Lawn mower with deck lift system that raises and lowers deck with respect to frame and handle control assembly

Abstract

A lawn mower is provided. In certain example embodiments, the lawn mower includes an improved steering control system/assembly and/or an improved pump control linkage system/assembly. In certain example embodiments, the The mower includes an engine deck supporting an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, the engine deck also supporting a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel. A deck lift system is for raising/lowering the engine deck relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A lawn mower comprising:
 at least one cutting blade for cutting grass; 
 a right rear drive wheel and a left rear drive wheel; 
 an engine deck supporting an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, the engine deck also supporting a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel; 
 a deck lift system for raising/lowering the engine deck relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly, the handle control assembly for allowing an operator of the mower to steer the mower by controlling the right and left rear drive wheels independent of one another; 
 wherein the first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel is located on a left half portion of the engine deck, and the second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel is located on a right half portion of the engine deck; and 
 wherein a first linkage between a right hand control member and the first hydraulic pump includes a first rotatable torsion bar, and a second linkage between a left hand control member and the second hydraulic pump includes a second rotatable torsion bar, and wherein the first and second torsion bars cross one another so as to form an X when viewed from a rear and/or front of the mower. 
 
     
     
       2. The mower of  claim 1 , wherein an end of the first torsion bar is supported by a first substantially vertically extending hinge, and an end of the second torsion bar is supported by a second substantially vertically extending hinge, and wherein upper ends of the first and second hinges are pivotally attached to respective substantially vertically oriented supports that are affixed to or are part of the frame of the mower. 
     
     
       3. The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second torsion bars each form an angle of from about 10 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal for at least one location of the engine deck. 
     
     
       4. The mower of  claim 1 , wherein angles formed between the first and second torsion bars in the X vary as a function of the elevation of the engine deck relative to the frame of the mower. 
     
     
       5. The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the deck lift system lifts and lowers together the engine deck, engine, a cutter deck, and the pumps of the mower. 
     
     
       6. The mower of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot platform for supporting feet of an operator who may operate the mower from a standing position. 
     
     
       7. The mower of  claim 1 , further comprising a seat for supporting an operator of the mower. 
     
     
       8. The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the mower is a zero turning radius mower capable of performing zero radius turns. 
     
     
       9. A zero turning radius lawn mower comprising:
 at least one cutting blade for cutting grass; 
 a right rear drive wheel and a left rear drive wheel; 
 an engine deck supporting an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, the engine deck also supporting a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel so that the mower is a zero turning radius mower capable of performing zero radius turns via the right and left rear drive wheels; 
 a deck lift system comprising a deck lift lever for raising/lowering the engine deck relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly, the handle control assembly including first and second upright supports and a plurality of steering levers for allowing an operator of the mower to steer the mower by controlling the right and left rear drive wheels independent of one another; 
 wherein the first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel is located on a left half portion of the engine deck, and the second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel is located on a right half portion of the engine deck; and 
 wherein a first linkage between a right hand control member and the first hydraulic pump includes a first rotatable torsion bar, and a second linkage between a left hand control member and the second hydraulic pump includes a second rotatable torsion bar, and wherein the first and second torsion bars cross one another so as to form an X when viewed from a rear and/or front of the mower. 
 
     
     
       10. The mower of  claim 9 , wherein an end of the first torsion bar is supported by a first substantially vertically extending hinge, and an end of the second torsion bar is supported by a second substantially vertically extending hinge, and wherein upper ends of the first and second hinges are pivotally attached to respective substantially vertically oriented supports that are affixed to or are part of the frame of the mower. 
     
     
       11. The mower of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second torsion bars each form an angle of from about 10 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal for at least one location of the engine deck. 
     
     
       12. The mower of  claim 9 , wherein angles formed between the first and second torsion bars in the X vary as a function of the elevation of the engine deck relative to the frame of the mower. 
     
     
       13. The mower of  claim 9 , wherein the deck lift system lifts and lowers together the engine deck, engine, a cutter deck, and the pumps of the mower. 
     
     
       14. The mower of  claim 9 , further comprising a foot platform for supporting feet of an operator who may operate the mower from a standing position. 
     
     
       15. The mower of  claim 9 , further comprising a seat for supporting an operator of the mower. 
     
     
       16. A lawn mower comprising:
 at least one cutting blade for cutting grass;   a right rear drive wheel and a left rear drive wheel;   an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel, and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel;   a deck lift system for raising/lowering the engine relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly, the handle control assembly for allowing an operator of the mower to steer the mower by controlling the right and left rear drive wheels independent of one another;   wherein the first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel is located on one half portion of the mower, and the second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel is located on the other half portion of the mower; and   wherein a first linkage between at least a right hand control member and the first hydraulic pump includes a first rotatable torsion bar that rotates about an axis that extends in a same direction that the first rotatable torsion bar extends, and a second linkage between at least a left hand control member and the second hydraulic pump includes a second rotatable torsion bar that rotates about an axis, and wherein the first and second rotatable torsion bars extend downwardly in different directions, and wherein at least rotation of the first and second rotatable torsion bars controls speed of the respective rear drive wheels.    
     
