Park/drive mechanical interlock system for zero turn radius mowers
AssigneeGreat Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorAlan F. Piontek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A zero turning radius mower is provided with twin operating levers that are manipulated by the driver to control steering, speed and forward or reverse direction of the mower. When the two drive levers are in the neutral mode, they may be swung outwardly to widespread positions to facilitate operator dismount. If both drive levers are spread apart, a park lever may be operated by the driver to position blocking bars into the path of the levers to prevent their return from the widespread positions. Once the engine is shut off, it can only be restarted when the mower is in its park mode with the park lever engaged.
Claims12
In a riding mower having an engine and a pair of independent drive wheels controlled by a corresponding pair of operator-manipulated drive levers, said levers being movable independently of one another along parallel, fore-and-aft paths of travel between forward, neutral, and reverse drive modes and being movable outwardly away from one another to widespread positions when in the neutral mode, the improvement comprising:
- a pair of retaining mechanisms operable when actuated to prevent rotation of said wheels, there being one of said retaining mechanisms for each of said wheels;
- and
- a park lever operably coupled with said retaining mechanisms for actuating both of said retaining mechanisms simultaneously when the park lever is moved to a park position,
- said park lever being movable into said park position when the drive levers are in said widespread positions and having lockout structure operably coupled therewith for preventing return of the drive levers to their paths of travel when the park lever is in said park position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.