Autonomous mower cutting systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10856467-B2
Application number	US-201916552171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2019
Priority date	Apr 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 8, 2020
Grant date	Dec 8, 2020

Abstract

An autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) includes a drive wheel ( 34 ) that is connected to a frame ( 24 ) and a rotating blade assembly ( 36 ). The rotating blade assembly ( 36 ) includes a blade assembly axis of rotation ( 38 ) and is connected to the frame ( 24 ) within a housing ( 26 ). The mobile work system ( 20 ) further includes a single motor ( 40 ) operably connected to the blade assembly ( 36 ). The motor ( 50 ) includes a motor output shaft ( 44 ) and the motor output shaft ( 44 ) includes an output shaft axis of rotation ( 46 ). The mobile work system ( 20 ) still further includes a gear box ( 50 ) operably connected to the drive wheel ( 34 ) and the motor output shaft ( 44 ). The single motor ( 50 ) urges rotation of both the rotating blade assembly ( 36 ) and the drive wheel ( 34 ). The gear box ( 50 ) can include a planetary gear set ( 104 ) including a ring gear ( 110 ) defining cavities ( 120 ) at its outside diameter ( 124 ). A locking shaft ( 126 ) can rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position with one of the cavities ( 120 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) characterized by:
a frame ( 24 );
a housing ( 26 ) connected to said frame ( 24 ), wherein said housing ( 26 ) has an outer circumference ( 28 ) and an open lower portion ( 30 );
a drive wheel ( 34 ), wherein said drive wheel ( 34 ) is connected to said frame ( 24 );
a rotating blade assembly ( 36 ), wherein said rotating blade assembly ( 36 ) is connected to said frame ( 24 ) within said housing ( 26 ) and is configured to cut vegetation, wherein said blade assembly ( 36 ) includes a blade assembly axis of rotation ( 38 );
a single motor ( 40 ) operably connected to said blade assembly ( 36 ), wherein said motor ( 40 ) includes a motor output shaft ( 44 ), and said motor output shaft ( 44 ) includes an output shaft axis of rotation ( 46 ); and
a gear box ( 50 ) operably connected to said drive wheel ( 34 ) and said motor output shaft ( 44 ), said gear box ( 50 ) comprising a planetary gear set ( 104 ), said planetary gear set comprising a ring gear ( 110 ) having an outside diameter ( 124 ), wherein said ring gear ( 110 ) defines a plurality of cavities ( 120 ) at said outside diameter ( 124 ), and a locking shaft ( 126 ) configured to enter a space within one of said plurality of cavities ( 120 ) by rotating between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and
wherein said single motor ( 40 ) urges rotation of both said rotating blade assembly ( 36 ) and said drive wheel ( 34 ).

2. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said output shaft axis of rotation ( 46 ) and said blade assembly axis of rotation ( 38 ) are horizontal.

3. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said output shaft axis of rotation ( 46 ) and said blade assembly axis of rotation ( 38 ) are parallel.

4. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said output shaft axis of rotation ( 46 ) and said blade assembly axis of rotation ( 38 ) are collinear.

5. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of, claim 1 , wherein said rotating blade assembly ( 36 ) comprises a flail-type vegetation cutter.

6. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said gear box ( 50 ) accepts input from said motor output shaft ( 44 ) rotating in one rotational direction and develops rotational output in one of a first rotational direction, a second rotational direction, or no rotation.

7. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of, claim 1 , wherein each gear box ( 50 ) can operate independently of any other gear box.

8. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of, claim 1 , wherein said single motor ( 40 ) comprises a double-ended motor shaft.

9. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , comprising a caster wheel ( 54 ).

10. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , comprising a blade assembly gear box operably connected to said single motor ( 40 ) and said rotating blade assembly ( 36 ).

11. The autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said autonomous mobile work system ( 20 ) is a fully autonomous residential lawn mowing device.

12. The autonomous work system ( 20 ) of claim 1 , wherein said locking shaft ( 126 ) rotates into and out of said engaged position through sliding contact with said curved surface ( 122 ) of said ring gear ( 110 ).

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Maggard Jay

Classifications

• A01D34/008 Primary

  for automated or remotely controlled operation · CPC title

• A01D34/62

  Other details · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• F16H3/44

  using gears having orbital motion · CPC title

• A01D34/475

  Driving mechanisms (for the cutters A01D34/56) · CPC title