     
       17. The mower of claim 16, wherein an end of the first torsion bar is supported by a movable portion of a first hinge support, and an end of the second torsion bar is supported by a movable portion of a second hinge support, and wherein fixed portions of the first and second hinge supports are attached to respective supports that are affixed to or are part of the frame of the mower.  
     
     
       18. The mower of claim 16, wherein the first and second torsion bars each form an angle of from about 10 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal for at least one location of the engine during operation of the deck lift system.  
     
     
       19. The mower of claim 16, wherein the deck lift system lifts and lowers together the engine, a cutter deck, and the pumps.  
     
     
       20. The mower of claim 16, further comprising a foot platform for supporting feet of an operator who may operate the mower from a standing position.  
     
     
       21. The mower of claim 16, wherein the first and second rotatable torsion bars cross each other during at least some normal operations of the mower.  
     
     
       22. The mower of claim 16, wherein the first and second rotatable torsion bars cross each other in a manner to form an X shape.  
     
     
       23. The mower of claim 16, wherein the pumps are mounted on an engine deck, and wherein lower ends of the torsion bars raise and lower together with the engine deck when the engine is lifted/lowered by the deck lift system.  
     
     
       24. A lawn mower comprising:
 at least one cutting blade for cutting grass;   a right rear drive wheel and a left rear drive wheel;   an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, at least one support structure that supports a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel;   a deck lift system for raising/lowering the engine relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly, the handle control assembly for allowing an operator of the mower to steer the mower by controlling the right and left rear drive wheels independent of one another;   wherein a first linkage between at least a right hand control member and the first hydraulic pump includes a first rotatable torsion bar that rotates about an axis that extends in a same direction that the first rotatable torsion bar extends, and a second linkage between at least a left hand control member and the second hydraulic pump includes a second rotatable torsion bar that rotates about an axis that extends in a same direction that the second rotatable torsion bar extends, and wherein each of the first and second rotatable torsion bars has an upper end and from the upper end extends at least downwardly to a lower end that operatively connects to the corresponding pump, and wherein at least rotation of the first and second rotatable torsion bars controls speed of the respective rear drive wheels.    
     
     
       25. The mower of claim 24, wherein a first pump control rod is provided to operatively link an end portion of the first torsion bar and the first pump, and a second pump control rod is provided to operatively link an end portion of the second torsion bar and the second pump, and an end of the first torsion bar is supported by a first hinging support and an end of the second torsion bar is supported by a second hinging support.  
     
     
       26. The mower of claim 24, wherein the first and second torsion bars each form an angle of from about 10 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal for at least one location of the engine.  
     
     
       27. The mower of claim 24, wherein the deck lift system lifts and lowers together the engine, a cutter deck, and the pumps.  
     
     
       28. The mower of claim 24, further comprising a foot platform for supporting feet of an operator who may operate the mower from a standing position. 
     
     
       29. The mower of claim 24, wherein hoses between the first pump and a motor for the right rear drive wheel, and hoses between the second pump and a motor for the left rear drive wheel, cross each other.  
     
     
       30. The mower of claim 24, wherein an angle at which the first rotatable torsion bar is oriented relative to an upper surface of an engine deck changes when the engine deck is raised/lowered, and an angle at which the second rotatable torsion bar is oriented relative to the upper surface of the engine deck changes when the engine deck is raised/lowered.  
     
     
       31. The mower of claim 24, wherein pivots at the upper ends of the respective first and second rotatable torsion bars change elevation with respect to pivots at lower ends of the respective first and second torsion bars when an engine deck is raised/lowered via the deck lift system.  
     
     
       32. A lawn mower comprising:
 at least one cutting blade for cutting grass;   a right rear drive wheel and a left rear drive wheel;   an engine that drives the at least one blade for cutting grass, at least one support structure that supports a first hydraulic pump that controls the right rear drive wheel and a second hydraulic pump that controls the left rear drive wheel;   a deck lift system for raising/lowering the engine relative to both a frame of the mower and a handle control assembly, the handle control assembly for allowing an operator of the mower to steer the mower by controlling the right and left rear drive wheels independent of one another;   wherein a first linkage between at least a right hand control member and the first hydraulic pump includes a first rotatable torsion member that rotates about an axis that extends in a same direction that the first rotatable torsion member is oriented, and a second linkage between at least a left hand control member and the second hydraulic pump includes a second rotatable torsion member that rotates about an axis that extends in a same direction that the second rotatable torsion member is oriented, and wherein each of the first and second rotatable torsion members are operatively connected to the corresponding pump, and wherein at least rotation of the first and second rotatable torsion members controls speed of the respective rear drive wheels.    
     
     
       33. The mower of claim 32, wherein the first and second torsion members comprise respective bars that each form an angle of from about 10 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal for at least one location of the engine.  
     
     
       34. The mower of claim 32, wherein the deck lift system lifts and lowers together the engine, a cutter deck, and the pumps.  
     
     
       35. The mower of claim 32, further comprising a foot platform for supporting feet of an operator who may operate the mower from a standing position.  
     
     
       36. The mower of claim 32, wherein pivots at the upper ends of the respective first and second rotatable torsion members change elevation with respect to pivots at lower ends of the respective first and second torsion members when an engine deck is raised/lowered via the deck lift system.