Abstract:
A zero turning radius power lawn mower for operation by a standing occupant includes first and second independently driven and controlled rear drive wheels mounted on separate drive axles. A riding platform for supporting the standing occupant or operator is located between the first and second rear drive wheels. The rear drive wheels are independently driveable in both the forward and reverse directions at variable speeds so as to allow for substantially zero radius turning of the mower about a central turning point. The riding platform is positioned near this turning point or axis so that the standing occupant remains substantially unaffected by centrifugal force created during approximate zero radius turning of the mower thereby allowing the mower to take such turns at higher speeds. The low center of gravity created by the position of the riding platform for the standing operator also results in the mower having improved traction and being less likely to pop "wheelies" upon acceleration.
Abstract:
A cruise bar is provided for use with a lawn tractor. The lawn tractor includes a frame, a driving device for use in driving the lawn tractor, a first drive wheel for use in driving the lawn tractor, a console that is operatively connected to the frame, and a first control lever for use in controlling the speed and direction of the lawn tractor. The cruise bar is used to limit the motion of the first control lever. The first control lever is operatively connected to the driving device and to the first drive wheel. The first control lever is selectively moveable in a first direction. The cruise bar limits the motion of the first control lever in the first direction and is operatively connected to the console. The cruise bar may be adjusted relative to the first control lever thereby providing a method for limiting the top speed of the lawn tractor.
Abstract:
A zero turning radius power lawn mower for operation by a standing occupant includes first and second independently driven and controlled rear drive wheels mounted on separate drive axles. A riding platform for supporting the standing occupant or operator is located between the first and second rear drive wheels. The rear drive wheels are independently driveable in both the forward and reverse directions at variable speeds so as to allow for substantially zero radius turning of the mower about a central turning point. The riding platform is positioned near this turning point or axis so that the standing occupant remains substantially unaffected by centrifugal force created during approximate zero radius turning of the mower thereby allowing the mower to take such turns at higher speeds. The low center of gravity created by the position of the riding platform for the standing operator also results in the mower having improved traction and being less likely to pop "wheelies" upon acceleration.
Abstract:
Mower drive system interlocks and methods of interlocking mower drive systems with non-contact sensors are disclosed. The mowers may include two driven ground engaging means for supporting the mower above the ground; two drive systems for driving the driven ground engaging means, one of the drive systems driving each of the driven ground engaging means independently of the other drive system and its driven ground engaging means, wherein each of the drive systems has a neutral condition in which its driven ground engaging means is not being driven by the drive system; a drive system interlock operatively connected to an engine of the mower; and two non-contact sensors operatively connected to the drive system interlock, the sensors providing a signal to the drive system interlock when both of the drive systems are in the neutral condition. The methods of interlocking a mower may include steps of providing a mower having a drive system interlock operatively connected to an engine, two drive systems, and two driven ground engaging means for supporting the mower above the ground that are independently driven by each of the drive systems, the drive systems each having a neutral condition in which their respective driven ground engaging means are not being driven; sensing when both of the drive systems are in the neutral condition with a non-contact sensor; and providing a signal to the drive system interlock of the riding mower when the non-contact sensor senses that both of the drive systems are in the neutral condition.
Abstract:
The present invention provides a hydraulic motion control or pilot valve and lever assembly for controlling the transmission and steering of a work vehicle such as a crawler tractor, articulated wheel loader or like construction vehicle. The motion control valve and lever assembly is a compact assembly that employs a single lever mounted directly to a valve in order to control the forward and reverse motion of the vehicle, the steering of the vehicle in a left, right or straight direction, and the speed or gear selection of the vehicle. The valve assembly is provided with eight hydraulic signal ports, at least one reservoir port, and at least one pressure supply port. The assembly further has four control spools positioned in respective control spool chambers spaced approximately ninety degrees apart and a fifth control spool positioned in a fifth, central spool chamber. A two-way pivot interconnects the fifth control spool and the control lever so that the control lever may pivot about two axes with respect to the fifth control spool. A cam assembly mounted to the control lever comprises a cam positioned adjacent first ends of the four control spools, a cam bracket mounted to the cam, and a bearing disposed between the cam bracket and the control lever so that the control lever may rotate axially with respect to the cam assembly. When the control lever rotates axially, it in turn causes a corresponding axial rotation of the fifth, central control spool.
