Starter module for walk behind trowel

A starter module for an engine of a walk behind trowel having a rotor driven by the engine, the rotor including a shaft and a plurality of concrete-finishing blades driven by the shaft, the engine having a throttle to command an operating state of the trowel, and a clutch operable to selectively couple an output of the engine to the rotor shaft, the starter module comprising:

• a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of the operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the signal representative of the operating state of the trowel from the sensor and to prevent the clutch from engaging and, thereby prevent torque transfer to the rotor shaft if the detected operating state is outside of a designated range during engine start-up and which thereafter cannot prevent the clutch from engaging in response to signals from the sensor,
• wherein the engine has an actual engine speed, wherein the operating state is a commanded engine speed, wherein the designated range is below a designated threshold, and
• wherein the controller is configured to prevent the clutch from engaging if the commanded engine speed is at or above the designated threshold.

A walk behind trowel, comprising:

• an engine operable to provide an engine output;
• a throttle operable to regulate an engine operating speed;
• a rotor driven by the engine output and having a shaft and a plurality of concrete finishing blades mounted on the shaft;
• a clutch operable to selectively engage the output of the engine to the rotor shaft to rotate the rotor;
• a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of an operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up;
• and
• an electronic controller that receives the signal from the sensor and that is responsive to the signal prevent the clutch from engaging the engine output to the shaft of the rotor if the detected operating state is outside a designated range during engine start-up and which thereafter cannot prevent the clutch from engaging in response to signals from the sensor.

A walk behind trowel, comprising:

• an engine operable to provide an engine output;
• a throttle operable to regulate an engine operating speed;
• a rotor driven by the engine output and and including a rotatable shaft and a plurality of concrete-finishing blades mounted on the shaft;
• a clutch operable to selectively engage the output of the entitle to the rotor shaft;
• a sensor operable to provide a signal representative of the an operating state of the trowel upon engine start-up;
• a frame supporting the engine and having a handle extending therefrom;
• and
• a controller configured to detect an operating state of the trowel, and to prevent the clutch from engaging the engine output to the rotor if the detected operating state is outside a designated range during engine start-up to prevent rotation of the frame and handle relative to the blades and which thereafter cannot prevent the clutch from engaging in response to signals from the sensor,
• wherein the engine has an actual engine speed,
• wherein the operating state is a commanded engine speed, wherein the designated range is below a designated threshold, and
• wherein the controller is configured to prevent the clutch from engaging if the controller detects the commanded engine speed is at or above the designated threshold, thereby preventing the rotor, frame, and handle from rotating.