MULTI-PURPOSE OPERATING UNIT ATTACHMENT SYSTEM

摘要

A multi-purpose turf machine (100) used primarily as a triplex turf mower includes a system for attaching an "operating unit" (e.g., a turf cutting unit) to a traction vehicle (102); and for moving the operating units, e.g., a pair of front cutting units (108a), between a working position and a transport position, the system utilizing a single actuator (224) to provide both vertical lifting as well as "wing-like" pivoting motion. The attachment system includes a female A-frame member (132) attached to the front cutting units (108a) and a mating male A-frame member (202) movably connected to the frame (101) of the vehicle (102). The machine (100) additionally includes a belt drive system to power the cutting units (108). The belt drive system provides correct belt tension between a driving pulley (230, 236) located on the vehicle (102) and a driven pulley (124) located on the end of each cutting unit (108) when the cutting units are in the working position. The drive system can additionally accommodate the wing-like pivoting motion of the front cutting units (108a) as they are moved from the working position to the transport position and back again. Finally, a preferred attachment system is highly versatile and easily permits removal and installation of a wide variety of operating units, e.g., cutting units, brooms, blowers, dump carts and dozer blades.