Zero-turn vehicle with driveline control
AssigneeTEAM Industries, Inc.
InventorsRonald Joseph Wendt, Michael Allen Mueller, Micah Ryan Ricke, Karl Michael Leisenheimer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A zero-turn vehicle including a mode selection interface, a memory and at least one controller is provided. The mode selection interface provides a mode section input for a user. The memory is used to store mode instructions relating to at least one operation mode. The at least one controller in communication with the mode selection interface and the memory, the at least one controller configured to selectively modify normal operating characteristics of the zero-turn vehicle based the mode selection input from the user by implementing the stored mode instructions associated with the mode selection input.
Claims20
A zero-turn vehicle comprising:
- a first drive wheel;
- a first traction motor coupled to provide torque to the first drive wheel,
- a second drive wheel;
- a second traction motor coupled to provide a torque to the second drive wheel;
- and
- at least one controller configured to selectively modify normal operating characteristics of the zero-turn vehicle to provide at least one of a straight mode and an auto zero turn mode, wherein the straight mode adjusts a speed of at least one of the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel, wherein the auto zero turn mode applies a near zero turn maneuver that changes direction of the vehicle and places the vehicle a select distance over from a past travel path.
A method of controlling a zero-turn vehicle, the method comprising:
- reading a right user input;
- reading a left user input;
- determining if an absolute delta of the right user input and the left user input is one of less than and equal to a select threshold;
- determining user intent when the absolute delta is one of less than and equal to the select threshold;
- and
- using the determined user intent to keep the zero-turn vehicle traversing in a straight line.
A method of controlling a zero-turn vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining if an auto zero turn mode has been selected;
- slowing the vehicle down to threshold speed;
- and
- applying a near zero turn maneuver to automatically change direction of the zero-turn vehicle and place the vehicle a select distance from a past travel path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.