# US 9,038,490 B2 · Tractors including automatic reset of a power takeoff circuit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,490 B2 - Document ID: US9038490B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/025,024 - Filed: 2013-09-12 - Published: 2014-03-13 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2012-09-13 - Assignees: Briggs & Stratton Corporation - Applicants: Briggs & Stratton Corporation - Inventors: Joe Huebner; Andrew J. Paskov; Jeffrey James Von Haden - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038490B2 ## CPC - B60K 25/06: from the transmission power take-off - B60K 28/10: responsive to conditions relating to the vehicle - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/30: including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps - F02N 11/101: {for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement} - B60K 2028/003: {inhibiting the starter motor, e.g. by controlling ignition or park lock circuits} - B60Y 2200/223: Ridable lawn mowers - F02N 2200/0812: Power-take-off state - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - F02N: STARTING OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; STARTING AIDS FOR SUCH ENGINES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A tractor includes a prime mover, a driven implement selectively engaged with the prime mover, and a switch for selectively engaging and disengaging the driven implement with the prime mover. The switch has three positions including a disengaged position, a momentary position, and an engaged position located between the disengaged position and the momentary position. The prime mover can be started with the switch in the disengaged position. The prime mover can be started with the switch in the engaged position when the switch was previously moved to the momentary position before being moved to the engaged position, such that after operation of the prime mover is stopped, the prime mover can be restarted without changing the position of the switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tractor, comprising: a prime mover; a driven implement selectively engaged with the prime mover; and a switch for selectively engaging and disengaging the driven implement with the prime mover, the switch having three positions including a disengaged position, a momentary position, and an engaged position located between the disengaged position and the momentary position; wherein the prime mover can be started with the switch in the disengaged position; and wherein the prime mover can be started with the switch in the engaged position when the switch was previously moved to the momentary position before being moved to the engaged position, such that after operation of the prime mover is stopped, the prime mover can be restarted without changing the position of the switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The tractor of claim 1, wherein after the prime mover is stopped, the driven implement is disengaged upon restarting of the prime mover when the switch is in any of the three positions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The tractor of claim 2, wherein the driven implement is reengaged with the prime mover by moving the switch to the momentary position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The tractor of claim 2, further comprising: a clutch for engaging and disengaging the driven implement from the prime mover; and a latching relay electrically coupled between the clutch and the switch; wherein the latching relay is latched when the switch is moved to the momentary position and then to the engaged position, thereby engaging the clutch; and wherein the latching relay is unlatched upon starting the prime mover when the switch is in any of the three positions, thereby disengaging the clutch. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The tractor of claim 4, wherein the latching relay is unlatched when the switch is in the disengaged position, thereby disengaging the clutch. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The tractor of claim 5, further comprising: an on/off switch for turning the prime mover on and off; wherein the latching relay is unlatched when the on/off switch is moved to an off position, thereby disengaging the clutch. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The tractor of claim 1, wherein the driven implement is disengaged when the prime mover is stopped. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The tractor of claim 1, wherein the driven implement is one of a cutting blade, a mower deck, a snow thrower, a snow auger, a brush, a winch, a front end loader, a rear backhoe, a post hole auger, a tiller, and a rear-mounted mower. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The tractor of claim 1, wherein the prime mover is stopped in response to a signal from an on/off switch, an operator presence switch, a parking brake sensor, a combination of the parking brake sensor and the operator presence switch, a combination of the switch in the engaged position and the operator presence switch, or a reverse mow override circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The tractor of claim 1, wherein the prime mover is stopped by the prime mover stalling, by the prime mover running out of fuel, due to a blown fuse or circuit breaker, or due to a low or drained battery. ### Claim 11 A tractor, comprising: a prime mover; a driven implement selectively engaged with the prime mover; and a multi-position switch for selectively engaging and disengaging the driven implement with the prime mover, the switch having three positions including a disengaged position, a momentary position, and an engaged position located between the disengaged position and the momentary position, wherein the prime mover can be started without the multi-position switch being in a disengaged position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The tractor of claim 11, wherein the prime mover is stopped in response to a signal from an on/off switch, an operator presence switch, a parking brake sensor, a combination of the parking brake sensor and the operator presence switch, a combination of the switch in the engaged position and the operator presence switch, or a reverse mow override circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The tractor of claim 11, further comprising: a clutch for engaging and disengaging the driven implement from the prime mover; and a latching relay electrically coupled between the clutch and the switch; wherein the latching relay is latched when the switch is moved to the momentary position and then to the engaged position, thereby engaging the clutch; and wherein the latching relay is unlatched upon starting the prime mover when the switch is in any of the three positions, thereby disengaging the clutch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The tractor of claim 11, wherein the prime mover is stopped by the prime mover stalling, by the prime mover running out of fuel, due to a blown fuse or circuit breaker, or due to a low or drained battery. ### Claim 15 A tractor, comprising: a prime mover; a driven implement selectively engaged with the prime mover by a clutch; a switch for selectively engaging and disengaging the driven implement with the prime mover, the switch having three positions including a disengaged position, a momentary position, and an engaged position located between the disengaged position and the momentary position; and a latching relay electrically coupled between the clutch and the switch; wherein upon loss of electrical power to the latching relay the driven implement is disengaged; and wherein, following disengagement of the driven implement, the driven implement is re-engaged by movement of the switch from the engaged position to the momentary position without having to return the switch to the disengaged position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The tractor of claim 15, wherein the latching relay is unlatched when the switch is in the disengaged position, thereby disengaging the clutch. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The tractor of claim 15, wherein the prime mover is stopped in response to a signal from an on/off switch, an operator presence switch, a parking brake sensor, a combination of the parking brake sensor and the operator presence switch, a combination of the switch in the engaged position and the operator presence switch, or a reverse mow override circuit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The tractor of claim 15, wherein the prime mover is stopped by the prime mover stalling, by the prime mover running out of fuel, due to a blown fuse or circuit breaker, or due to a low or drained battery. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The tractor of claim 15, wherein after the prime mover is stopped, the driven implement is disengaged upon restarting of the prime mover when the switch is in any of the three positions.