Reverse operation safety circuit
AssigneeDelta Systems, Inc.
InventorsArthur James Harvey, Theodore G. Wetzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety system for a riding lawn mower that prevents powered operation of a PTO driven implement while in reverse unless an override switch is “ON”. The override switch may be a sustained action two position switch and the PTO driven implement may be a lawn mower blade. In one embodiment, the override switch does not alow the engine to start if the override switch is on. In one embodiment, the override switch cooperates with an operator presence switch to prevent operation of the PTO driven implement when the override switch is on and the operator is not present.
Claims30
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine, a battery, a starter motor and a PTO, comprising:
- a) an ignition switch for selectively energizing said starter motor with said battery to start the engine;
- and
- b) an override switch that allows operation of a PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when an actuator of the override switch is in a first position and inhibits operation of the PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the actuator of the override switch is in a second position, said override switch inhibits said ignition switch from energizing said starter motor with said battery when said actuator of the override switch is in said first position.
14-32 (Canceled)
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine, a starter motor for starting the engine, and a PTO, comprising:
- a) a reverse sensing switch for sensing when the lawn tractor is in reverse;
- b) a PTO switch for sensing when a PTO driven implement is engaged;
- and
- c) a mow in reverse override switch having an actuator that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said mow in reverse override switch prevents the starter motor from starting the engine when the actuator is in the first position and wherein said reverse sensing switch, said PTO switch, and said mow in reverse override switch prevent said engine from operating when the lawn tractor is in reverse, the PTO is engaged, and the actuator is in the second position.
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a PTO, comprising:
- a) a magneto coupled to the engine;
- b) a battery;
- c) a solenoid;
- d) an ignition switch for selectively communicating current flow from the battery to the solenoid to start the engine;
- e) a reverse sensing switch for sensing when the lawn tractor is in reverse;
- f) a PTO switch for sensing when a PTO driven implement is engaged;
- g) a mow in reverse override switch having an actuator that is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein said mow in reverse override switch opens a path from the battery to the solenoid to prevent the engine from starting when the actuator is in the first position and said reverse sensing switch, said PTO switch, and said mow in reverse override switch providing a path from said magneto to ground to prevent said engine from operating when the lawn tractor is in reverse, the PTO driven implement is engaged, and the actuator is in the second position.
A method of controlling reverse operation of a lawn tractor, comprising:
- a) allowing operation of a PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when an actuator of an override switch is in a first position;
- b) inhibiting operation of the PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the actuator of the override switch is in a second position;
- and
- c) inhibiting energizing of a starter motor when the actuator of the override switch is in said first position.
45-48 (Canceled)
A method of controlling reverse operation of a lawn tractor, comprising:
- a) sensing when the lawn tractor is in reverse;
- b) sensing when a PTO driven implement is engaged;
- c) preventing a starter motor from starting a lawn tractor engine when an override switch actuator is in a first position;
- and
- d) preventing said engine from operating when the lawn tractor is in reverse, the PTO driven implement is engaged, and the actuator is in a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.