Zero-turn radius lawnmower with suspension system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093179-B2
Application number	US-201715653167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2017
Priority date	May 7, 2012
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

Some embodiments include a transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment with a plurality of transaxle assemblies supported by a suspended subframe, and a frame supported on a pair of front wheels at one end that is coupled to and pivotably suspends the subframe. Some embodiments include a power source with a drive pulley supported by the frame at an opposite end. Some embodiments include a belt coupling the drive pulley to a driven pulley of the transaxle assemblies. In some embodiments, the plurality of transaxle assemblies can be driven from the drive pulley by at least a portion of the belt. Further, in some embodiments, the plurality of transaxle assemblies include a first and second transaxle assembly each coupled to a separate rear wheel. The first and second transaxle assemblies are suspended from the subframe, and can be pivoted together about the frame, and the at least one drive pulley.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment, the transaxle drive system comprising:
a plurality of transaxle assemblies supported by a suspended subframe;
a frame supported on a pair of front wheels at one end, the frame coupled to and pivotably suspending the subframe;
at least one power source supported by the frame at an opposite end, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley;
at least one belt coupling the at least one drive pulley to at least one driven pulley of at least one of the plurality of transaxle assemblies; and
wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies are configured and arranged to be driven from the at least one drive pulley by at least a portion of the at least one belt, the plurality of transaxle assemblies comprising at least a first and second transaxle assembly each coupled to a separate rear wheel,
the first and second transaxle assemblies suspended from the subframe, and configured and arranged to be pivoted together about the frame, and the at least one drive pulley.

2. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the frame supports a mower deck of a mower, the mower deck positioned between the front and rear wheels.

3. The transaxle drive system of claim 2 , wherein the mower is a riding mower.

4. The transaxle drive system of claim 3 , wherein the riding mower is a zero-turn radius (ZTR) mower.

5. The transaxle drive system of claim 2 , wherein the mower deck comprises a cutter assembly coupled to and configured to be driven by an auxiliary drive pulley using at least one endless belt powered by the at least one power source.

6. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the subframe is coupled to the frame with at least one motion absorbing suspension component.

7. The transaxle drive system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one motion absorbing suspension component comprises at least one of a spring and a shock absorber.

8. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the subframe is coupled to the frame using at least one compressible component.

9. The transaxle drive system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one compressible component comprises rubber or other elastomeric polymer.

10. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies include drive axles configured and arranged to drive the rear wheels independently.

11. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the subframe includes at least one pivot coupled to the frame about a pivot axis.

12. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies comprises a transmission including at least one hydrostatic transaxle.

13. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first transaxle assembly and second transaxle assembly are configured and arranged to be belt-driven by the at least one power source during pivotal motion about the frame.

14. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , further comprising a pulley and belt drive assembly, the pulley and belt drive assembly including:
at least one belt idler pulley positioned outside of the subframe and supported by the frame; and
wherein the at least one belt is an
endless belt coupled with the at least one belt idler pulley and the at least one driven pulley, the at least one driven pulley suspended by the subframe.

15. The transaxle drive system of claim 14 , wherein the pulley and belt drive assembly further comprises at least one backside idler pulley coupled to the endless belt.

16. The transaxle drive system of claim 14 , wherein the endless belt is further coupled with the at least one drive pulley; and wherein the at least one backside idler pulley is configured and arranged to pivot with respect to the at least one drive pulley.

17. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transaxle assemblies are configured and arranged to not pivot with respect to each other when suspended from the subframe.

18. The transaxle drive system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one drive pulley is driven by a drive shaft including an axis of rotation.

19. The transaxle drive system of claim 18 , wherein the first and second transaxle assemblies are configured and arranged to be driven by the at least one power source while pivoting about the axis of rotation.

20. A transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment, the transaxle drive system comprising:
a plurality of transaxle assemblies supported by a suspended subframe;
a frame supported on a pair of front wheels at one end, the frame coupled to and pivotably suspending the subframe;
at least one power source supported by the frame at an opposite end, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley;
at least one belt coupling the at least one drive pulley to at least one driven pulley of at least one of the plurality of transaxle assemblies; and
wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies are configured and arranged to be driven from the at least one drive pulley by at least a portion of the at least one belt, the plurality of transaxle assemblies comprising at least a first and second transaxle assembly each coupled to a separate rear wheel,
the first and second transaxle assemblies suspended from the subframe, and configured and arranged to be pivoted together about the frame, and the at least one drive pulley; and
wherein the frame supports a mower deck of a mower, the mower deck positioned between the front and rear wheels; and
wherein the mower deck comprises a cutter assembly coupled to and configured to be driven by an auxiliary drive pulley using at least one endless belt powered by the at least one power source; and
wherein the plurality of transaxle assemblies are positioned between the cutter assembly and the at least one auxiliary drive pulley.

Assignees

• Briggs & Stratton Corp

Inventors

• Melone Mark J
• Marshall James F
• Smith Richard
• Lynch Mark
• Rasch Travis
• Slegelis Erik
• Weber Steven J
• Oswald Denis

Classifications

• B60G9/00 Primary

  Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels {(the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08)} · CPC title

• B60K17/00

  Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles · CPC title

• A01D69/02

  electric · CPC title

• A01D34/64

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K1/00

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title