Toro customers can now benefit from the company's bi-directional shock absorption technology, which recently received a U.S. Patent.
The shock absorbers, implemented on the company's GroundMaster 4000-D, are intended to protect both machine and rider. The new wide-area mower has side-cutting units that can pivot on a vertical axis relative to the traction frame when the outer sides experience an impact.
"Obstacles are part of the job when mowing a golf course, park or business," explained John Wright, Toro's director of marketing for commercial products. "While mowing, operators may inadvertently hit some obstacle, and the bi-directional shock absorber will absorb the impact of the bump."
The shock absorbers cushion and absorb impact shocks and resist the pivoting motion of the side cutting units, in a bi-directional fashion. The absorbers also function during forward and reverse motion of the traction frame.
Toro engineers Daniel Peterson and Rex Bergsten developed the shock absorbers.