinging arm 60 hits an obstacle it is displaced towards the arm 60 and acts via rod 93 to close valve 94. Consequently pressure builds up in the hydraulic circuit and ram 83 is displaced, swinging the arm backwards in the direction F. The hydraulic circuit comprising flexible pipes 96, valve 94 and hydraulic cylinder 85 may be connected to the hydraulic system of the tractor. The swinging arm 60 is journalled to pin 67 to allow movement in a vertical plane. The end cutters have castor wheels or convex shaped .skids 35 secured to a square stem 36 in bearing 37 welded to the casing 10. By turning the bolt 36a against the action of a biasing spring 37 the cutter height is adjusted. The mower may be mounted on the front, rear or sides of a tractor and the cutters are coupled together and driven from gearbox 24. In the rear position two alternative positions are provided for the mower which may be moved from one to the other by swinging about swivel link 43 and securing bolts 45, 46 in slot 44. The cutters may be driven by a hydraulic motor or motors mounted on the casing. There may be a swinging arm at each end of the casing.