Override Control Circuits for a Lawn and Garden Tractor

A method of operating a power-take-off of an engine driven lawn and garden vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a control circuit for controlling said power-take-off, said control circuit comprising a multi-position ignition switch having at least a first position and a second position, a PTO switch having an engaged position and a disengaged position, a reverse switch having a forward position and a reverse position for selectively operating said vehicle in a forward or a reverse direction, a park brake switch having an on position and an off position, an override switch having an activation position and a non-activation position, said control circuit providing a non-override condition when said ignition switch is in said second position, said non-override condition preventing operation of said power-take-off when said vehicle is operating in said reverse direction, said control circuit providing an override condition when said park brake switch is in said off position and said ignition switch is in said first position when said override switch is placed in said activation position, said override condition allowing operation of said power-take-off when said vehicle is operating in said reverse direction;
• (b) placing said reverse switch in said forward position to operate said vehicle in said forward direction;
• (c) placing said ignition switch in said first position;
• (d) placing said PTO switch in said engaged position and operating said power-take-off;
• (e) placing said override switch in said activation position to establish said override condition;
• (f) placing said reverse switch in said reverse position to operate said vehicle in said reverse direction;
• (g) operating said power-take-off when said vehicle is operating in said reverse direction;
• (h) placing said reverse switch in said forward position to operate said vehicle in said forward direction;
• (i) maintaining said override condition even though said vehicle has transitioned between said reverse and forward directions subsequent to said override condition having been established;
• (j) placing said PTO switch in said disengaged position to disengage said power-take-off;
• (k) maintaining said override condition even though said PTO switch has transitioned between said engaged and disengaged positions subsequent to said override condition having been established;
• and
• (l) releasing said override condition when said park brake switch is placed in said on position or when said ignition switch is moved away from said first position.

A control arrangement for an engine driven lawn mower having a motive drive arrangement operatively connected to the engine for selectively propelling the lawn mower in a forward direction and a reverse direction, and an operable lawn mowing mechanism for cutting vegetation, the control arrangement selectively preventing operation of the lawn mowing mechanism when the lawn mower is operating in the reverse direction, the control arrangement including:

• means for sensing operation of the lawn mowing mechanism;
• means for sensing selection of the motive drive arrangement to propel the lawn mower in the reverse direction;
• means for receiving an override input from a lawn mower operator indicative of the desire to operate the lawn mowing mechanism while the mower is propelled in the reverse direction as an override mode;
• means for sensing actuation of a vehicle park brake switch;
• and
• means for causing the control arrangement to selectively terminate operation of the lawn mowing mechanism, the means for causing being responsive to the means for sensing operation, the means for sensing selection, and the means for receiving such that the operation of the lawn mowing mechanism is terminated when the lawn mowing mechanism is operating and the motive drive arrangement is selected to propel the lawn mower in reverse except when the override mode is established via the means for receiving, the means for causing including means for terminating the override mode responsive to the means for sensing actuation of the vehicle park brake switch.