Hydraulically-powered edge trimmer assembly

Abstract

A trimmer assembly for a lawn mower is detachably mountable on a deck of the lawn mower by a housing or shroud that can be secured to the front edge of the deck A mounting frame is pivotally attached to the housing. The mounting frame carries a trimmer head with a plurality of cutting elements secured thereto. The mounting frame and the trimmer head pivotally move between an operational and a non-operational position by a swivel arm secured to the mounting frame. The trimmer head is powered by a hydraulic motor, which operates independently from the operation of the lawn mower.

1 . A trimmer assembly mountable on a lawn mower having a mower deck and a front edge, the trimmer assembly comprising: 
 a trimmer head;    a mounting frame supporting the trimmer head forward of the front edge of the lawn mower;    a means for pivotally connecting the mounting frame to the front edge to facilitate movement of the trimmer head between an operational position and a non-operational position in relation to the mower deck; and    a means carried by the mounting frame for transmitting rotational force to the trimmer head, said means comprising a power source operationally connected to the trimmer head for imparting rotation on the trimmer head independently from operation of the lawn mower.    
   
   
       2 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a housing adapted for detachable mounting on the front edge of the mower and pivotally connected to said mounting frame.  
   
   
       3 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said means for pivotally connecting the mounting frame comprises a hinge unit mounted between the housing and the mounting frame, a swivel arm extending between the mounting frame and the housing and a handle operationally connected to the swivel arm for pivotally moving the mounting frame in relation to the mower deck upon demand.  
   
   
       4 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said means for pivotally moving the mounting frame further comprises a means for limiting rotational movement of the handle.  
   
   
       5 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said means for limiting rotational movement of the handle comprises a stop plate mounted below a handle and a compression spring engaging a lower portion of the handle, said compression spring urging, at its upper end, against a lever bracket mounted above the housing.  
   
   
       6 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said means for transmitting rotational force to the trimmer head comprises a hydraulic motor mounted above the trimmer head, a pump for supplying a power fluid to the hydraulic motor, and means for regulating supply of the power fluid to the motor.  
   
   
       7 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said means for regulating supply of the power fluid to the motor comprising a first control valve mounted in a fluid supply line and a second control valve mounted in a fluid return line.  
   
   
       8 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said return line is fluidly connected to a source of the power fluid.  
   
   
       9 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said means for transmitting rotational force to the trimmer head comprises an hydraulic motor mounted on the mounting frame and operationally connected to the trimmer head.  
   
   
       10 . A trimmer assembly mountable on a lawn mower having a mower deck and a front edge, the trimmer assembly comprising: 
 a trimmer head;    a mounting frame supporting the trimmer head forward of the front edge of the lawn mower;    a housing adapted for detachable engagement with the front edge of the mower deck;    a means for pivotally connecting the mounting frame to the housing to facilitate movement of the trimmer head between an operational position and a non-operational position in relation to the mower deck, said means comprising a hinge unit mounted between the housing and the mounting frame, a swivel arm extending between the mounting frame and the housing, and a handle secured to the housing and operationally connected to the swivel arm for pivotally moving the mounting frame in relation to the mower deck upon demand; and    a means carried by the mounting frame for transmitting rotational force to the trimmer head independently from operation of the lawn mower, said force transmitting means comprising an hydraulic motor mounted on the mounting frame and operationally connected to the trimmer head.    
   
   
       11 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said hydraulic motor is operationally connected to a source of a power fluid and a pump operationally mounted between the source of the power fluid and the hydraulic motor.  
   
   
       12 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a means for regulating supply of the power fluid to the motor, said regulating means comprising a first control valve mounted in a supply line extending between the pump to the motor and a second control valve mounted in a return line extending between the motor and the source of the power fluid.  
   
   
       13 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a means for limiting rotational movement of the handle, said means comprising a stop plate mounted below a handle and a compression spring engaging a lower portion of the handle, said compression spring urging, at its upper end, against a lever bracket mounted above the housing.  
   
   
       14 . A trimmer assembly mountable on a lawn mower having a mower deck and a front edge, the trimmer assembly comprising: 
 a trimmer head;    a mounting frame supporting the trimmer head forward of the front edge of the lawn mower;    a means for pivotally connecting the mounting frame to the front edge to facilitate movement of the trimmer head between an operational position and a non-operational position in relation to the mower deck; and    a means carried by the mounting frame for transmitting rotational force to the trimmer lead, said force transmitting means comprising a hydraulic motor mounted on said frame above the trimmer head and operationally connected to the trimmer head for transmitting rotation force to the trimmer head independently from the law mower, said hydraulic motor being operationally connected to a supply of a power fluid through a pair of fluid regulating control valves.    
   
   
       15 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said means for pivotally connecting the mounting frame comprises a hinge unit mounted between the housing and the mounting frame, a swivel arm extending between the mounting frame and the housing, and a handle operationally connected to the swivel arm for pivotally moving the mounting frame in relation to the mower deck upon demand.  
   
   
       16 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 14 , wherein said means for pivotally moving the mounting frame further comprises a means for limiting rotational movement of the handle, said means for limiting rotational movement of the handle comprises a stop plate mounted below a handle and a compression spring engaging a lower portion of the handle, said compression spring urging, at its upper end, against a lever bracket mounted above the housing.  
   
   
       17 . The trimmer assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising a pump operationally mounted between the hydraulic motor and the supply of power fluid.