US Patent 7401456 Horizontally retractable mower deck

A variable width mower deck has three cutting chambers mounted under a top deck surface. Two of the cutting chambers may be moved between a retracted cutting position and an extended cutting position. An endless belt engages the pulleys on each spindle to rotate the rotary cutting blades. The left and right cutting chambers move between the retracted and extended positions while maintaining engagement between the endless belt and the pulleys.