Zero turning radius mower park brake system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10681867-B2
Application number	US-201815915574-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Mar 8, 2018
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A zero turning radius mower park brake system includes an over-center pivot member that pivots to a park brake engaged position in response to moving a control arm fully outward, and to a park brake disengaged position in response to moving the control arm fully inward. The control arm is disconnected from the over-center pivot member in the park brake engaged and disengaged positions. An actuator on a lower end of the control arm may contact the over-center pivot member between the park brake engaged and disengaged positions. A biasing spring urges the over-center pivot member to the park brake engaged position and park brake disengaged position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member pivoting to a park brake engaged position in response to moving a control arm fully outward, and to a park brake disengaged position in response to moving the control arm fully inward; the control arm disconnecting from the over-center pivot member in the park brake engaged and disengaged positions.

2. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 1 further comprising an actuator on a lower end of the control arm that contacts the over-center pivot member between the park brake engaged and disengaged positions.

3. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 1 further comprising a biasing spring connected to the over-center pivot member and urging the over-center pivot member to the park brake engaged position and park brake disengaged position.

4. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 1 further including a pair of stops contacted by the over-center pivot member at the park brake engaged and disengaged positions.

5. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
at least one over-center pivot member mounted to a zero turning radius mower adjacent the lower end of at least one control lever; the over-center pivot member connected to a park brake for a drive wheel, and being spring biased to a first position where the park brake is disengaged or a second position where the park brake is engaged; the each control lever contacting disconnected from the over-center pivot member and then parting from the over-center pivot member at the first position or the second position.

6. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 5 further comprising a coil spring that urges each over-center pivot member to the first position or the second position.

7. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 5 wherein each over-center pivot member is connected to one of the park brakes with a cable.

8. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member connected to a park brake;
an actuator at a lower end of a pivotable steering arm bracket; the actuator briefly contacting the over-center pivot member to a park brake engaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted outwardly, and to a park brake disengaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted inwardly; the actuator being spaced from the over-center pivot member at each of the park brake engaged position and park brake disengaged position.

9. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 8 further comprising a spring biasing the over-center pivot member to the park brake engaged and disengaged positions.

10. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member connected to a park brake;
an actuator at a lower end of a pivotable steering arm bracket; the actuator urging the over-center pivot member to a park brake engaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted outwardly, and to a park brake disengaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted inwardly; the actuator being spaced from the over-center pivot member at each of the park brake engaged position and park brake disengaged position;
wherein the over-center pivot member is claw-shaped having a pair of fingers with a gap therebetween.

11. The zero turning radius mower park brake system of claim 10 wherein the actuator is a wire form.

12. The A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member connected to a park brake;
an actuator at a lower end of a pivotable steering arm bracket; the actuator urging the over-center pivot member to a park brake engaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted outwardly, and to a park brake disengaged position when the steering arm bracket is pivoted inwardly; the actuator being spaced from the over-center pivot member at each of the park brake engaged position and park brake disengaged position;
wherein the over-center pivot member has a vertical pivot axis.

13. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
at least one over-center pivot member mounted to a zero turning radius mower adjacent the lower end of at least one control lever; each over-center pivot member connected to a park brake for a drive wheel, and being spring biased to a first position where the park brake is disengaged or a second position where the park brake is engaged; each control lever disconnected from the over-center pivot member and when the over-center pivot member reaches the first position or the second position;
wherein each over-center pivot member is claw-shaped having a pair of fingers and an opening or gap therebetween.

14. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member pivoting to a park brake engaged position in response to moving a control arm fully outward, and to a park brake disengaged position in response to moving the control arm fully inward; the control arm being disconnected from the over-center pivot member in the park brake engaged and disengaged positions;
wherein the over-center pivot member includes a pair of lobes with a gap therebetween.

15. A zero turning radius mower park brake system, comprising:
an over-center pivot member pivoting to a park brake engaged position in response to moving a control arm fully outward, and to a park brake disengaged position in response to moving the control arm fully inward; the control arm being disconnected from the over-center pivot member in the park brake engaged and disengaged positions;
wherein the over-center pivot member includes a pair of fingers with a gap therebetween.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Dunbar Robert D
• Pelino Jaimie
• Welz Frank M

Classifications

• A01D34/824 Primary

  Handle arrangements · CPC title

• B60T11/21

  with two pedals operating on respective circuits, pressures therein being equalised when both pedals are operated together, e.g. for steering (steering non-deflectable wheels or endless tracks by differentially driving ground-engaging elements on opposite vehicle sides using brakes as main steering effecting means B62D11/08) · CPC title

• B60T7/102

  by means of a tilting lever · CPC title

• B60T7/108

  with mechanisms to take up slack in the linkage to the brakes · CPC title

• A01D69/10 Primary

  Brakes · CPC title