Mower with automatic parking brake
AssigneeParker-Hannifin Corporation
InventorsXingen Dong, Barun Acharya
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A normally engaged parking brake system for a mower that automatically disengages a parking brake when a steering arm is moved from a park position. Accordingly, the operator does not need to act to set or release the parking brake during normal operation. The system utilizes a hydraulic actuator that releases the parking brake when pressurized fluid is supplied thereto from a hydraulic pump of the mower. A manual pump, which can be configured to be operated by moving a steering arm of the mower, is provided for supplying pressurized fluid to the hydraulic actuator to release to brake in the event the hydraulic pump is not operating.
Claims17
A parking brake system for a mower having a hydrostatic transmission comprising:
- a normally engaged parking brake connectable to a wheel of the vehicle for braking rotation thereof;
- a hydraulic parking brake actuator connectable to a hydraulic pump of the vehicle and configured to disengage the parking brake when pressurized fluid is supplied thereto;
- a valve operable to cause high pressure fluid to flow to or from the actuator;
- and
- a sensor configured for sensing a position of a steering lever of the mower corresponding to a park position;
- wherein the sensor is connected to the valve and controls the valve so as to cause high pressure fluid to flow to the actuator to disengage the parking brake when the sensor senses the steering lever is not in the park position.
A mower comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel mounted to the frame for supporting the mower for movement over a surface;
- a steering control lever for controlling rotation of the wheel, the lever movable between a plurality of positions including a park position;
- a normally engaged parking brake member configured to brake the wheel;
- an actuator configured to disengage the parking brake member when pressurized fluid is supplied thereto;
- a valve operable to cause high pressure fluid to flow to or from the actuator;
- and
- a sensor for sensing when the steering control lever is in a park position;
- wherein the sensor is connected to the valve and controls the valve so as to cause high pressure fluid to flow to the actuator to disengage the parking brake when the sensor senses the steering lever is not in the park position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.