EP3941181A1

EP3941181A1 - Lawn care vehicle having collection and mulching modes

Info

Publication number: EP3941181A1
Application number: EP19795665.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Anders Flygare
Original assignee: Husqvarna AB
Current assignee: Husqvarna AB
Priority date: 2019-10-24
Filing date: 2019-10-24
Publication date: 2022-01-26
Also published as: WO2021079176A1

Abstract

A lawn care vehicle is provided. The lawn care vehicle includes a frame to which at least a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the lawn care vehicle are operably coupled. The lawn care vehicle also includes a cutting deck operably coupled to the frame. The cutting deck includes a cutting blade and a discharge. The lawn care vehicle is configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode based on input received from an operator of the lawn care vehicle. In the collection mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to move toward the discharge. In the mulching mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to stay within the cutting deck to be further cut by the cutting blade.

Description

LAWN CARE VEHICLE HAVING COLLECTION AND MULCHING MODES

TECHNICAL FIELD

Example embodiments generally relate to a lawn care vehicle and, more particularly, to a lawn care vehicle that is configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode.

BACKGROUND

Lawn care tasks are commonly performed using various tools or machines that are configured for the performance of corresponding specific tasks. Certain tasks, like grass cutting, are typically performed by lawn care vehicles. Lawn care vehicles themselves may have many different configurations to support the needs and budgets of consumers. Walk- behind lawn mowers are typically compact, have comparatively small motors and are relatively inexpensive. Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, riding lawn mowers, such as lawn tractors, can be quite large.

Although each of these different types of mowers clearly has significant differences in weight, size, cost and sometimes also capabilities, they are all generally constructed around the same basic principle of operation. In this regard, a power source is used to enable a power unit (e.g., a motor or engine) to provide the motive force that causes blades to rotate on a shaft and cut grass. Gasoline or petrol engines had been dominant means by which to provide the motive force for rotating the blades for many years. However, more recently, battery powered devices have been becoming more prominent.

Practical limitations had initially effectively restricted battery power to applications in smaller devices such as robotic mowers. However, battery technology advances gradually enabled walk behind mowers to also be battery powered. Now, even riding lawn mowers such as lawn tractors and mowers with zero (or near zero) turn radius are also being designed to be powered by battery.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPFES Some example embodiments provided herein enable an operator of a lawn care vehicle to operate the lawn care vehicle in either of a collection mode or a mulching mode by a selection of a button or switch on a user interface of the lawn care vehicle. In the collection mode, grass cut by cutting blades of the lawn care may be cut and collected in a collection system of the lawn care vehicle. In the mulching mode, grass may be cut several times by the cutting blades and discharged from the cutting deck back onto the lawn. Typically for an operator to use a same cutting deck of a lawn care vehicle for both collection and mulching purposes, the operator would have to manually add parts to the cutting deck to switch between the collection mode and the mulching mode. Example embodiments described herein may provide a lawn care vehicle that is configured to switch from a collection mode and a mulching mode by merely activation of a switch or button by the operator. In response to the activation of the button or switch, the cutting blades may be configured to change a direction of rotation and thereby change from the collection mode to the mulching mode.

In one example embodiment, a lawn care vehicle is provided. The lawn care vehicle includes a frame to which at least a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the lawn care vehicle are operably coupled. The lawn care vehicle also includes a cutting deck operably coupled to the frame. The cutting deck includes a cutting blade and a discharge. The lawn care vehicle is configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode based on input received from an operator of the lawn care vehicle. In the collection mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to move toward the discharge. In the mulching mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to stay within the cutting deck to be further cut by the cutting blade.

