Control assembly for zero turn vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11787471-B1
Application number	US-202016776096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 29, 2020
Priority date	Jan 29, 2019
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

A vehicle control assembly having a control lever for controlling output of a traction drive. An operator control mechanism of the control assembly has an arm pivotable about a first pivot axis between a neutral position and a range of both forward and reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the arm can pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative and stopped position, and a switch is engaged when the arm is in the stopped position. A linkage connects the operator control mechanism to a return to neutral (RTN) module that provides a return force to the arm when it is pivoted away from the neutral position. The RTN module includes a shaft pivotable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and placing a magnet proximate to a magnetic field sensor chip mounted on a circuit board comprising CAN Bus and switch terminals.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A vehicle control assembly having an operator control lever for controlling output of a traction drive of a vehicle, wherein the traction drive is located at a first location on the vehicle, the vehicle control assembly comprising:
an operator control mechanism comprising:
a first bracket for attachment to the vehicle at a second location remote from the first location;
a pivot arm attachable to the operator control lever;
a yoke to which the pivot arm may be attached;
a linkage attachment arm;
a control shaft engaged to the yoke and the linkage attachment arm and extending into the first bracket, wherein the control shaft, the yoke, the linkage attachment arm and the pivot arm are pivotable about a first pivot axis in a first direction and a second direction, whereby the pivot arm is moveable between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions, and when the pivot arm is in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative position and a stopped position; and
a switch engageable by the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted to the stopped position; and
a return to neutral module to provide a return force to the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted about the first pivot axis away from the neutral position, the return to neutral module comprising:
a second bracket for attachment to the vehicle at a third location remote from both the first location and the second location;
a control arm;
a linkage assembly extending between the control arm and the linkage attachment arm, to transfer the return force from the control arm to the pivot arm;
a return to neutral shaft extending through the second bracket and engaging the control arm, the return to neutral shaft being pivotable about a third pivot axis and having a magnet attached thereto; and
a position sensor module attached to the second bracket and comprising:
a CAN Bus communication processor;
a magnetic field sensor chip to sense the rotational orientation of the magnet; and
a plurality of terminals to connect conductors from the switch to the CAN bus communication processor.

2 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the third location is disposed between the first location and the second location when viewed along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

3 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the operator control lever and the pivot arm are integrally formed.

4 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the yoke and the linkage attachment arm are integrally formed.

5 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first bracket comprises a first arm and a second arm; the first arm provides a first limit of rotational movement of the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted in the first direction about the first pivot axis and the second arm provides a second limit of rotational movement of the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted in the second direction about the first pivot axis.

6 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the return to neutral module further comprises:
a neutral arm fixed to the second bracket in a non-pivotable manner; a pair of scissor return arms connected by a biasing member, each of the pair of scissor return arms having an extension engageable to a portion of the neutral arm such that the neutral arm limits rotation of both of the pair of scissor return arms; and the control arm comprises a control arm extension, wherein the control arm extension contacts a first of the pair of scissor return arms when the pivot arm is pivoted in the first direction and the biasing member provides a first return force to the first of the pair of scissor return arms, and the control arm extension contacts a second of the pair of scissor return arms when the pivot arm is pivoted in the second direction and the biasing member provides a second return force to the second of the pair of scissor return arms.

7 . The vehicle control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the return to neutral module is engaged to a proximal end of the return to neutral shaft disposed on a first side of the second bracket, and the position sensor module is disposed on a second side of the second bracket, opposite the first side and operatively engaged to a distal end of the return to neutral shaft.

8 . A vehicle, comprising:
a prime mover disposed on the vehicle; a first traction drive located at a first location on the vehicle, the first traction drive being powered by the prime mover and driving a first driven wheel; a second traction drive located at a second location on the vehicle, the second traction drive being powered by the prime mover and driving a second driven wheel; and a first control assembly operatively engaged to the first traction drive, and a second control assembly operatively engaged to the second traction drive, wherein the first control assembly and the second control assembly each separately comprise an operator control mechanism and a return to neutral module, wherein:
each operator control mechanism is located at a separate third location on the vehicle remote from both the first location and the second location, and separately comprises:
a first bracket for attachment to the vehicle;
a control lever and a pivot arm attachable to the control lever;
a yoke to which the pivot arm may be attached;
a linkage attachment arm;
a control shaft engaged to the yoke and the linkage attachment arm and extending into the first bracket, wherein the control shaft, the yoke, the linkage attachment arm and the pivot arm are pivotable about a first pivot axis in a first direction and a second direction, whereby the pivot arm is moveable between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions;
wherein, when the pivot arm is in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative position and a stopped position;
a switch engageable by the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted to the stopped position; and

each return to neutral module is located at a separate fourth location on the vehicle remote from the first, second and third locations and separately comprises:
a second bracket for attachment to the vehicle;
a return to neutral mechanism to provide a return force to the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted about the first pivot axis away from the neutral position;
a return to neutral shaft pivotable about a third pivot axis, the return to neutral shaft at least partially supporting the return to neutral mechanism and having a magnet attached thereto; and
a position sensor module attached to the second bracket and comprising:
a CAN Bus communication processor;
a magnetic field sensor chip to sense the rotational orientation of the magnet; and
a plurality of terminals to connect conductors from the switch to the CAN Bus communication processor.

9 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein each respective operator control mechanism is connected to its respective return to neutral mechanism by a linkage.

10 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein for each operator control mechanism, the control lever and the pivot arm are integrally formed.

11 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein for each operator control mechanism, the yoke and the linkage attachment arm are integrally formed.

12 . The vehicle of claim 8 , wherein for each return to neutral module, the return to neutral mechanism comprises:
a neutral arm fixed to the second bracket in a non-pivotable manner; a pair of scissor return arms connected by a biasing

Assignees

• Hydro Gear Lp

Inventors

• Probst Jesse L
• Bonny Nathan W
• Keller Scott W

Classifications

• B62D11/04 Primary

  by means of separate power sources · CPC title

• A01D34/824

  Handle arrangements · CPC title

• A01D69/02

  electric · CPC title

• B60K26/02

  of initiating means or elements · CPC title

• B60K26/04

  of means connecting initiating means or elements to propulsion unit · CPC title