Abstract:
Embodiments of the invention are directed to a fleet management system that assists with management and monitoring fleets of powered machines and their operators, such as fleets engaged in landscaping, grounds care, and forestry service. In this regard, embodiments of the invention are directed to systems and methods for automatically gathering data about one or more pieces of outdoor power equipment and one or more human operators of the equipment, processing the data into more useful data and data formats, and providing useful feedback, data, and tools to users of the system via, for example, a web portal that either assists users with management of a fleet of equipment and operators or provides useful information to owner-operators of outdoor power equipment about their performance and their machines.
Abstract:
A riding lawn care vehicle includes a rear discharge, a bagging attachment and a bagging attachment support structure. The bagging attachment includes a carriage assembly to which a bag frame is coupled. The bagging attachment support structure is configured to support the carriage assembly relative to the vehicle and is coupled to a pivot assembly about which the bag frame is pivotable via a powered dump to rotate the bag frame between a first position and a second position. The powered dump is operably coupled to the bagging attachment support structure and the pivot assembly at a portion of the pivot assembly rearward of the bagging attachment support structure. The powered dump is configured to extend in a vertical direction to deliver a force to the pivot assembly at a point rearward of the bagging attachment support structure.
Abstract:
A snow removal device includes a frame, an engine supported at least in part by the frame, a mobility assembly and a bucket assembly. The mobility assembly is operably coupled to the frame and the engine to provide mobility of the snow removal device responsive at least in part to operation of the engine. The bucket assembly is operably coupled to the frame and houses a material conveyor and an impeller, each of which operate via power from the engine to provide snow removal operations. The bucket assembly includes one of each of a first stage housing, an impeller housing, and a discharge chute base. The bucket assembly is formed such that at least two among the first stage housing, the impeller housing, or the discharge chute base are integrally molded or cast as a single unitary component.
Abstract:
A lawn care device may include a cutting deck housing at least one blade, a rotatable shaft, and a blade mount operably coupled to the rotatable shaft. The blade mount may include at least one engagement slot configured to enclose at least a portion of the at least one blade. The blade mount may further include at least one protruding member disposed within the engagement slot to secure the at least one blade within the engagement slot responsive to insertion of the at least one blade into the engagement slot.
Abstract:
An outdoor power equipment device may include a mobility assembly and a mounting receptacle. The mobility assembly may support a device frame of the outdoor power equipment device and enable an operator of the outdoor power equipment device to facilitate movement of the outdoor power equipment device. The mounting receptacle may be coupled to the device frame. The mounting receptacle may include a removable lamp operable to provide light at least when removed from the mounting receptacle.
Abstract:
A tiller may include an engine, a mobility assembly and a rotating assembly. The mobility assembly may be operably coupled to the engine to provide mobility of the tiller responsive to operation of the engine. The rotating assembly may be selectively coupled to the engine to provide rotation of the rotating assembly. The rotating assembly may include a rotatable shaft configured to turn when the rotation assembly is operably coupled to the engine, and one or more sets of tines disposed on respective tine assemblies. Each of the tine assemblies may include a hollow shaft for receiving the rotatable shaft. The one or more sets of tines may extend radially outward from the respective tine assemblies.
Abstract:
A fleet management system is provided for outdoor power equipment and is, in some embodiments, configured to estimate operator performance and/or skill for a particular operator based at least partially on engine speed data sensed during the particular operator's use of one or more pieces of equipment. Embodiments of the invention also provide an apparatus configured to receive data comprising RPM values of a rotating component of a piece of outdoor power equipment sampled throughout a period of operation of the piece of outdoor power equipment, and further configured to generate a RPM histogram for a particular operator and/or for a particular piece of outdoor power equipment in order to use the RPM histogram to determine additional information about the particular operator, the particular piece of equipment, and/or the particular period of operation.
Abstract:
An adjustable handle assembly for a walk behind power equipment device may include a handle apparatus, at least one extension portion, and a handle height adjuster. The at least one extension portion may extend between a handle apparatus used to steer the walk behind power equipment device and a frame or housing of the walk behind power equipment device. The at least one extension portion may be coupled to the handle height adjuster. The handle height adjuster may be remotely adjustable to fix the at least one extension portion at a selected one of plurality of non-discrete positions relative to the frame or housing over an entirety of a range of motion of the extension portion.
Abstract:
A riding lawn care vehicle may include a docking station and a detachable information unit. The docking station may include a receiving cavity disposed at a portion of the riding lawn care vehicle. The receiving cavity may include an electrical contact in communication with one or more devices of a device network of the riding lawn care vehicle. The detachable information unit may include a user interface, a memory for storing data received via the device network, and processing circuitry in communication with the user interface and the memory. The processing circuitry may be configured to control operation of the detachable information unit and generate information for operator viewing at the user interface. The detachable information unit may be configured to detachably connect to the device network via operable coupling with the docking station.
Abstract:
An indicator system for outdoor power equipment, such as a riding lawn mower, may include an illuminating element around the perimeter of a display screen. The illuminating element may be configured to illuminate in a predetermined manner based on a predefined condition occurring in order to alert the operator to the display screen. The display screen may be configured to display more detail about the predefined condition while the illuminating element is illuminated.