In a further example embodiment, a drive controller for a lawn care vehicle configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode is provided. The drive controller includes processing circuitry configured to receive an input from a user interface of the lawn care vehicle to operate the lawn care vehicle in one of the collection mode or the mulching mode. In response to the input indicating the lawn care vehicle is operating in the collection mode, the processing circuitry is configured cause a blade motor of the lawn care vehicle to rotate a cutting blade of the lawn care vehicle in a first direction. In response to the input indicating the lawn care vehicle is operating in the mulching mode, the processing circuitry is configured to cause the blade motor to rotate the cutting blade in a second direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

Having thus described some embodiments of the present invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a lawn care vehicle according to an example embodiment; FIG. 2 illustrates a cross sectional view of a lawn care vehicle according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of a cutting deck of a lawn care vehicle according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates an interior view of a cutting deck of a lawn care vehicle according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a cutting blade according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an interior of a cutting deck operating in a collection mode according to an example embodiment

FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an interior of a cutting deck operating in a mulching mode according to an example embodiment; and

FIG. 8 illustrates block diagram of a drive controller of a lawn care vehicle according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some example embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be construed as being limiting as to the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “or” is to be interpreted as a logical operator that results in true whenever one or more of its operands are true. As used herein, the phrase “operable coupling” and variants thereof should be understood to relate to direct or indirect connection that, in either case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably coupled to each other.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a riding lawn care vehicle 10 according to an example embodiment. However, it should be appreciated that the riding lawn mower 10 is just one example of a lawn care vehicle on which an example embodiment may be practiced. In other examples, the lawn care vehicle could be a walk-behind lawn mower or a robotic lawn mower of any type. As shown in FIG. 1, the lawn care vehicle 10 may include a seat 18 that may be disposed proximate a center of the lawn care vehicle 10. However, in other example embodiments, the seat 18 may be disposed proximate or at a rear or front portion of the lawn care vehicle 10. The lawn care vehicle 10 may also include a steering assembly 17 (e.g., a steering wheel, a set of steering levers, handle bars, or the like) operably coupled to wheels 14A, 14B of the lawn care vehicle 10 to which steering inputs from the steering assembly 17 are provided in order to allow the operator to steer the lawn care vehicle 10. For example, the operator may sit on the seat 18 to provide operate the lawn care vehicle 10 and provide input for steering of the lawn care vehicle 10 via the steering assembly 17.

In some cases, the steering inputs may be provided to rear wheels 14A of the lawn care vehicle 10 to allow the operator to steer the lawn care vehicle 10. In embodiments in which steering control is provided to the rear wheels 14 A, the front wheels 14B may not receive steering inputs. However, in accordance with other example embodiments, steering controls could be initiated by providing steering inputs to the front wheels 14B or to both the front wheels 14B and the rear wheels 14A. Furthermore, in accordance with some example embodiments, some models may be stand-up models that eliminate the seat 18. If the seat 18 is eliminated, the operator may stand at an operator station proximate to the steering assembly 17 to operate the lawn care vehicle 10 and provide input for steering.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the lawn care vehicle 10 may also include a cutting deck 16 having at least one cutting blade 20 (e.g., one, two, or three cutting blades) mounted therein (see FIG. 4). The cutting blades 20 may be disposed in an interior of the cutting deck 16. The cutting blades 20 may be suspended above the ground via one or more instances of a rotatable shaft (not shown) that may be turned responsive to operation of a motor discussed in more detail below.

When the cutting blades 20 are rotated below the cutting deck 16 when the cutting deck 16 is in a cutting or operational position, as shown in FIG. 1, the operator may operate the lawn care vehicle 10 to cut or mulch grass using the cutting blades 20 depending on whether the operator is operating the lawn care vehicle 10 in a collection mode or a mulching mode. In this regard, the lawn care vehicle 10 described herein may be operate in either a collection mode where the grass clippings generated by the cutting blades 20 are configured to be collected or discharged by the lawn care vehicle 10, as further described herein. It should be understood that in the collection mode, the cutting blades 20 may be configured to push the grass clippings after being cut toward a discharge 84 of the lawn care vehicle 10, regardless of whether the grass clippings are collected. In the mulching mode, the cutting blades 20 are configured to cut the grass clippings a plurality of times and discharge the clippings back onto a ground surface.

Furthermore, in some cases, the cutting deck 16 may be positioned in front of the front wheels 14B. However, in accordance with other example embodiments, the cutting deck 16 may be positioned rearward of a pair of front wheels 14B. Additionally, in .other example embodiments, the cutting deck 16 may be positioned substantially rearward of the pair of front wheels 14B and substantially forward of a pair of rear wheels 14A.

