Electric outdoor ride-on power equipment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12145674-B2
Application number	US-201916365526-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Mar 26, 2018
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

Ride-on outdoor power equipment includes one or more batteries, one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the one or more batteries, one or more user input devices, a plurality of sensors, and a controller in communication with the one or more batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. Ride-on outdoor power equipment, comprising:
a plurality of batteries each being configured to be removed without the use of a tool;
one or more electric traction motors electrically connected to the plurality of batteries;
one or more user input devices;
an on-board plug-in battery charger electrically connected to the plurality of batteries and configured to provide power to the plurality of batteries via a plug from a utility connection;
a plurality of sensors; and
a controller in communication with the plurality of batteries, the electric traction motors and the one or more user input devices, the controller configured to:
control the electric traction motors to operate the ride-on outdoor power equipment based on inputs received via the user input devices;
determine a state of charge of at least one of the plurality of batteries; and
provide power to the at least one of the plurality of batteries or a discharge device based on the determined state of charge.

2. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the electric traction motors are configured to control a lateral rotational position of a non-traction wheel.

3. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a processing circuit, a user interface, an input/output (I/O) interface, and a communication module.

4. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 3 , wherein the communication module comprises one or more of a serial communication interface and a wireless communication interface.

5. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 4 , wherein the processing circuit comprises a traction control module configured to control the electric traction motors.

6. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 5 , wherein the traction control module is further configured to control one or more non-traction motors electrically connected to the plurality of batteries.

7. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 5 , wherein the traction control module is further configured to execute one or more automatic turning functions to alter the direction of the ride-on outdoor power equipment.

8. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 3 , wherein the processing circuit comprises an implement control module configured to operate one of an implement or a mower deck.

9. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 8 , wherein the implement control module is configured to communicate with one or more sensors associated with the implement or the mower deck.

10. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 1 , further comprising an attachment deck.

11. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 10 , further comprising a power and communication bus, the power and communication bus configured to provide power and communication to the attachment deck.

12. Ride-on outdoor power equipment, comprising
a plurality of batteries each being configured to be removed;
one or more electric motors electrically connected to the plurality of batteries;
one or more user input devices;
an on-board plug-in battery charger electrically connected to the plurality of batteries and configured to provide power to the plurality of batteries via a plug from a utility connection;
a plurality of sensors; and
a controller comprising a traction control module and an operational control module communicably coupled to the one or more electric motors.

13. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 12 , wherein the traction control module is communicably and operatively coupled to the one or more electric motors to control the one or more electric motors and a lateral rotational position of a non-traction wheel.

14. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 12 , wherein the operational control module is communicably and operatively coupled to the one or more electric motors and controls the speed of the one or more electric motors to provide a steering assist function; wherein the on-board plug-in battery charger is configured to receive power via at least one of an electrical plug, an inductive charger receiver, or regenerative braking via the one or more electric motors.

15. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 12 , further comprising one or more communication antennas electrically coupled to the controller and configured to provide communication to the controller via one or more wireless protocols.

16. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of batteries weight less than 20 pounds.

17. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of batteries is configured to provide approximately one kilowatt-hour of energy.

18. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of batteries is configured to cumulatively provide between two kilowatt-hours of energy and three kilowatt-hours of energy or between three kilowatt-hours of energy and four kilowatt-hours of energy.

19. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of batteries weight between approximately 13 pounds and approximately 15 pounds.

20. The ride-on outdoor power equipment of claim 19 , wherein each of the plurality of batteries is configured to provide approximately one kilowatt-hour of energy, and wherein the plurality of batteries is configured to cumulatively provide between two kilowatt-hours of energy and three kilowatt-hours of energy or between three kilowatt-hours of energy and four kilowatt-hours of energy.

Assignees

• Briggs & Stratton Llc

Inventors

• Zeiler Jeffrey
• Schulenberg David
• Funke Scott
• Avery Steve
• Weber Steve
• Poirier Brian
• Schmalz Jacob

Classifications

• B62D9/002

  combined with means for differentially distributing power on the deflectable wheels during cornering · CPC title

• H01Q1/27

  Adaptation for use in or on movable bodies (H01Q1/08, H01Q1/12, H01Q1/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• A01D34/78

  electric · CPC title

• A01D34/008

  for automated or remotely controlled operation · CPC title

• A01D34/66 Primary

  with two or more cutters · CPC title