Clutch assembly for a lawn maintenance vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9326446-B2
Application number	US-201514618115-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2015
Priority date	Mar 12, 2014
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A clutch assembly attachable to a rotational output shaft of the engine, wherein the clutch assembly is configured to drive at least one implement of a lawn maintenance vehicle is provided. The clutch assembly includes a first pulley fixedly attached to the output shaft, a second pulley independently rotatable relative to the first pulley, and a belt extending between the first and second pulleys and an idler pulley that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The clutch assembly further includes a third pulley directly connected with the second pulley, wherein rotation of the second pulley is directly transferred to the third pulley, and rotation of the third pulley provides an output rotation of the clutch assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A clutch assembly for selectively powering at least one implement of a lawn maintenance vehicle, said lawn maintenance vehicle including a frame and a power source for generating a rotational output by way of a drive shaft, said clutch assembly comprising:
a first pulley fixedly attached to said drive shaft extending from said power source;
a second pulley fixedly attached to a tube, said second pulley being independently rotatable relative to said first pulley, said second pulley being rotatable about said drive shaft;
a third pulley fixedly connected to said tube and operatively connected to said at least one implement, wherein rotation of said second pulley causes said third pulley to provide a rotational output;
an actuator assembly having an idler pulley that is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and
a belt extendable between said first and second pulleys and said idler pulley;
wherein said belt engages said first and second pulleys and said idler pulley for directly transferring rotation of said first pulley to said second pulley when said idler pulley is in said engaged position, and said belt disengaging said first and second pulleys and said idler pulley when said idler pulley is in said disengaged position.

2. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said belt is a double-V belt that directly transfers rotation of said first pulley to said second pulley.

3. The clutch assembly of claim 2 , wherein said idler pulley includes a single projection that engages a groove located in said double-V belt when said idler pulley is in said engaged position.

4. The clutch assembly of claim 1 , wherein said actuator assembly further includes an actuator operatively connected to said idler pulley, wherein said idler pulley is switchable between said engaged position and said disengaged position in response to movement of said actuator between a first position and a second position.

5. The clutch assembly of claim 4 , wherein said actuator assembly further includes a guide wire extending between said actuator and one end of a spring, and an opposing end of said spring is attachable to an arm that is rotatably connected to said frame, said idler pulley being rotatably attached to said arm.

6. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said arm includes a brake pad extending therefrom, wherein said brake pad contacts said second pulley for stopping rotation of said second pulley when said idler pulley is moved to said disengaged position.

7. The clutch assembly of claim 5 , wherein said actuator is one of a lever, a pushable button, a toggle switch, or a translatable knob.

8. A clutch assembly for selectively powering at least one implement of a lawn maintenance vehicle, said lawn maintenance vehicle including a frame and a power source for generating a rotational output by way of a drive shaft, said clutch assembly comprising:
a first pulley fixedly attached to said drive shaft extending from said power source;
a second pulley fixedly attached to a tube that is rotatable about said drive shaft, said second pulley being independently rotatable relative to said first pulley;
a third pulley fixedly connected to said tube and operatively connected to said at least one implement for driving said at least one implement;
at least one belt operatively connected to said first pulley and said second pulley for transferring rotation of said first pulley to said second pulley; and
an actuator assembly being selectively switchable between a first operative position which causes said at least one belt to engage both said first and second pulleys for transferring rotation from said first pulley to said second pulley and a second operative position which causes said at least one belt to disengage from said first and second pulleys in which rotation from said first pulley is not transferred to said second pulley;
wherein rotation of said first pulley is directly or indirectly transferrable to said second pulley when said actuator assembly is in said first operative position.

9. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said at least one belt is a double-V belt that simultaneously engages both said first and second pulleys for direct transfer of rotation from said first pulley to said second pulley when said actuator assembly is in said first operative position.

10. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said at least one belt includes a first belt and a second belt, wherein said first belt extends between said first pulley and said actuator assembly and said second belt extends between said actuator assembly and said second pulley for indirect transfer of rotation from said first pulley to said second pulley when said actuator assembly is in said first operative position.

11. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said actuator assembly includes an actuator operable by an operator, a guide wire extending between said actuator and one end of a spring, an opposing end of a spring being attachable to an arm rotatably attached to said frame, and an idler pulley rotatably attached to said arm, said idler pulley being selectively engageable with said at least one belt.

12. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said idler pulley includes at least one outer radial V-shaped groove formed therein.

13. The clutch assembly of claim 12 , wherein said idler pulley includes a pair of adjacent V-shaped grooves formed therein.

14. The clutch assembly of claim 13 , wherein said at least one belt includes two V-shaped belts, wherein a first of said V-shaped belts engages said first pulley and one of said V-shaped grooves of said idler pulley when said actuator assembly is in said first operative position and a second of said V-shaped belts engages said second pulley and the other of said V-shaped grooves of said idler pulley when said actuator assembly is in said first operative position.

15. The clutch assembly of claim 8 , wherein said idler pulley includes an outer radial V-shaped projection extending therefrom.

16. A clutch assembly for selectively powering at least one implement of a lawn maintenance vehicle, said lawn maintenance vehicle including a frame and a power source for generating a rotational output by way of a drive shaft, said clutch assembly comprising:
a first pulley fixedly attached to said drive shaft extending from said power source;
a second pulley fixedly attached to a tube that is rotatable about said drive shaft, said second pulley being independently rotatable relative to said first pulley;
a third pulley fixedly connected to said tube and operatively connected to said at least one implement, wherein rotation of said third pulley drives said at least one implement;
an actuator assembly having an arm rotatably attached to said frame, said arm having an idler pulley attached thereto, wherein said arm is rotatable to move said idler pulley between an engaged position and a disengaged position, said actuator assembly further having an actuator that is selectively switchable between a first operative position and a second operative position for causing said idler pulley to move between said engaged position and said disengaged position; and
at least one of:
a) a single belt selectively engageable with said first and second pulleys and said idler pulley for directly transferring rotation of said first pulley to said second pulley, wherein said single belt transfers rotation of said first pulley to said second pulley when said idler pulley is in said engaged position;
b) a plurality of belts selectively engageable with said first and second pulleys and said

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Cmich Ryan
• Schaedler Axel
• Eavenson Sr Jimmy

Classifications

• F16D67/02

  Clutch-brake combinations · CPC title

• F16H2007/0893

  Circular path · CPC title

• F16D49/00

  Brakes with a braking member co-operating with the periphery of a drum, wheel-rim, or the like (similar clutches F16D13/10) · CPC title

• F16H7/0827

  for disconnecting the drive · CPC title

• A01D69/08 Primary

  Clutches · CPC title