Control system for electric drive riding mower

A gang mower, comprising:

• a frame structure supported on ground engaging wheels;
• a plurality of reel-type lawn mowers, each supported from the frame structure and individually driven by an electric reel motor, each reel motor positioned on and supported by its respective reel-type mower;
• at least one electric drive motor to provide driving torque to at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
• a plurality of electrically-powered lift mechanisms, each one having an electrical motor and each one being associated with a reel mower for moving the reel mowers between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the reel-type lawn mowers engage the ground and are ready to cut grass on a lawn therebelow;
• a battery power source for supplying electrical energy to the electric reel motors, the electric drive motor, and the electric motors of the lift mechanisms, the battery power source being arranged to provide a plurality of output voltages, with the battery power source supplying the electric reel motors generally with at least about 48 volts, the electric drive motor generally with at least about 48 volts, and the electric motors of the lift mechanisms generally with at least about 24 volts;
• and
• a control system, including an electrical circuit and powered by the battery power source, for selectively enabling operation of the gang mower, the control system including switching devices for selectively turning on and off electrical energy supplied to the electric reel motors and to the electrical motors of the reel lift mechanisms.

A gang mower, driven over the ground by motive force produced by an electric motor and including a support structure for carrying an operator on the mower, the gang mower comprising:

• a frame structure supported upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels;
• a battery power source;
• a plurality of reel-type lawn mowers supported from the frame structure;
• a plurality of electric reel drive motors each associated with a corresponding reel-type mower, each such electric reel drive motor receiving electrical power from the battery power source and driving an associated reel-type mower;
• a plurality of electrically-powered lift mechanisms, each associated with a corresponding reel-type mower, for moving the associated reel-type mower between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the reel-type lawn mowers engage the ground;
• and
• a prime mover comprising an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the battery power source and adapted to provide driving torque to a plurality of the ground engaging wheels to operate the mower at varying speeds.

An electrically-powered gang mower comprising:

• a frame supported upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels;
• a battery power source supported by the frame;
• a plurality of reel-type lawn mowers supported from the frame;
• a plurality of electric reel drive motors each associated with a corresponding reel-type mower, each electric reel drive mower receiving electrical power from the battery power source and driving an associated reel-type mower;
• a plurality of electrically-powered lift mechanisms, each associated with a corresponding reel-type mower, for moving the associated reel mower between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the reel-type lawn mowers engage the ground;
• a power transfer apparatus located substantially between and in mechanical communication with two of the ground engaging wheels to normally provide driving torque to these two ground engaging wheels;
• and
• a prime mover disposed in proximity to the power transfer apparatus and including an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the battery power source and adapted to provide driving torque to the power transfer apparatus, whereby the mower may be propelled over the ground by the prime mover at varying speeds.