As shown in FIG. 2, drive motor compartment 17 of the lawn care vehicle 10 may be disposed to the rear of a seated operator to house various components of the lawn care vehicle 10 including a drive motor 11. However, in other example embodiments, the drive motor compartment 17 could be in different positions such as in front of the operator or below the operator. In some embodiments, the drive motor 11 may be operably coupled to the either of the front or rear wheels 14 A, 14B of the lawn care vehicle 10 in order to provide drive power for the lawn care vehicle 10. Although the drive motor 11 may be capable of powering only one of the front or rear wheels 14 A, 14B, the drive motor 11 may power both of the front and rear wheels 14A, 14B. Moreover, in some cases, the drive motor 11 may manually or automatically shift between powering either or both of the front and rear wheels 14 A, 14B.

In an example embodiment, the drive motor 11, the steering assembly 17, the cutting deck 16, the seat 18, and other components of the lawn care vehicle 10 may be operably coupled to a frame 15 of the lawn care vehicle 10. The frame 15 may be a rigid structure configured to provide support, connectivity, and interoperability functions for various ones of the components of the lawn care vehicle 10. In example embodiments, the frame 15 may be split or articulated such that, for example, the front wheels 14B are disposed on an opposite portion of the frame 15 (e.g., front frame portion) than the portion of the frame 15 on which the back wheels 14A (e.g., rear frame portion) are disposed with respect to an articulated joint in the frame 15. The articulated joint may enable the lawn care vehicle 10 to exhibit a high degree of maneuverability. In some embodiments, the front frame portion of the lawn care vehicle 10 is operably coupled to the rear frame portion of the lawn care vehicle via the articulated joint.

The riding lawn care vehicle 10 may also include a battery power source (not shown). The battery power source may include one or more batteries that may provide power for all electrical components of the lawn care vehicle 10. In cases in which multiple batteries are combined to form the battery power source, the batteries may be distributed or collocated near one another. In an example embodiment, multiple twelve-volt batteries may be employed and connected in series and their locations may be distributed throughout the lawn care vehicle 10. For example, one or more batteries may be disposed in the drive motor compartment 17, while other batteries may be disposed under the seat 18 or in other locations of the lawn care vehicle 10. The battery power source may include lead acid batteries, or other types of batteries, and may be rechargeable or disposable in various alternative embodiments. By employing the battery power source, the battery powered riding lawn care vehicle 10 may avoid using fossil fuels and operate with reduced overall noise.

The lawn care vehicle 10 may also include a yard waste collection assembly 80 that is configured to collect lawn clippings or other discharge or debris that is ejected as the result of operation of the lawn care vehicle 10 operating in the collection mode. In this regard, rotation of the cutting blades 20 when operating in the collection mode may generate grass clippings or other debris that may be ejected from the cutting deck 16. In some cases, the clippings/debris may be ejected from a side or rear of the cutting deck 16. When the rear discharge is employed, many such lawn mowers may employ the yard waste collection assembly 80 to collect discharged clippings/debris. However, yard waste collection assemblies 80 may also be used for side discharge models in some cases. However, it should be understood that in the collection mode, the grass clippings or debris may be discharged from the discharge 84 rather than collected by the yard waste collection assembly 80.

