Mower deck belt tensioning arm

Abstract

A mower deck belt tensioning arm having a sheet metal body with an idler pulley rotatably mounted to a first end of the body. A spring is connected to a second end of the body biasing the idler pulley against a belt on a mower deck rotating a plurality of blade pulleys. An integrally formed in bushing is between the first end and the second end of the body, the bushing having a straight section length greater than the thickness of the sheet metal body and pivotably mounted around a spindle secured to the mower deck.

Claims

1. A pair of mower deck belt tensioning arms, each tensioning arm having a one piece sheet metal body including an integral bushing extending perpendicularly from an interior portion of the body and pivotably mounted above a guide pulley on a spindle secured to a mower deck, each tensioning arm biasing an idler pulley on an end of the body into engagement with one of a pair of belts on the mower deck, each belt engaging a different plurality of pulleys; a spindle upright extending through the integral bushing of each tensioning arm and having a head extending radially outwardly and providing clearance for the pair of tensioning arms to pivot.

2. The pair of mower deck belt tensioning arms of claim 1, further comprising a lubrication cavity between the spindle upright and the integral bushing of each tensioning arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a mower deck with a belt tensioning arm according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side perspective view, partially in section, of a mower deck belt tensioning arm according to a first embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a mower deck with a pair of belt tensioning arms according to a second embodiment of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a side view, partially in section, of a pair of mower deck belt tensioning arms according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-2, mower deck belt tensioning arm 100 may be pivotably mounted on the top surface of mower deck 102. The mower deck may cover a plurality of rotary mower blades mounted to spindles. To rotate the grass cutting blades, endless belt 104 may engage drive pulley 105, blade pulleys 106, 108, 110 and guide pulleys 112, 114. To provide belt tension, idler pulley 116 may be rotatably mounted to tensioning arm 100, and coil spring 118 connected to the tensioning arm may urge the idler pulley against the belt. Belt guide 120 also may be mounted to the tensioning arm to help prevent disengagement of the belt from the idler pulley.

(6) In the first embodiment, mower deck belt tensioning arm 100 may have a one piece sheet metal body 101 and an integrally formed in bushing 122. The bushing may be formed in the same sheet metal blank as the body using a deep drawing process. The depth of the extrusion (D) for the bushing may be at least about twice the thickness of the body (T), and the straight section length (L) of the bushing may be greater than the body thickness (T).

(7) In one embodiment, mower deck belt tensioning arm 100 may be mounted to the mower deck with a mounting assembly that allows the tensioning arm to pivot. The tensioning arm may be mounted to the mower deck on the same axis as guide pulley 112 to minimize parts and cost. Alternatively, the tensioning arm may be mounted to the mower deck at another location. The mounting assembly parts may include spindle 124, bolt 126 and spacer 128. Spindle upright 130 may be inserted through bushing 122. Spindle head 132 may extend radially outwardly from the upright. Bolt 126 may be inserted through the spindle's internal bore, washer 128 and guide pulley 112, and threaded to post 134 where guide pulley 112 is rotatably mounted to the mower deck. Spindle head 132 may extend over the tensioning arm with sufficient clearance for the tensioning arm to pivot. Spacer 128 may provide a supporting surface for bushing 122.

(8) In the first embodiment, the mounting assembly for the mower deck belt tensioning arm may provide lubrication between bushing 122 and spindle 124. For example, grease zerk 136 in spindle head 132 may provide lubrication into cavity 138 between the bushing and spindle upright.

(9) In a second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-4, first and second mower deck belt tensioning arms 200, 202 may be pivotably mounted on top of mower deck 204. The mower deck may cover a plurality of rotary mower blades mounted to spindles. The mower deck may have a pair of endless belts 206, 208 to rotate the grass cutting blades. First endless belt 206 may engage drive pulley 210, guide pulley 212 and first pulley 214 on jack sheave 216. Second endless belt 208 may engage second pulley 220 on jack sheave 216, blade pulleys 222, 224, 226, and guide pulley 228. To tension the first belt, idler pulley 230 may be rotatably mounted to tensioning arm 200, and coil spring 232 may be connected to tensioning arm 200 to urge the idler pulley against the first belt. To tension the second belt, idler pulley 234 may be rotatably mounted to tensioning arm 202, and coil spring 236 may be connected to tensioning arm 202 to urge the idler pulley against the belt.

(10) In the second embodiment, mower deck belt tensioning arms 200, 202 may be identical one piece sheet metal parts, each arm having a one piece sheet metal body 201, 203 and an integrally formed in bushing 238, 240. The bushing may be formed in the same sheet metal blank as the arm using a deep drawing process. The depth of the extrusion (D) for each bushing may be at least about twice the thickness of the blank (T), and the straight section length (L) of each bushing may be greater than the blank thickness (T).

(11) In the second embodiment, the pair of mower deck belt tensioning arms 200, 202 may be mounted to the mower deck with a mounting assembly that allows each tensioning arm to pivot independently. The tensioning arms may be mounted back to back on the same spindle 242, and the same axis as guide pulley 212 to minimize parts and cost. Alternatively, each tensioning arm may be mounted to the mower deck at other locations. The mounting assembly parts may include spindle 242, bolt 244 and washer 246. Spindle upright 248 may be inserted through both bushings 238, 240. Spindle head 250 may extend radially outwardly from the upright, and provide a supporting surface for the lower bushing. Bolt 244 may be inserted through guide pulley 212, spacer 252 and the spindle's internal bore, and threaded to a bracket or post on the mower deck. Spacer 246 may provide low friction surfaces between the first and second tensioning arms.

(12) In the second embodiment, the mounting assembly for the mower deck belt tensioning arms may provide lubrication between bushings 238, 240, washer 246 and spindle 242. For example, grease zerk 254 in spindle head 250 may provide lubrication into cavity 256 between the bushing and spindle upright.

(13) Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.