Mechanism for discontinuing power to an implement drive during machine reverse travel (no power in reverse) with automatic reengagement

A mowing machine comprising:

• a frame;
• an engine;
• a cutting blade rotatably mounted to the frame via an electric blade clutch;
• a controllable accessory power take off drive (PTO) electrically coupled with the electric blade clutch;
• a PTO switch associated with the PTO and the electric blade clutch, the PTO switch having “ON” and “OFF” positions such that the PTO may energize the electric blade clutch when the PTO is in the “ON” position and electrical connection between the PTO and electric blade clutch exists;
• a pair of cut-out switches electrically connected to the PTO and the electric blade clutch;
• a transmission system governing the speed and rotational direction of corresponding right and left drive wheels;
• a pair of transmission control levers operatively associated with the transmission system, each of the control levers being selectably movable into one of a forward, neutral or reverse gear position corresponding to a desired speed and direction of travel of the right or left drive wheels;
• each of the cut-out switches being mounted to the mowing machine for selective contact or non-contact by a corresponding one of the control levers whereby the cut-out switches electrically connect the PTO with the electric blade clutch and engage the cutting blades when either or both of the cut-out switches are in a first position and the PTO switch is “ON” and disconnect the PTO from the electric blade clutch and disengage the cutting blades when both of the cut-out switches are in a second position, and contact or non-contact positioning of the control levers with the switches determines whether the cut-out switches are in the first position or the second position, whereby the cutting blades may be automatically engaged by placing one of said cut-out switches in the first position after both of said switches have been in said second position.

A method of automatically disengaging and re-engaging cutting blades of a mowing machine, the method comprising:

• providing a mowing machine having an engine, a transmission, at least one transmission control lever, a controllable accessory power take off drive (PTO) coupled to an electric blade clutch, a PTO switch having an “ON” and “OFF” position, a cutting blade engagable by the electric blade clutch, and at least one cut-out switch between the electric blade clutch and the PTO, each cut-out switch having a first position that connects the PTO with the electric blade clutch when the PTO switch is “ON” and at least one cut-out switch is in the first position, and a second position that disconnects the PTO from the electric blade clutch when all cut-out switches are in the second position;
• starting the engine;
• turning the PTO switch to an “ON” position;
• shifting at least one of the transmission control levers into a non reverse gear position to place at least one cut-out switch into the first position thereby connecting the PTO with the electric blade clutch and engaging the cutting blades;
• shifting all of the transmission control levers into the reverse gear position to place all of the cut-out switches into the second position thereby disconnecting the PITO switch from the electric blade clutch and disengaging the cutting blades;
• and
• shifting at least one of the transmission control levers into one of the non-reverse gear positions to place at least one of the cut-out switches into the first position thereby re-connecting the PTO with the electric blade clutch and re-engaging the cutting blades.

An electric control circuit for a lawn mowing machine, said circuit comprising:

• a magneto-operated engine with a power source;
• a key switch having first, second, and third positions;
• a first circuit for connecting said magneto to ground when said key switch is in said first position, thereby preventing said engine from running;
• a second circuit for connecting a battery to a starter when said key switch is in said third position, thereby causing said engine to start;
• a third circuit for connecting said battery to a regulator terminal when said key switch is in said second position, thereby causing said engine to run;
• and
• a fourth circuit for connecting said power source to an electric blade clutch, said fourth circuit including a PTO switch and at least one cut-out switch, thereby energizing said electric blade clutch so long as said engine is running, said PTO switch is closed, and at least one of said cut-out switches is closed.

A system for activating and deactivating a power-take-off (PTO) drive of a lawn mowing machine, said system comprising:

• a magneto operated engine with a power source;
• an electric clutch associated with said PTO drive;
• a pair of cut-out switches electrically connected to said electric clutch, said switches having a first position and a second position;
• a pair of transmission levers, said transmission levers having a forward position, a neutral position, and a reverse position;
• wherein one of said transmission levers is operatively associated with one of said cut-out switches, and the other one of said transmission levers is operatively associated with the other one of said cut-out switches, linkage means connecting said levers and said switches so that when said one of said transmission levers is shifted into said forward position or said neutral position, said one of said cut-out switches is placed into said first position, and when said one of said transmission levers is shifted into said reverse position, said one of said cut-out switches is placed into said second position, and when said other one of said transmission levers is shifted into said forward position or said neutral position, said other one of said cut-out switches is placed into said first position, and when said other one of said transmission switches is shifted into said reverse position, said other one of said cut-out switches is placed into said second position;
• wherein if either one of said cut-out switches is placed into said first position, said electric clutch will be energized by said power source, thereby activating said PTO drive;
• and
• wherein if both of said cut-out switches are placed into said second position, said electric clutch will not be energized by said power source, thereby deactivating said PTO drive.