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.
Claims20
An autonomous ground working vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a tool motor having an output shaft defining a motor axis extending along a first direction;
- a frame coupled to the tool motor;
- a tool height control system translatably coupling the frame to the chassis, wherein the tool height control system comprises a first guide rod and a second guide rod each extending parallel to the first direction, wherein the first guide rod and the second guide rod define a translation pathway of the frame relative to the chassis, and a rotatable drive screw coupled to the chassis, the rotatable drive screw defining a screw axis extending parallel to the first direction;
- and a cylindrical nut coupled to the frame that receives the drive screw;
- and
- a first spring biased bearing applying a biasing force radially inward against the first guide rod.
An autonomous ground working vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a tool motor having an output shaft defining a motor axis extending along a first direction;
- a tool coupled to the output shaft;
- a frame coupled to the tool motor;
- and
- a tool height control system translatably coupling the frame to the chassis, wherein the tool height control system comprises:
- a rotatable drive screw defining a screw axis extending parallel to the first direction;
- and
- a cylindrical nut that engages the drive screw, wherein the cylindrical nut comprises two separate semi-cylindrical threaded halves that mutually engage to form the cylindrical nut, wherein rotation of the drive screw is configured to translate the frame relative to the chassis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.