US 4,167,221 A · Power equipment starting system

Abstract

A starting interlock system for power equipment having a cam rotatable between two positions corresponding to energization modes of the equipment and a lever for holding the cam in each position. The cam has two cam surfaces, each of which is engaged by a separate one of two contact surfaces on the lever. The cam is pivotally mounted in a housing on the power equipment operator handle and the housing has an opening for insertion of a key into engagement with the cam to facilitate manual rotation of the cam. In a first energization mode, the lever must be continually manually held by the operator to retain the cam against rotation. Upon release of the lever, the cam pivots to a position corresponding to a second energization mode where it is locked against rotation until the lever is again manipulated by the operator. In the first energization mode, the key is retained within the housing, and cannot be removed. The cam is connected by a bowden wire cable to an electrical switch having two positions corresponding to the two energization modes. The switch is spring biased toward one of the energization modes. The biasing force is transferred from the switch, via the bowden wire cable to rotate the cam upon release of the manually held lever.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A starting interlock system for power equipment having a main frame and an operator handle attached thereto, comprising:

a cam having first and second cam surfaces;
means pivotally mounting said cam to the operator handle for pivotal movement between first and second cam positions;
means biasing said cam toward said second cam position;
means for permitting pivoting said cam to said first cam position;
a dead man lever pivotally mounted to the operator handle for rotation between energization and release positions, corresponding to said first and second cam positions, respectively, said lever having a first contact surface that, in the energization position, engages the first cam surface in said first position and prevents said cam from rotating to said second position, and having a second contact surface that, in the release position, engages the second cam surface in said second position to lock said cam in said second position;
and
means responsive to cam position for energizing the equipment when said cam is in said first position.

4 more elements

In combination with an electric powered lawn mower having a frame on which an electric motor is mounted, an operator handle attached to the frame, a two-way switch mounted on the frame and having first and second positions corresponding to energization and deenergization modes of the electric motor;

a starting interlock system, comprising:
a cam having first and second cam surfaces;
means for pivotally mounting said cam to the operator handle for pivotal movement between first and second cam positions;
means biasing said cam to said second cam position;
means for permitting pivoting said cam to said first cam position;
a dead man lever pivotally mounted to the operator handle for rotation between energization and release positions and having a first contact surface that, in the energization position, engages said first cam surface to hold said cam in said first cam position and a second contact surface that, in the release position, engages said second cam surface to hold said cam in said second cam position;
and
means connecting said cam to the two-way switch for controlling the mode of the electric motor in response to cam position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Power equipment starting system

Life of this patent

Power equipment starting system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22