Abstract:
A vehicle for underground mine shafts includes a body having a cabin located in a front section of a vehicle with an entry to the cabin located at the front of the vehicle, a door at the entry, a sensor for sensing when the door is open and control circuitry which is connected to the sensor. The vehicle also includes vehicle brakes to activate the vehicle brakes when the sensor senses that the door is open, a pair of tracks on either side of the cabin, a driving means for driving the tracks, a steering means for steering the body, and a suspension system including a torsion bar suspension arrangement which permits torsion bars of the vehicle to be located just above the level of track wheels of the vehicle. The torsion bar suspension arrangement has a torsion bar receiving means for applying torsion to the torsion bars and the torsion adjusting means includes engagement means being capable of orientation at a predetermined angle with respect to a vertical axis for engaging the torsion bar receiving means and a member having a channel formed therein for receipt of the engagement means. The torsion adjusting means is arranged to urge the torsion bar receiving means to a predetermined orientation.
Abstract:
A turning control system for use in a track-laying vehicle comprising: a steering motor for driving crawler belts provided at both sides of the vehicle such that a relative travel difference is caused between the crawler belts, thereby turning the vehicle rightwards or leftwards; a steering instructing device which can be displaced from a neutral position by operation and which instructs, in accordance with its displacement direction and displacement distance, a turning direction and a turning radius for the vehicle, the turning radius decreasing as the displacement distance increases; a displacement detector for detecting the displacement of the steering instructing device; a vehicle speed detector for detecting the vehicle speed at which the vehicle moves forwards or backwards; and a steering motor revolution speed control unit for controlling the revolution speed of the steering motor such that the revolution speed of the steering motor becomes proportional to the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed detector at least in the region of low vehicle speeds, when the steering instructing device is displaced and kept in a certain position and therefore there is no change in the displacement of the steering instructing device detected by the displacement detector.
Abstract:
A tracked agricultural combine vehicle for harvesting, hulling and sorting grain includes a grain working section driven via a tension roller clutch controlled power transmission belt and further including integrated control means for left and right side propulsion track assemblies wherein individual track steering commands in the form of differential track speed control are derived from a common steering wheel input; vehicle speed is controlled by a single input means which controls the speed of both tracks.
Abstract:
A straight travelling apparatus for heavy construction equipment, equipped with a travel supplement circuit, including a variable orifice disposed in a fluid line connected to the supply-side of the control valve of a bucket and controlled to vary an opening degree thereof by a predetermined pilot signal that is applied to the variable orifice in response to an operation of at least one of right and left travel motors in order to keep the variable orifice at a relatively closed state while being released in response to the travel motors not operating in order to keep the variable orifice in a relatively opened state, thereby capable of supplementing a sufficient amount of fluid to a travelling system when the bucket is operated during, thereby preventing an abrupt reduction in travelling speed caused by operatings the straight travelling apparatus.
Abstract:
A steering and ground speed control mechanism of a vehicle equipped with a dual-path hydrostatic drive system includes a pivot plate fixed to a vertical pivot post at a location between and equidistant from a pair of locations respectively linked to a pair of pump displacement control arms of a pair of pumps respectively coupled for delivering fluid to right- and left-hand drive motors coupled to right- and left-hand ground wheels. A train of elements for transferring steering inputs from a steering wheel to the pivot plate includes a timed belt and sprocket set with one of the sprockets being fixed to the pivot post and the other mounted to a fixed post together with a quadrant-shaped steering rack for pivotal movement about the fixed post in concert with the rack. Pivoting the pivot plate in opposite directions from a centered position causes different displacements of the pumps and, hence, in the two drive motors being driven at different speeds. A train of elements for transferring speed inputs from a speed control lever to shift the pivot plate back and forth in a nearly straight path includes a push-pull cable coupled between the lever and an arm having the pivot post pivotally mounted in one end thereof, with the arm being mounted for pivoting about the fixed post exclusive of the rack and sprocket. A spring-applied, hydraulically released latch is provided for latching the steering wheel and speed control lever in their respective "centered" and "neutral" positions when hydraulic pressure is absent and a "neutral" start switch is positioned for being activated for completing a vehicle starting circuit only when the steering wheel and speed control lever are in these positions.