Friction drive unit for riding lawn mowers and the like

A variable speed friction drive apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a pair of drive cones supported by the frame for rotation about a common first axis;
• a carriage extending in a direction generally transverse to the first axis and including opposed first and second axial ends;
• a drum supported by the carriage for rotation about a second axis extending in a direction transverse to the length of the carriage;
• a carriage support means for supporting the carriage relative to the frame for movement between a neutral position in which the drum is disengaged from either of the cones and a plurality of driving positions in which the drum engages either of the cones,
• the support means including a universal joint for connecting the first end of the carriage to the frame for universal pivotal movement about the joint, and a first biasing means for biasing the carriage toward the neutral position;
• a drive engaging means connected to the second end of the carriage for moving the carriage relative to the frame between the neutral and driving positions;
• and
• a lateral positioning means for maintaining the lateral position of the carriage relative to the frame during movement of the carriage,
• the lateral positioning means including a bearing surface defined in a plane parallel to the first axis, and a second biasing means for biasing the carriage against the bearing surface in a direction transverse to the first axis away from the cones.

A variable speed friction drive apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a pair of drive cones supported by the frame for rotation about a common axis;
• a carriage extending in a direction generally transverse to the first axis and including opposed first and second axial ends;
• a drum supported by the carriage for rotation about an axis extending in a direction transverse to the length of the carriage;
• a universal joint for connecting the carriage to the frame for universal pivotal movement about the joint, the carriage being movable relative to the frame between a neutral position in which the drum is disengaged from either of the cones and a plurality of driving positions in which the drum engages either of the cones;
• and
• a drive engaging means connected to the second end of the carriage for moving the carriage relative to the frame between the neutral and driving positions, the drive engaging means including an input member Supported relative to the carriage for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis Of the drum, a force transmitting member connected between the input member and the second end of the carriage for moving the carriage between the neutral and driving positions when the input member is rotated, and a hand lever for rotating the input member, wherein the hand lever is supported on the input member for relative pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the axis of rotation of the input member between an operative position and an inoperative position.