Powered actuator system for mower parking brake system

An outdoor power equipment unit, which comprises:

• (a) a frame supported for movement over the ground by a plurality of wheels;
• (b) dual independent transaxles for driving two of the wheels on opposite sides of the frame to propel the frame over the ground in both forward and reverse directions;
• (c) an implement carried on the frame for performing a ground or turf grooming or working operation;
• (d) a seat on the frame for carrying an operator;
• (e) twin control sticks for allowing the operator to steer and propel the unit, the twin control sticks having inboard positions generally in front of the seat and outboard positions that are laterally pivoted out of the way of the seat;
• (f) dual parking brakes associated with the dual transaxles for preventing rotation of the drive wheels of the frame when the parking brakes are engaged;
• (g) a powered actuator for engaging the parking brakes when the actuator is in a first position and for disengaging the parking brakes when the actuator is in a second position;
• and
• (h) a control system for moving the actuator between its first and second positions to engage and disengage the parking brakes respectively, the control system comprising at least one control stick switch associated with at least one control stick, the control system moving the actuator into the second position thereof when the at least one control stick switch detects the presence of the at least one control stick in the inboard position thereof.

An electrically powered actuator system for engaging and disengaging the parking brake system of an outdoor power equipment unit, wherein the parking brake system comprises dual parking brakes contained on dual, independent transaxles that propel the unit forwardly and rearwardly, which comprises:

• (a) a solenoid having a solenoid housing and an armature with the armature of the solenoid being extended from the solenoid housing when the solenoid housing is deenergized and with the armature of the solenoid being pulled into the housing when the solenoid is energized;
• (b) dual link arms coupling the armature of the solenoid to the dual parking brakes with each parking brake being pivotally mounted on the corresponding transaxle, wherein the link arms rotate the parking brakes into engaged positions when the solenoid is deenergized and the armature of the solenoid is extended from the housing, and wherein the link arms rotate the parking brakes into their disengaged positions when the solenoid is energized and the armature of the solenoid is drawn inwardly into the solenoid housing;
• and
• (c) an electrical control system for energizing and deenergizing the solenoid to engage and disengage the parking brakes.

An outdoor power equipment unit, which comprises:

• (a) a frame supported for movement over the ground by a plurality of wheels, at least one wheel being a drive wheel to propel the frame over the ground;
• (b) an implement carried on the frame for performing a ground or turf grooming or working operation;
• (c) a parking brake system which is engaged and disengaged by at least one manually movable control lever that can be selectively moved by an operator;
• (d) at least one freewheel lever for allowing the at least one drive wheel to freewheel so the unit can be manually pushed or pulled;
• and
• (e) a manually actuated release member that is separate and distinct from the manually movable control lever and that can be moved by the operator into a first position for releasing the freewheel lever to allow freewheeling, wherein the manually actuated release member in the first position thereof also manually disengages the parking brake system independently of the operation of the movable control lever.