US 6,082,084 A · Electric riding mower with electric steering system

Abstract

Provided is an electric drive riding greens mower. The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The motor generator set includes an internal combustion motor which provides the mechanical energy to an electric generator which provides electrical energy in response to the received mechanical energy. Further, a mower is provided which includes fly-by-wire electric steering through an electric mower. In particular, a steering control system receives steering inputs from an operator and generates an electrical output signal to activate a steering motor in accordance with the steering input. The steering motor is powered by electrical energy and is connected to one of the plurality of ground engaging wheels to rotatably displace the wheel in order to steer the mower.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A self-propelled riding mower comprising:

a plurality of ground engaging wheels, one of the ground engaging wheels being a steerable rear wheel rotatably displaceable to provide a primary steering operation for the mower;
a frame supported upon the plurality of ground engaging wheels;
an electrical energy source;
a plurality of lawn cutting elements supported from the frame, the lawn cutting elements being moveable between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the lawn cutting elements engage the ground;
a prime mover adapted to provide driving torque to at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
a steering motor powered by electrical energy from the electrical energy source, the steering motor being connected to the steerable wheel to displace the wheel upon activation of the steering motor;
and
a steering control system for receiving a steering input from an operator and generating an electrical output signal to activate the steering motor in accordance with the steering input.

5 more elements

A self-propelled riding mower comprising:

a plurality of ground engaging wheels, including at least one front and a rear wheel, the rear ground engaging wheel being a steerable wheel rotatably displaceable to provide a primary steering operation for the mower;
a frame supported upon the plurality of ground engaging wheels;
an electrical energy source;
a plurality of lawn cutting elements supported from the frame, the lawn cutting elements being moveable between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the lawn cutting elements engage the ground, the plurality of lawn cutting elements being driven by electric motors receiving electrical power from the electrical energy source;
a prime mover including an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the electrical energy source and adapted to provide driving torque to at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
a steering motor powered by electrical energy from the electrical energy source, the steering motor being connected to the steerable wheel to displace the wheel upon activation of the steering motor;
and
a steering control system for receiving a steering input from an operator and generating an electrical output signal to activate the steering motor in accordance with the steering input.

5 more elements

A self-propelled riding mower comprising:

a plurality of ground engaging wheels, including at least one front and a rear wheel, the rear ground engaging wheel being a steerable wheel rotatably displaceable to provide a primary steering operation for the mower;
a frame supported upon the plurality of ground engaging wheels;
an electrical energy source;
a plurality of reel type lawn cutting elements supported from the frame, the reel type lawn cutting elements being moveable between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position in which the reel type lawn cutting elements engage the ground, the plurality of reel type lawn cutting elements being driven by electric motors receiving electrical power from the electrical energy source;
a prime mover including an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from the electrical energy source and adapted to provide driving torque to at least one of the ground engaging wheels;
a steering motor powered by electrical energy from the electrical energy source, the steering motor being connected to the steerable wheel to displace the wheel upon activation of the steering motor;
a position sensor for determining the position of an operator controlled steering input device, the position sensor generating a position signal in accordance with the position of the steering input device;
and
an electric steering controller for receiving the position signal and generating a steering signal in accordance with the position signal to control the steering motor.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electric riding mower with electric steering system

Life of this patent

Electric riding mower with electric steering system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30