Grounds maintenance vehicle with removable control tower skin

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10952378-B2
Application number	US-201916403434-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2019
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

Various embodiments of a grounds maintenance vehicle are disclosed. The vehicle includes a frame and a control tower disposed at or near a rear end of the frame. The control tower includes a support structure that defines an interior space of the control tower and a nonplanar removable skin connected to the support structure. The removable skin includes a front side disposed over a front side of the support structure and a lateral side disposed over at least one of a left side or a right side of the support structure. A portion of at least one of the front side or lateral side of the removable skin is disposed above an uppermost surface of the prime mover. Further, the removable skin is adapted to be at least partially removed from the support structure to facilitate additional access to the interior space of the control tower.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising a frame that includes a front end, a rear end, and a control tower disposed at or near the rear end of the frame, wherein the control tower comprises:
a support structure that defines an interior space of the control tower; and
a nonplanar removable skin connected to the support structure and comprising a front side disposed over a front side of the support structure and a lateral side disposed over at least one of a left side or a right side of the support structure, wherein a portion of at least one of the front side or lateral side of the removable skin is disposed above an uppermost surface of a prime mover that is connected to the frame, and further wherein the removable skin is adapted to be at least partially removed from the support structure to facilitate additional access to the interior space of the control tower.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a platform attached to the frame at or near the rear end, wherein the platform is adapted to support a standing operator.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
left and right rear drive wheels located near the rear end of the frame;
left and right front wheels located near the front end of the frame; and
an implement connected to the frame;
wherein the prime mover is connected to the frame at or near the control tower and operatively coupled to the left and right rear drive wheels.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the prime mover comprises an internal combustion engine.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control tower further comprises a top surface comprising a control area, and wherein vehicle controls are disposed in or on the control area, the controls adapted to be manipulated by an operator.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a control system that comprises one or more control levers pivotally attached to the control tower, wherein the control lever is adapted to pivot about an axis that is generally transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lateral side of the removable skin is disposed over the left side of the support structure and a second lateral side of the removable skin is disposed over the right side of the support structure.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the lateral side of the removable skin is removably connected to the left side of the support structure and the second lateral side of the removable skin is removably connected to the right side of the support structure.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein removal of the removable skin from the support structure provides additional access to at least one of the prime mover, a traction drive system, or an actuation mechanism.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the removable skin is a unitary removable skin.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the front side and the lateral side of the removable skin are removably connected.

12. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that is adapted to connect the removable skin to the support structure, wherein the fastener comprises a capscrew.

13. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the prime mover is disposed within the interior space of the support structure.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the control tower further comprises a pad connected to a rear side of the support structure.

15. A stand-on riding grounds maintenance vehicle comprising a frame that includes a front end, a rear end, and a control tower disposed at or near the rear end of the frame, wherein the control tower comprises:
a platform attached to the frame at or near the rear end, wherein the platform is adapted to support a standing operator;
a support structure that defines an interior space of the control tower;
a prime mover connected to the frame at or near the control tower; and
a nonplanar removable skin connected to the support structure and comprising a front side disposed over a front side of the support structure and a lateral side disposed over at least one of a left side or a right side of the support structure, wherein a portion of at least one of the front side or lateral side of the removable skin is disposed above an uppermost surface of the prime mover, and further wherein the removable skin is adapted to be at least partially removed from the support structure to facilitate additional access to the interior space of the control tower.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the lateral side of the removable skin is removably connected to the left side of the support structure and a second lateral side of the removable skin is removably connected to the right side of the support structure.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the removable skin is a unitary removable skin.

18. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the front side and the lateral side of the removable skin are removably connected.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a fastener that is adapted to removably connect the removable skin to the support structure, wherein the fastener comprises at least one of a capscrew or a locking pin.

20. A stand-on riding grounds maintenance vehicle comprising a frame that includes a front end, a rear end, and a control tower disposed at or near the rear end of the frame, wherein the control tower comprises:
a platform attached to the frame at or near the rear end, wherein the platform is adapted to support a standing operator;
a support structure that defines an interior space of the control tower;
a prime mover connected to the frame at or near the control tower;
a nonplanar unitary removable skin connected to the support structure and comprising a front side that is disposed over and removably connected to a front side of the support structure, a lateral side that is disposed over and removably connected to a left side of the support structure, and a second lateral side that is disposed over and removably connected to a right side of the support structure, wherein a portion of at least one of the front side, lateral side, or second lateral side of the support structure is disposed above an uppermost surface of the prime mover, wherein the removable skin is adapted to be removed from the support structure to facilitate additional access to at least one of the prime mover, a traction drive system, or an actuation mechanism; and
a pad disposed over and connected to a rear side of the support structure.

Assignees

• Exmark Mfg Company Incorporated

Inventors

• Bryant Christian S C
• Moore Nickolas T
• Sands Patrick D

Classifications

• A01D34/81

  Casings; Housings (A01D34/71 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01D34/90

  for carrying by the operator · CPC title

• A01D67/005 Primary

  Arrangements of coupling devices · CPC title

• A01D34/76

  Driving mechanisms for the cutters · CPC title

• A01D2034/6837

  Drive connections · CPC title