Mower frame with compact mounting for dual hydraulic pump/motor assemblies

Abstract

A mower has a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck. The frame includes a pair of side rails that each extend from a front end in advance of the cutting deck to a rear end substantially behind the cutting deck. The front ends of the side rails support a pair of front caster wheels. The rear ends of the side rails have a raised, upwardly extending arch at which a hydraulic pump/motor assembly is mounted. The pump/motor assembly has an L-shaped configuration with the motor being located towards the bottom of the arch and outboard of the side rail and with the pump extending upwardly and inwardly from the motor to be located inboard of the side rail and within the vertical profile of the arch. The hydraulic motors drive a pair of rear drive wheels to propel the frame over the ground. A cross frame extends between the motors in the pump/motor assemblies to join the assemblies together. The deck is propelled from the frame by a plurality of struts extending between the cross frame and the deck.

1 . A mower, which comprises:
 a) a mower frame, wherein the frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced side rails with each side rail having a raised, upwardly extending arch along the length of the side rail;   b) a rotary cutting deck carried by the frame;   c) a pair of hydraulic pumps and a pair of hydraulic motors with the motors being driven by the pumps for propelling the frame over the ground, one pump and one motor being located adjacent each side rail; and   d) a mounting for one pump and one motor to each side rail of the frame at the raised arch in the side rail with the pump being located generally inboard of the side rail and contained within a vertical profile of the arch and with the motor being located generally outboard of the arch and below the pump.   
   
   
       2 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein one pump and one motor comprise an integrated pump/motor assembly that forms a single unit with the pump extending above and to one side of the motor in a generally L-shaped configuration. 
   
   
       3 . The mower of  claim 2 , further including a longitudinal frame member spanning across the arch of each side rail, and wherein each pump/motor assembly is secured to the frame member by fastening the motor of each assembly to the longitudinal frame member, thereby locating the pump of each assembly inboard of and within the vertical profile of the arch by virtue of the L-shaped configuration between the pump and the motor. 
   
   
       4 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the arch is at rear ends of the side rails. 
   
   
       5 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the side rails comprise tubes or beams extending from a front end in advance of the cutting deck to a rear end located substantially behind the cutting deck. 
   
   
       6 . The mower of  claim 5 , wherein the arches in the side rails are located behind the cutting deck. 
   
   
       7 . The mower of  claim 5 , wherein the side rails comprise continuous, one-piece tubes or beams. 
   
   
       8 . The mower of  claim 1 , further including a cross frame extending between and joining the motors mounted to the side rails. 
   
   
       9 . The mower of  claim 8 , wherein the cross frame comprises a truss member having a pair of parallel beams connected by a plurality of connecting members. 
   
   
       10 . A mower, which comprises:
 a) a mower frame, wherein the frame comprises a pair of laterally spaced side rails with each side rail having a raised, upwardly extending arch along the length of the side rail, wherein the frame further includes a longitudinal frame member spanning across the arch of each side rail;   b) a rotary cutting deck carried by the frame;   c) a pair of hydraulic motors with the motors being driven for propelling the frame over the ground, one motor being located adjacent each side rail; and   d) a mounting for securing one motor to the longitudinal frame member spanning across the arch of each side rail such that each motor is carried on each side rail at the raised arch in the side rail with the motor being located generally outboard of the arch.   
   
   
       11 . The mower of  claim 10 , wherein the motor is secured directly to the corresponding longitudinal frame member. 
   
   
       12 . The mower of  claim 10 , further including a truss shaped cross frame extending between and uniting the motors on opposite side rails with the cross frame serving as a transverse cross member of the frame beneath the arches. 
   
   
       13 . The mower of  claim 10 , further including at least one pump for supplying hydraulic fluid to the motors, wherein the at least one pump is mounted to the frame within vertical profiles of the arches. 
   
   
       14 . The mower of  claim 13 , further including a pair of pumps for supplying hydraulic fluid to the pair of motors, wherein one pump supplies each motor, and wherein the pumps are mounted to the frame within vertical profiles of the arches. 
   
   
       15 . A mower, which comprises:
 a) a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck;   b) wherein the frame includes a pair of side rails that each extend from a front end in advance of the deck to a rear end substantially behind the deck; wherein the front ends of the side rails support a pair of front wheels and the rear ends of the side rails have a raised, upwardly extending arch at each of which a hydraulic pump/motor assembly is mounted; and   c) wherein each pump/motor assembly has an L-shaped configuration with the motor being located towards a bottom of the arch and outboard of the side rail and with the pump extending upwardly and inwardly from the motor to be located inboard of the side rail and within a vertical profile of the arch, wherein the hydraulic motors have drive shafts for driving rear drive wheels to propel the frame over the ground.   
   
   
       16 . A mower, which comprises:
 a) a frame that supports a rotary cutting deck:   b) a pair of hydraulic motors mounted to opposite sides of the frame for propelling the frame over the ground; and   c) a truss shaped cross frame extending between and joining the two motors together.   
   
   
       17 . The mower of  claim 16 , wherein the cross frame comprises a pair of parallel cross beams that are joined together by a plurality of connecting members. 
   
   
       18 . The mower of  claim 17 , wherein opposite ends of the cross frame have upwardly extending cradles that further connect the cross beams, and wherein each motor is secured to a cradle on each end of the cross frame. 
   
   
       19 . The mower of  claim 18 , wherein the motors and cross frame are located in arched portions of side rails of the frame.