Configurable lift actuator for lawn mower cutting unit
AssigneeTextron Inc.
InventorWilliam Christopher Dickson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cutting assembly for a mower includes a cutting unit comprising a plurality of blades; a lift arm including a float plate, wherein the cutting unit is connected to the lift arm via a yoke and wherein a slot is provided in the float plate; a lift actuator comprising a lift pin disposed in the slot; and a control system for selectively controlling a position of the lift actuator; wherein the position of the lift actuator comprises one of a first operating position, in which the lift pin is positioned proximate a center of the slot and a second operating position, in which the lift pin is positioned between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator.
Claims17
A cutting assembly for a mower, the cutting assembly comprising:
- a cutting unit comprising a plurality of blades;
- a lift arm including a float plate, wherein the cutting unit is connected to the lift arm via a yoke and wherein a slot is provided in the float plate;
- a lift actuator comprising a lift pin disposed in the slot;
- and
- a control system for selectively controlling a position of the lift actuator;
- wherein the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator;
- and
- wherein each position is configurable.
A mower comprising:
- a plurality of cutting assemblies, wherein each of the cutting assemblies comprises:
- a cutting unit comprising a plurality of blades;
- a lift arm including a float plate, wherein the cutting unit is connected to the lift arm via a yoke and wherein a slot is provided in the float plate;
- and
- an electric lift actuator comprising a lift pin disposed in the slot;
- and
- a control system for selectively controlling a position of each of the lift actuators in response to user input provided via a graphical user interface (GUI);
- wherein for each of the lift actuators, the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, wherein each position is configurable using the GUI;
- and
- wherein positions of the lift actuators are controlled collectively.
A control system for a mower cutting assembly comprising a cutting unit, a lift arm connected to the cutting unit, wherein a slot is provided in the lift arm, and a lift actuator comprising a lift pin secured in the slot, the control system comprising:
- an input device for receiving user input regarding a position of the lift actuator;
- and
- a master control unit (MCU) for receiving the user input from the input device and for selectively controlling a position of the lift actuator in accordance with the received user input;
- wherein the position of the lift actuator comprises a first mow position, in which the lift pin is in a first location proximate a center of the slot, a second mow position, in which the lift pin is in a second location between the center of the slot and an end of the slot proximate a body of the actuator, a crosscut position, in which the lift pin is in a third location between the second location and the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, and a transport position, in which the pin is in a fourth location proximate the end of the slot proximate the body of the actuator, wherein each position is configurable.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.