Abstract:
A walk-behind working tool having a frame, a power source, and a handle attached to the frame is provided. The working tool includes at least one axle operatively connected to the frame and a pair of wheel assemblies connected to the axle. The wheel assemblies include a hub, a rim, a tire, and a flexible vibration dampening assembly that operatively connects the hub and rim, wherein the dampening assembly is configured to reduce the vibration transferred between the rim and hub and through the handle to the operator. The dampening assembly includes a plurality of elastic elements having a spring constant for smoothing out movement of the frame when the working tool is guided over rough or uneven ground.
Abstract:
A lawn maintenance vehicle caster wheel assembly includes a suspension and a fork. The fork is rotatably connected to a structural member of the lawn maintenance vehicle. The caster wheel assembly also includes an arm connected to the fork, and the arm is rotatable about an arm axis. The caster wheel assembly further includes a caster wheel mounted to the arm and is rotatable about a wheel axis. A damping member is attached to the fork and the arm such that the caster wheel and the arm can rotate about the arm axis.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an alternator overvoltage protection circuit having a TRIAC and a MOSFET. The TRIAC is electrically connected to the MOSFET and the TRIAC is electrically connected to a magneto. The TRIAC is configured to ground the magneto when triggered by the MOSFET. The MOSFET is electrically connected to an alternator and configured to conduct when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition. Also disclosed is a method of alternator overvoltage protection for a piece of outdoor power equipment, the method including providing a TRIAC and an alternator rotated by an engine having a magneto, wherein the alternator outputs a voltage when rotated by the engine. The method further includes configuring the TRIAC to ground the magneto when the alternator operates in an overvoltage condition, thereby disabling the magneto, which stops the rotation of the engine and stops the alternator from outputting voltage.
Abstract:
Vehicle drive control systems, such as those, for example, configured to permit a vehicle to direct power to at least one drivable element (such as, for example, via a drive shaft, a supplemental drive, or a battery) to assist the vehicle in making a low-radius turn.
Abstract:
A suspension for a tracked utility vehicle is provided. The trailing link suspension for the tracked utility vehicle has at least two trailing links Each of said trailing links has a shock and a walking beam. The first end of the trailing link is pivotably connected to the tracked utility vehicle chassis. The second end of said trailing link is pivotably connected to the walking beam. The first end of the shock is pivotably connected to the chassis and the second end is pivotably connected to the trailing link The walking beam has a plurality of axle mounted bogey wheels for engaging one or both of the track of said tracked utility vehicle or the track lug or guide. The shocks are independently adjustable to permit more of the tracked utility vehicle's weight to be supported at the suspension midpoint.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a method for identifying lawn grass which includes capturing an image of the terrain in front of a mower, segmenting the image into neighborhoods, calculating at least two image statistics for each of the neighborhoods, generating a binary representation of each image statistic. The binary representation of each image statistic is generated by comparing the calculated image statistic values to predetermined image statistic values for grass. The method further includes weighting each of the binary representations of each image statistic, and summing corresponding neighborhoods for all image statistics. A binary threshold is applied to each of the summed neighborhoods to generate a binary map representing grass containing areas and non-grass containing areas.
Abstract:
The parking brake system for a lap bar controlled lawn maintenance vehicle includes at least an actuation assembly and a stop assembly. The actuation assembly includes a push arm and a rotatable pedal arm, and the push arm is attached to a lap bar and is rotatable between and engaged position and a disengaged position. Rotation of the push arm from the disengaged position to the engaged position causes rotation of the pedal arm, and such rotation of the pedal arm causes the stop assembly to prevent the axle for the rear wheel that is controlled by the corresponding lap bar from rotating.
Abstract:
A speed control mechanism for controlling selective engagement of the self-propelled transmission assembly for a walk-behind lawn mower is provided. The speed control mechanism is also configured to control the relative output speed of the transmission assembly. The speed control mechanism includes a speed engagement assembly and a speed adjustment assembly, wherein the speed engagement assembly includes a pair of rotatable levers for causing the transmission assembly to actuate between a disengaged position and an engaged position and the speed adjustment assembly includes a rotatable knob for causing the relative output speed of the transmission assembly to the wheels of the lawn mower to increase or decrease.