Autonomous mower with adjustable cutting height
AssigneeThe Toro Company
InventorAaron Y. Curtis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle (e.g., mower) includes two or more wheels supporting a chassis upon a ground surface. A cutting motor powers at least one cutting blade, and a cutting frame supports the cutting motor relative to the chassis. The cutting frame is movable, relative to the chassis, to allow adjustment of a height-of-cut of the cutting blade relative to the ground surface. First and second guide rods are operatively attached to the chassis and are received within corresponding first and second apertures of the cutting frame to guide movement of the cutting frame. Biased bearings associated with the cutting frame may bias associated bearing members against the guide rods.
Claims21
An autonomous ground working vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- two or more wheels supporting the chassis upon a ground surface;
- a tool motor adapted to power at least one ground working tool, the tool motor driving an output shaft defining a motor axis extending along a first direction;
- a frame operatively supporting the tool relative to the chassis, wherein the frame is movable, relative to the chassis, to allow adjustment of a height of the tool relative to the ground surface;
- parallel first and second guide rods operatively attached to the chassis and extending parallel to the first direction, wherein the first and second guide rods are received within corresponding first and second apertures of the frame to guide movement of the frame during height adjustment of the tool;
- a rotatable drive screw operatively connected to the chassis and defining a screw axis extending parallel to the first direction, the drive screw comprising a helical external thread;
- a driven member operatively connected to the frame and comprising a helical internal thread adapted to threadably receive the external thread of the drive screw;
- and
- a biasing member associated with the frame and adapted to bias a bearing associated with the frame directly against the first guide rod.
An autonomous lawn mower comprising:
- a chassis;
- two or more wheels supporting the chassis upon a ground surface;
- a cutting motor adapted to power a rotating cutting blade, the cutting motor comprising an output shaft defining a motor axis extending vertically;
- a cutting frame operatively supporting the cutting motor relative to the chassis, wherein the cutting frame is adapted to move, relative to the chassis, to allow adjustment of a height of the cutting blade relative to the ground surface;
- parallel first and second guide rods operatively attached to the chassis and extending vertically, wherein the first and second guide rods are received within corresponding first and second apertures of the cutting frame such that the guide rods guide movement of the cutting frame during adjustment of the height of the cutting blade;
- a rotatable drive screw operatively connected to the chassis and defining a screw axis parallel to the first and second guide rods, the drive screw defining an external thread;
- a driven member comprising an internal thread adapted to threadably engage the external thread of the drive screw, wherein the driven member is operatively attached to the cutting frame;
- and
- a first spring-biased bearing associated with the cutting frame and biased against the first guide rod, wherein the first spring-biased bearing is adapted to generate a first biasing force between the cutting frame and the first guide rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.