Walk reel mower with handle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12016266-B2
Application number	US-202117360913-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2021
Priority date	Nov 9, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A walk reel mower has a traction frame that carries at least one ground engaging member operatively powered by a prime mover. A rotatable cutting reel is operatively powered by the prime mower for pushing grass against a bedknife to cut the grass. A handle assembly is used to guide and manipulate the mower, and a traction bail on the handle assembly disengages and engages the traction drive. The traction bail is movable between first and second positions that have a range of motion large enough to permit the user to move the control into at least one intermediate position to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than the nominal ground speed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A walk reel mower, which comprises:
(a) a traction frame which mounts a prime mover having a prime mover nominal speed selected by a user, wherein the traction frame carries at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered by the prime mover through a traction drive to self-propel the traction frame over the ground;
(b) a rotatable cutting reel that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and that is operatively powered by the prime mover for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
(c) a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly extending rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame; and
(d) a traction bail carried on the handle assembly for motion relative to the handle between a first position in which the traction bail is spaced from the handle assembly for disengaging the traction drive and a second position in which the traction bail is closer to the handle assembly for engaging the traction drive such that a ground speed of the traction frame in the second position of the traction bail is a traction nominal speed selected by the user, wherein the traction bail is movable in a range of motion between the first and second positions of the traction bail that is large enough to permit the user to move the traction bail into at least one intermediate position between the first and second positions to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than the traction nominal ground speed to allow the user to temporarily slow the traction frame down, wherein the ground speed, with the traction bail in the intermediate position, is a function of the prime mover nominal speed;
(e) wherein the traction bail is located between the handle assembly and the rotatable cutting reel.

2. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein the traction bail is pivotal relative to the handle assembly and is biased into the first position such that the traction drive is normally disengaged.

3. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein the traction bail has a U-shape and comprises a top and at least one leg extending from the top to terminate in a free end that is pivotally connected to the handle assembly.

4. The walk reel mower of claim 3 , wherein the at least one leg pivotally connects to the handle assembly through a first pin and slot connection, wherein the first pin and slot connection allows the traction bail to be displaced in a first downward direction relative to a grip member of the handle by having the user press downwardly on the top of the traction bail.

5. The walk reel mower of claim 4 , wherein the traction bail and the handle assembly have a second pin and slot connection that prevents the traction bail from being pivoted around the first pin and slot connection until the traction bail is first displaced in the first downward direction, the second pin and slot connection being configured to release the traction bail for pivoting about the first pin and slot connection only after the traction bail is displaced in the first downward direction.

6. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein the traction bail in the second position is substantially adjacent to or in contact with the handle assembly.

7. The walk reel mower of claim 6 , wherein the traction nominal speed selected by the user by placing the traction bail in the second position comprises a maximum nominal speed set by the user through a prime mover speed control.

8. The walk reel mower of claim 7 , wherein the prime mover comprises an internal combustion engine, and wherein the prime mover speed control comprises an engine throttle for establishing a selected rotational speed of an output shaft of the engine that produces the maximum nominal speed set by the user.

9. The walk reel mower of claim 6 , wherein the traction bail is selectively movable by the user into a plurality of intermediate positions between the first and second positions to permit the user to select from among a plurality of reduced ground speeds when the user chooses to temporarily slow the traction frame down.

10. The walk reel mower of claim 9 , wherein the traction bail is infinitely movable by the user into the plurality of intermediate positions between the first and second positions.

11. The walk reel mower of claim 10 , wherein the traction bail is pivotal relative to the handle assembly and is biased into the first position such that the traction drive is normally disengaged.

12. The walk reel mower of claim 9 , wherein the traction drive is a mechanical traction drive, and wherein the traction bail provides the plurality of reduced ground speeds by slipping to varying degrees the mechanical traction drive.

13. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein an operator holding the handle assembly will place their fingers on the traction bail and press to pivot the traction bail and engage the traction drive.

14. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly comprises a substantially horizontal grip member that is gripped by the user during operation of the mower to guide and manipulate the mower.

15. The walk reel mower of claim 1 , wherein both the at least one ground engaging drive member and the rotatable cutting reel are mechanically driven by the same prime mover.

16. A walk reel mower, which comprises:
(a) a traction frame which mounts a prime mover, wherein the traction frame carries at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered by the prime mover through a traction drive to self-propel the traction frame over the ground;
(b) a rotatable cutting reel that rotates about a substantially horizontal axis and that is operatively powered by the prime mover for pushing grass against a bedknife for cutting the grass;
(c) a handle assembly comprising a handle, the handle assembly extending rearwardly and upwardly from the traction frame;
(d) a prime mover speed control; and
(e) a traction bail carried on the handle assembly for motion relative to the handle between a first position in which the traction bail is spaced from the handle assembly for disengaging the traction drive and a second position in which the traction bail is closer to the handle assembly for engaging the traction drive such that a ground speed of the traction frame in the second position of the traction bail is a nominal speed selected by a user, wherein the traction bail is movable in a range of motion between the first and second positions of the traction bail that is large enough to permit the user to move the traction bail into at least one intermediate position between the first and second positions to produce a reduced ground speed greater than zero but less than the nominal ground speed to allow the user to temporarily slow the traction frame down while a speed setting of the prime mover remains unchanged,
(f) wherein the traction bail is located between the handle assembly and the rotatable cutting reel, and
(g) wherein the nominal speed selected by the user by placing the traction bail in the second position comprises a maximum nominal speed set by the user through the prime mover speed control.

17. The walk reel mower of claim 16 , wherein both the at least one ground engaging drive member and the rotatable cutting reel are mechanically driven by the same prime mover.

18. A walk reel mower, which comprises:
(a) a traction frame which mounts a prime mover, wherein the traction frame carries at least one ground engaging drive member that is operatively powered by the prime mover through a traction drive to self-propel the tractio

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Langworthy Thomas F
• Patton Robert D
• Sirek Nicholas J
• Pfankuch Joseph W
• Goman Gerald E

Classifications

• A01B45/00

  Machines for treating meadows or lawns {, e.g. for sports grounds} · CPC title

• A01D42/08

  Sweeping snow · CPC title

• A01D75/306

  for lawn mowers positioned one behind the other or side by side · CPC title

• A01D34/44

  with two or more cutters · CPC title

• A01D34/43

  mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle · CPC title