Improvements In The Mounting Of A Roller Assembly For A Mower Deck

Abstract

This invention relates to a mounting assembly for a roller having a bearing and a fastener. The fastener is at least partially shrouded by a sleeve, the end of which is keyed into the roller. Use of the sleeve provides an additional bearing surface to allow the roller to rotate with the bearing. Should the bearing seize, the sleeve and the roller are still able to rotate without affecting the fastener, that is, the fastener does not unravel and disengage from the housing. This invention has particular application to mounting of rollers to mower decks of a mowing implement.

Claims

1. A mounting assembly for a roller for a mowing implement that comprises a mower deck to which the roller is to be mounted, the mounting assembly comprising: a roller bearing, wherein the roller bearing comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, and includes a passage therethrough, a fastener, wherein the fastener includes a shaft, the mounting assembly comprises a sleeve with a passage for at least a portion of an exterior of the shaft of the fastener, wherein at least a portion of an exterior of the sleeve is configured to pass through the passage of the roller bearing and wherein the inner portion of the roller bearing engages with an end of the roller and a portion of the sleeve is configured to engage with the roller, such that the sleeve rotates with the roller in use.

2. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner portion is configured to rotate relative to the outer portion.

3. (canceled)

4. The mounting assembly as claimed in claims 1, wherein the shaft of the fastener has a threaded portion and an unthreaded portion.

5. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the unthreaded portion of the shaft is in contact with the passage of the sleeve.

6. The mounting assembly as claimed in either claim 4, wherein the threaded portion of the shaft engages with the end of the roller.

7. The mounting assembly as claimed in claims 1, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end.

8. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first end of the sleeve is configured to engage with the end of the roller via complementary protrusions and recesses.

9. The mounting assembly of claim 7, wherein the fastener has a head, wherein the second end of the sleeve abuts the head.

10. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outer portion of the roller bearing is configured to be mounted to the mower deck.

11. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting assembly comprises a pair of brackets between which the roller is to be suspended and wherein the brackets include apertures for fasteners to mount the brackets to the mower deck.

12. A mowing implement that includes a mower deck, wherein the mower deck comprises a mounting assembly for a roller, the mounting assembly as claimed in claim 1.

13. (canceled)

14. A mounting assembly for a roller for a mowing implement that comprises a mower deck to which the roller is to be mounted, wherein the roller includes a shaft extending from an end, and wherein the mounting assembly comprises: a roller bearing, wherein the roller bearing comprises an inner portion and an outer portion, and includes a passage therethrough for the shaft, the mounting assembly comprises a sleeve for at least a portion of the exterior of the shaft of the roller, and wherein the inner portion of the roller bearing engages with the shaft of the roller and a portion of the sleeve is configured to engage with the end of the roller.

15. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the shaft has an end which is configured to engage with a clamping component.

16. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the clamping component is a rotational locking nut.

17. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sleeve has an exterior, and wherein at least a portion of the exterior of the sleeve passes through the passage of the roller bearing.

18. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sleeve has a first end and a second end.

19. The mounting assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first end of the sleeve is configured to engage with the end of the roller.

20. A mowing implement that includes a mower deck, wherein the mower deck comprises a mounting assembly for a roller, wherein the roller comprises a shaft extending from an end, wherein the mounting assembly is as claimed in claim 14.

21. (canceled)

22. (canceled)

23. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0076] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0077] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention;

[0078] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0079] FIG. 3 is a cross-section side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0080] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the sleeve of the present invention;

[0081] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the end cap of the present invention; and

[0082] FIG. 6 is a cross-section side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0083] The invention, a mounting assembly for a roller (generally indicated by arrow 10), is depicted in FIG. 1 in an exploded form.

[0084] It includes a bracket (12) which, in use, would be secured to the mower deck (not shown) via bolts (not shown) passing through the slot (14) in the upper section (12a) of the bracket. The slot allows the height of the bracket, relative to the mower deck, to be adjusted to the user's requirements.

[0085] To mount the roller (16) to the bracket (12), a bolt (18) passes through the opening (20) in the lower section (12b) of the bracket and into the roller. It will be seen that the opening is dimensioned such that it is larger than the head (18a) of the bolt so as to not hinder its rotation.

[0086] Interposed between the bolt (18) and the roller (16) is a roller bearing (22) formed from a centre or inner race (22a) and an outer race (22b). The housing (22c) of the roller bearing is mounted to the bracket using fasteners (not shown) passing through apertures (24) and into corresponding holes (26) in the bracket. When the roller rotates, the centre race rotates with it.

[0087] The centre race (22a) includes a central passage way (28) through which the shaft (18b) of the bolt (18) passes to engage with the end cap (30) of the roller (16). The end cap includes a central aperture (30a) into which the bolt is threaded.

[0088] Between the shaft (18b) of the bolt (18) and the central passage way (28) of the centre race (22a) is provided a sleeve (32). This sleeve rotates with the roller (16), centre race and bolt, but should the roller bearing (22) seize, it is able to continue to rotate with the roller ensuring that the bolt does not unravel in use.

[0089] Turning now to FIG. 2, the invention (10) can be seen in a perspective view when in an assembled state. In this view, it can be seen that the head (18a) of the bolt is smaller than the aperture (20) provided in the bracket (12) to ensure that it can freely rotate with the roller (16). Also visible are the fasteners (34) that secure the bearing assembly housing (22c) to the bracket.

[0090] FIG. 3 shows the invention (10) in a side cross-section view. It will be seen that the bolt (18) passes through the centre race (22a) of the roller bearing (22) and into the roller end cap (30).

[0091] The first end (32a) of the sleeve (32) bears against the roller bearing (22) with the second end (32b) keyed into a recess (30b) in the end cap (30) of the roller (16).

[0092] This makes the sleeve (32), the centre race (22a) of the roller bearing (22), and roller (16), by virtue of the keyed in end cap (30) a unitary and rotatable structure. In the meantime, the housing (22c) would be secured to the bracket (not shown) or alternatively to the mower deck (not shown) with which the invention is to be used.

[0093] The sleeve (32) is seen in closer detail in FIG. 4. It has two ends (32a and 32b). The second end keys into the end cap of the roller (not shown) to help lock it so that it rotates with the roller. This end is an ovoid projection and at its centre can be seen the passageway (32c) through which the bolt (not shown) will pass in use.

[0094] The first end (32a) of the sleeve (32) is provided as a shoulder; this bears against the roller bearing (not shown) on one side (32d) and against the underside of the head of the bolt (not shown) on the other side (not visible).

[0095] The projection (32b) corresponds with the recess (30b) of the end cap (30) illustrated in FIG. 5. The combination locks these two together. At the base of the recess is the aperture (30a) through which the bolt (not shown) passes. The recess itself is within a shallow depression (30c) into which the centre race of the roller bearing (not shown) also keys into the end cap.

[0096] An alternative embodiment of the invention (36) is illustrated in FIG. 6. Here, the roller (38) includes an integrated shaft (38a), a portion (38b) of which is inserted into the central race (40) contained within the roller bearing housing (42).

[0097] The shaft (38a) is secured by a rotational locking element (44) and a nut (46). A sleeve (48) is located between the central race, shaft, and rotational locking element. Should the central race fail and seize, the sleeve allows the shaft to continue to rotate.

[0098] The roller housing bearing (42) is secured to a portion of the mower deck (50) by fasteners (52).

[0099] The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

[0100] Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

[0101] The invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, elements or features.

[0102] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents thereof, those integers are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

[0103] It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

[0104] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.