For example, when the cutting blades 20 cut grass in the collection mode, clippings of the grass may be pushed or forced toward the discharge 84 and, in some cases, transported to the yard waste collection assembly 80. The yard waste collection assembly 80 may be formed of a rigid or soft material and may be removed or pivoted manually by the operator of the lawn care vehicle 10 in order to dump contents (e.g., grass clippings) collected in the yard waste collection assembly 80. It should be understood that, based on whether the lawn care vehicle 10 is operating in the collection mode or the mulching mode, the grass clippings generated by the cutting blades 20 may either be discharged via the discharge 84 or captured by the yard waste collection assembly 80 (i.e., when in the collection mode) or mulched and expelled from the cutting deck 16 (i.e., when in the mulching mode). In some cases, the lawn care vehicle may also include a conveyor 82 configured to convey yard waste, such as grass clippings, from a discharge 84 of the cutting deck 16 to the yard waste collection assembly 80.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate example embodiments of the cutting deck 16 of the lawn care vehicle 10. Referring now to FIG. 3, the cutting deck 16 (viewed from above) may include a blade housing 100, that may house one or more cutting blades 20 (see FIG. 4). FIG. 5 illustrates an example embodiment of the cutting blade 20 used herein. In this regard, each of the cutting blades 20 may be sharpened on each lateral edge of the cutting blade 20. For example, each half of the cutting blade 12 may have a first lateral edge 21 configured to cut grass and debris when the lawn care vehicle 16 is in the collection mode and a second lateral edge 22 that is configured to cut grass and debris when the lawn care vehicle is in the mulching mode. In this regard, each of the first lateral edge 21 and the second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 are different at least in terms of cutting characteristics. For example, the second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 may be used for better mulching capability, and the first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 may be used for better discharge or bagging capability.

In some cases, the first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 may be configured to create a horizonal airflow relative to the cutting deck 16 in order to move the grass clippings toward the discharge 84. In this regard, the first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 may have a winged blade design near the distal end of the cutting blade 20. Moreover, the first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 may provide a high flow, high energy profile in order to generate energy to provide increased capability for driving the flow of clippings toward the discharge 84. Accordingly, when the first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 is being used when the lawn care vehicle 10 is in the collection mode, the winged side of the cutting blade 20 may consume more energy due to generating more flow energy. The winged side, however, may be a more capable side for discharge and bagging operations associated with the collection mode.

Moreover, the second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 may be a low flow, low energy profile. In this regard, the second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 may be configured to create an upward air flow in order to keep the clippings within the cutting deck 16 for mulching operations when the lawn care vehicle 10 is in the mulching mode. Therefore, the second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 may have a flat blade design to provide a low flow, low energy profile. Since a flat blade design encounters less air as it rotates, the amount of flow energy is minimized. The second lateral edge 22 may therefore be relatively easy to turn and consume less energy. Meanwhile, the second lateral edge 22 may also generate less flow energy and therefore provide less capability for driving the flow of clippings toward, for example, the discharge 84. The second lateral edge 22 may therefore have better capabilities for mulching operations.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cutting blades 20 may also turn responsive to rotary motive forces applied by corresponding one or more blade drive motors 110. In this regard, each of the cutting blades 20 may be configured to rotate either clockwise or counterclockwise relative to an axis 90 of the cutting deck 16 based on the mode the lawn care vehicle 10 is being operated in. Furthermore, each cutting blade 20 may rotate clockwise or counterclockwise independent of the other cutting blades 20. For example, a first cutting blade 20 may rotate clockwise and a second cutting blade 20 may rotate counterclockwise. FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate example embodiments of rotation of the cutting blades 20 based on the mode the lawn care vehicle 16 is operating in. As shown in FIG. 6, when the lawn care vehicle 10 is in the collection mode, the cutting blades 20 may be configured to rotate toward the axis 90 of the cutting deck 16 thereby causing any generated grass clippings to more easily flow toward the discharge 84 and to the yard waste collection assembly 80. However, as shown in FIG. 7, when the lawn care vehicle 10 is in the mulching mode, the cutting blades 20 may be configured to rotate away from the axis 90 of the cutting deck 16 in order to keep any generated grass clippings in the cutting deck 16 to be further cut by the cutting blades 20 and away from the discharge 84. It should be understood that one of the cutting blades 20, when in either of the collection mode or mulching mode, may rotate opposite from other of the cutting blades 20. In this regard, the cutting blades 20 are each configured to rotate in a direction that promotes the desired flow of the grass clippings, as described above.

