Reverse operation safety circuit
AssigneeDelta Systems, Inc.
InventorsArthur Harvey, Theodore 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 allow 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.
Claims26
1-13. (canceled)
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a PTO, comprising:
- a) an operator presence switch for detecting the presence of an operator on the lawn and garden tractor;
- and
- b) an override switch that allows operation of a PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when 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 override switch is in a second position, said operator presence switch and said override switch prevent said PTO driven implement from operating when an operator is not present and said override switch is in said first position.
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a PTO, comprising:
- a) an operator presence switch for detecting the presence of an operator on the lawn and garden tractor;
- b) an additional safety switch connected to said operator presence switch, wherein said operator presence switch and said additional safety switch prevent the engine from operating when said additional safety switch is in a first state and an operator not present;
- and
- c) an override switch that allows operation of the engine while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the override switch is in a first position and inhibits operation of the engine while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the override switch is in a second position, said operator presence switch and said override switch bypass said additional safety switch to prevent said PTO driven implement from operating when an operator is not present and said override switch is in said first position regardless of the state of the additional safety switch.
A reverse operation control circuit for a lawn tractor having an engine and a PTO, comprising:
- a) a magneto coupled to the engine;
- b) an operator presence switch for detecting the presence of an operator on the lawn and garden tractor;
- c) an additional safety switch connected to said operator presence switch, wherein said operator presence switch and said additional safety switch provide a path from the magneto to ground to prevent the engine from operating when said additional safety switch is in a first state and an operator not present;
- d) an override switch that allows operation of a PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when 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 override switch is in a second position, said operator presence switch and said override switch provide a path from the magneto to ground that bypasses said additional safety switch to prevent said engine from operating when an operator is not present and said override switch is in said first position regardless of the state of the additional safety switch.
-44. (canceled)
A method of controlling reverse operation of a lawn tractor, comprising:
- a) detecting whether an operator is present on the lawn and garden tractor;
- b) allowing operation of a PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when an override switch is in a first position;
- c) inhibiting operation of the PTO driven implement while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the override switch is in a second position;
- d) preventing said PTO driven implement from operating when an operator is not present and said override switch is in said first position.
A method of controlling reverse operation of a lawn tractor, comprising:
- a) detecting whether an operator is present on the lawn and garden tractor;
- b) preventing the engine from operating when an additional safety switch is in a first state and an operator not present;
- c) allowing operation of the engine while the lawn tractor is in reverse when an override switch is in a first position;
- d) inhibiting operation of the engine while the lawn tractor is in reverse when the override switch is in a second position by bypassing said additional safety switch to prevent said PTO driven implement from operating when an operator is not present and said override switch is in said first position regardless of the state of the additional safety switch.
-51. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.