Machine suspension system
AssigneeBriggs & Stratton Corporation
InventorsErik R. Slegelis, Travis Rasch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An embodiment relates to a machine including a prime mover, a drive pulley, a chassis, a subframe, a drive device, a drive belt, and a pulley arrangement. The drive pulley is coupled to the prime mover. The chassis is configured to support at least an operator and the prime mover. The subframe is pivotally coupled to the chassis about a pivot axis. The subframe is further coupled to the chassis via a suspension device. The drive device is configured to drive wheels of the machine. The drive device is configured to be driven by the prime mover. The pulley arrangement is configured to direct the drive belt from the drive pulley to a driven pulley on the drive device. The pulley arrangement comprises at least one idler pulley having a diameter and a rotational axis.
Claims20
A machine comprising:
- a prime mover;
- a drive pulley coupled to the prime mover;
- a chassis configured to support at least an operator and the prime mover;
- a subframe pivotally coupled to the chassis about a pivot axis, wherein the subframe is further coupled to the chassis via a suspension device;
- a drive device configured to drive wheels of the machine, the drive device configured to be driven by the prime mover;
- a drive belt;
- and
- a pulley arrangement configured to direct the drive belt from the drive pulley to a driven pulley on the drive device, wherein the pulley arrangement comprises at least one idler pulley having a diameter and a rotational axis.
A machine comprising:
- a prime mover, the prime mover having a power take-off;
- a chassis configured to support at least an operator and the prime mover;
- a subframe pivotally coupled to the chassis about a pivot axis, wherein the subframe is further coupled to the chassis via a suspension device;
- a transaxle having a output shaft having a transaxle axis, the output shaft coupled to a drive wheel of the machine, the transaxle configured to be driven by the prime mover and coupled to the subframe;
- a drive belt;
- and
- a pulley arrangement configured to direct the drive belt from the power take-off to a driven pulley on the transaxle, wherein the pulley arrangement comprises at least one idler pulley having a diameter and a rotational axis, and wherein the driven pulley is located rearward of the transaxle axis.
A machine comprising:
- a prime mover, the prime mover having a power take-off;
- a chassis configured to support at least an operator and the prime mover;
- a subframe pivotally coupled to the chassis about a pivot axis, wherein the subframe is further coupled to the chassis via a suspension device;
- a hydrostatic transaxle having a output shaft having a transaxle axis, the output shaft coupled to a drive wheel of the machine, the hydrostatic transaxle configured to be driven by the prime mover and coupled to the subframe;
- a drive belt;
- and
- a pulley arrangement configured to direct the drive belt from the power take-off to a driven pulley of the hydrostatic transaxle, wherein the pulley arrangement comprises at least one idler pulley having a diameter and a rotational axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.