Walk power mower with transmission providing both forward and reverse propulsion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10834871-B2
Application number	US-201816117849-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Nov 17, 2020
Grant date	Nov 17, 2020

Abstract

A walk power mower having a cutting deck supported upon the ground by a front and rear wheel(s). The mower includes a traction drive system incorporating a bidirectional transmission adapted to propel the mower alternatively in both forward and reverse directions. In some embodiments, the mower may include a single bidirectional transmission (e.g., powering only rear wheel(s) or only front wheel(s) of the mower), while in other embodiments, two bidirectional transmissions may be provided to power both the front and the rear wheel(s). In other embodiments, the mower may include a bidirectional transmission powering the rear wheel(s), while the front wheel(s) may be attached to the deck via a caster assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power equipment unit comprising:
a housing supported upon the ground by at least a front wheel and a rear wheel of which one or both form a drive wheel of the unit, the housing adapted to traverse the ground in both a forward direction and an opposite, reverse direction;
a prime mover carried by the housing, the prime mover operatively connected to a ground-working tool associated with the housing; and
a variable speed traction drive system carried by the housing, the traction drive system comprising:
a bidirectional transmission operatively connected to the drive wheel, the transmission operable to selectively rotate the drive wheel to propel the housing over the ground; and
a control system comprising:
a handle grip operatively connected to the transmission and movable relative to a handle member extending upwardly and rearwardly from the housing, wherein the handle grip activates the transmission to power the drive wheel for movement of the housing in the forward direction when the handle grip is moved in a first direction, and wherein the handle grip activates the transmission to power the drive wheel for movement of the housing in the reverse direction when the handle grip is moved in a second direction opposite the first direction; and
a position sensor adapted to produce an electrical signal indicative of a physical position of the handle grip relative to the handle member, wherein the electrical signal is ultimately provided to the transmission.

2. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover is further connected to the transmission to provide power to the same.

3. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises one or more electric motors.

4. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a cutting deck and the ground-working tool comprises a rotating cutting member operatively powered by the prime mover.

5. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , wherein the front wheel forms part of a caster assembly, the caster assembly mounted to the housing such that the caster assembly pivots, relative to the housing, about a caster axis.

6. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , wherein movement of the handle grip relative to the handle member comprises translation of the handle grip along the handle member.

7. The power equipment unit of claim 1 , further comprising first and second rear wheels each configured as drive wheels, and wherein the transmission comprises first and second electric motors coupled to the first and second rear wheels, respectively.

8. A walk power mower comprising:
a deck supported upon the ground by front wheels and rear wheels, the deck adapted to traverse the ground in both a forward direction and an opposite, reverse direction, wherein one or more of any of the front wheels and the rear wheels operate as a powered drive wheel of the mower;
a handle comprising a handle member extending from the deck, wherein the handle member includes a first end and a second end, the second end operatively attached to the deck;
a prime mover carried by the deck, the prime mover operatively connected to a cutting member;
a variable speed, bidirectional transmission carried by the deck, wherein the transmission is adapted to selectively rotate the drive wheel to propel the deck over the ground; and
a control system comprising:
a handle grip positioned at or near the first end of, and movable relative to, the handle member; and
a position sensor associated with one or both of the handle grip and the handle member, the sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal indicative of a physical position of the handle grip relative to the handle member,
wherein the electrical signal is provided to the transmission such that the handle grip operatively activates the transmission to power the drive wheel for movement of the deck: in the forward direction when the handle grip is moved from a neutral position directionally toward the deck; and in the reverse direction when the handle grip is moved from the neutral position directionally away from the deck.

9. The mower of claim 8 , wherein each front wheel forms part of a front wheel assembly that further comprises a caster arm, the caster arm rotationally connected to the deck so that each front wheel assembly, and thus its associated front wheel, rotates about a caster axis relative to the deck.

10. The mower of claim 8 , wherein movement of the handle grip relative to the handle member comprises translation of the handle grip along the handle member.

11. The mower of claim 8 , wherein the rear wheels comprise first and second rear wheels, and wherein the transmission is connected to both of the first and second rear wheels.

12. The mower of claim 11 , wherein the transmission comprises:
a first electric motor operatively connected to the first rear wheel; and
an independent second electric motor operatively connected to the second rear wheel.

13. The mower of claim 8 , wherein the transmission comprises an electric motor.

14. The mower of claim 8 , further comprising a microcontroller adapted to receive the electrical signal indicative of the physical position of the handle grip relative to the handle member and generate a corresponding output command to the transmission.

15. A walk power mower comprising:
a deck supported upon the ground by at least a first wheel and a second wheel, the deck adapted to traverse the ground in both a forward direction and an opposite, reverse direction, wherein the first and second wheels operate as powered drive wheels of the mower;
a handle comprising a handle member extending rearwardly from the deck, wherein the handle member includes a first end and a second end, the second end operatively attached to the deck;
a prime mover carried by the deck, the prime mover operatively connected to a cutting member;
a variable speed, bidirectional transmission comprising first and second electric drive motors carried by the deck, wherein the first and second electric drive motors are adapted to selectively rotate the first and second drive wheels, respectively, to propel the deck over the ground; and
a control system comprising:
a handle grip positioned at or near the first end of, and movable along, the handle member; and
a position sensor adapted to generate an electrical signal indicative of a physical position of the handle grip relative to the handle member, wherein the electrical signal is provided to each of the first and second electric drive motors such that movement of the handle grip activates the transmission to proportionally power the drive wheels for movement of the deck:
in the forward direction when the handle grip is moved from a neutral position directionally toward the deck; and
in the reverse direction when the handle grip is moved from the neutral position directionally away from the deck.

16. The mower of claim 15 , further comprising a microcontroller adapted to receive the electrical signal indicative of the physical position of the handle grip relative to the handle member and generate a corresponding output command to the first and second electric drive motors.

17. The mower of claim 15 , wherein movement of the handle grip along the handle member comprises translation of the handle grip along the handle member.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Shaffer Chadwick A
• Porter Todd A
• Svoboda Steven J

Classifications

• B62D51/04

  the driver walking · CPC title

• A01D34/6806

  Driving mechanisms (for the cutters A01D34/76) · CPC title

• A01D2034/6837

  Drive connections · CPC title

• A01D34/824

  Handle arrangements · CPC title

• A01D2034/6825

  being tyre driven · CPC title