Control assembly for zero turn device
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorNathan W. Bonny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.
Claims20
A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a drive system, comprising:
- a bracket attached to the vehicle;
- a yoke to which a pivot arm for a control lever of the drive system is attached;
- a shaft extending into the bracket and to which the yoke is engaged, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the bracket about an axis-of-rotation in a first direction and a second direction between a neutral position, a plurality of forward positions, and a plurality of reverse positions;
- a position sensor for sensing a position of the shaft, the position sensor comprising:
- a magnet attached to the shaft;
- a magnetic field sensor chip positioned adjacent the magnet;
- and
- a microprocessor chip configured to communicate via a CAN bus with an electronic controller connected to the drive system;
- and
- a return-to-neutral assembly configured to engage to the pivot arm to provide a return force to the pivot arm when the shaft is rotated about the axis-of-rotation away from the neutral position, the return-to-neutral assembly comprising:
- a pair of return arms;
- a neutral arm and a control arm configured to engage the pair of return arms when the shaft rotates from the neutral position;
- and
- a spring attached between the pair of return arms to bias the shaft to the neutral position.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a first drive system and a second drive system, wherein the first drive system is configured to drive a first driven wheel and the second drive system is configured to drive a second driven wheel;
- a first electronic controller and a second electronic controller, wherein the first electronic controller is configured to control operation of the first drive system and the second electronic controller is configured to control operation of the first drive system;
- a prime mover configured to power the first drive system and the second drive system;
- and
- a first control mechanism and a second control mechanism operatively, wherein the first control mechanism is engaged to the first drive system and the second control mechanism is operatively engaged to the second drive system, wherein each of the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism comprises:
- a bracket;
- a pivot arm connected to a control lever;
- a yoke to which the pivot arm is attached;
- a shaft extending into the bracket and to which the yoke is engaged, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate relative to the bracket about an axis-of-rotation in a first direction and a second direction between a neutral position, a plurality of forward positions, and a plurality of reverse positions;
- a position sensor for sensing a position of the shaft, the position sensor comprising:
- a magnet attached to the shaft;
- a magnetic field sensor chip positioned adjacent the magnet;
- and
- a microprocessor chip configured to communicate via a CAN bus;
- and
- a return-to-neutral assembly configured to engage to the pivot arm to provide a return force to the pivot arm when the shaft is rotated about the axis-of-rotation away from the neutral position, the return-to-neutral assembly comprising a pair of return arms, a neutral arm, and a control arm, wherein the neutral arm and the control arm are configured to engage the pair of return arms when the shaft rotates from the neutral position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.