Air conditioning system for use with unenclosed mowers

An air conditioning system for a zero-turn mower having an engine with a vertically oriented crankshaft configured to rotate about a vertical first axis extending in a first axial direction, wherein a first pulley is mechanically connected to the crankshaft such that rotational motion generated by the crankshaft rotates the first pulley, the system comprising:

• an air conditioning unit including a horizontally oriented compressor having a second pulley configured to rotate about a horizontal second axis extending in a second axial direction substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction;
• and
• a compressor drive assembly configured to interconnect the crankshaft to the second pulley such that rotation of the crankshaft rotates the second pulley,
• wherein the compressor drive assembly comprises a gearbox comprising a vertical first shaft member having a third pulley secured thereto and a horizontal second shaft member perpendicular to the first shaft member and having a fourth pulley secured thereto,
• wherein the third and fourth pulleys are in mechanical communication such that rotation of the third pulley rotates the fourth pulley,
• wherein the third pulley is mechanically connected to the first pulley such that rotation of the first pulley rotates the third pulley, and
• wherein the fourth pulley is mechanically connected to the second pulley such that rotation of the fourth pulley rotates the second pulley.

An air conditioning system for a zero-turn mower having an engine with a vertically oriented crankshaft configured to rotate about a vertical first axis extending in a first axial direction, the system comprising:

• an air conditioning unit including a horizontally oriented compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator unit fluidly interconnected to define a fluid circuit extending from a first area located below the engine of the mower to a second area located above the engine, the compressor having a first pulley configured to rotate about a horizontal second axis;
• an alternator having a second pulley configured to rotate about a third axis, the second axis and the third axis extending in a second axial direction substantially perpendicular to the first axial direction;
• a compressor drive assembly configured to interconnect the crankshaft to the first pulley and the second pulley such that rotation of the crankshaft causes the first pulley and the second pulley to rotate, the compressor drive assembly including:
• a crankshaft pulley assembly operably connected to the crankshaft;
• and
• a gearbox having a third pulley and a fourth pulley,
• wherein the fourth pulley is operably connected to the first pulley and the second pulley via a first belt and is configured to rotate about a fourth axis extending in the second axial direction and the third pulley is operably connected to the crankshaft pulley assembly and is configured to rotate about a fifth axis extending in the first axial direction.