As further shown in FIG. 3, in some examples, there may be one blade motor 110 provided for each cutting blade 20. However, other embodiments could use a single blade motor to turn multiple blades. In the example of FIG. 3, there are two blade drive motors 110 shown for turning two corresponding blades within the blade housing 100, but other embodiments may employ less or more blades and corresponding blade motors. Furthermore, in some cases, the blade motors 110 may be controlled via one or more blade motor controllers 120. In some examples, the blade motor controllers 120 may be disposed substantially between the blade motors 110 and may receive power from the battery power source. Additionally, each blade motor 110 may be independently controllable to rotate the cutting blade 20 in either the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

In an example embodiment, controllers for both the blade motors 110 and the motor controller for the drive motor 11 may be powered from a battery power source. The battery power source and related motors may be monitored by one or more sensors of a sensor network. The sensor network may include a plurality of sensors disposed in corresponding locations and configured to detect parameters associated with various operational conditions related to the riding lawn care vehicle 10 (e.g., direction and speed of cutting blade rotation). Parametric data gathered by the sensor network may then be provided to a drive controller 150 (see FIG. 8) that may be configured to process the parametric data and control operation of the blade motors 110 and the drive motor 11 based at least in part on the parametric data received.

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of various components of the lawn care vehicle 10 to illustrate operable coupling provided between various of such components and to facilitate description of an example embodiment. In some example embodiments, the drive controller 150 may include or otherwise be in communication with processing circuitry 210 that is configurable to perform actions, such as the switch between the collection mode and the mulching mode, in accordance with example embodiments described herein. As such, for example, the functions attributable to the drive controller 150 may be carried out by the processing circuitry 210.

The processing circuitry 210 may be configured to perform data processing, control function execution and/or other processing and management services according to an example embodiment of the present invention. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 210 may be embodied as a chip or chip set. In other words, the processing circuitry 210 may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) including materials, components and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard). The structural assembly may provide physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction for component circuitry included thereon. The processing circuitry 210 may therefore, in some cases, be configured to implement an embodiment of the present invention on a single chip or as a single “system on a chip.” As such, in some cases, a chip or chipset may constitute means for performing one or more operations for providing the functionalities described herein.

In an example embodiment, the processing circuitry 210 may include a processor 212 and memory 214 that may be in communication with or otherwise control a device interface 220 and, in some cases, a user interface 230. As such, the processing circuitry 210 may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) configured (e.g., with hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software) to perform operations described herein. However, in some embodiments, the processing circuitry 210 may be embodied as a portion of an on-board computer.

The user interface 230 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 210 to receive an indication of a user input at the user interface 230 and/or to provide an audible, visual, mechanical or other output to the user. As such, the user interface 230 may include, for example, a display 234 (e.g., a touch screen), one or more buttons or keys 232 (e.g., mode selector), and/or other input/output mechanisms (e.g., speaker 236). In some embodiments, the user interface 230 may be provided on a fender panel (e.g., positioned proximate to the seat 18), on a portion of the steering wheel 17, or at another location on the lawn care vehicle 10. Therefore, the user interface 230 may include an input mechanism for mode selection (e.g., mode selector 232) between either the collection mode or the mulching mode. Mode selector 232 may be a button, selectable option on a display, lever, switch, or other operator selectable mechanism. Accordingly, a mode of operation of the drive controller 150 may be selectable by the operator via the user interface 230. The device interface 220 may include one or more interface mechanisms for enabling communication with other devices (e.g., sensors of the sensor network and/or motor controllers of the blade motors 110 and/or the drive motor 11). In some cases, the device interface 220 may be any means such as a device or circuitry embodied in either hardware, or, a combination of hardware and software that is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to sensors (e.g., sensor 160) and/or motor controllers in communication with the processing circuitry 210.

In an exemplary embodiment, the memory 214 may include one or more non-transitory memory devices such as, for example, volatile and/or non-volatile memory that may be either fixed or removable. The memory 214 may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions or the like for enabling the drive controller 150 to carry out various functions in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, the memory 214 could be configured to buffer input data for processing by the processor 212. Additionally or alternatively, the memory 214 could be configured to store instructions for execution by the processor 212. As yet another alternative, the memory 114 may include one or more databases that may store a variety of data sets responsive to input from the sensor network. Among the contents of the memory 214, applications may be stored for execution by the processor 212 in order to carry out the functionality associated with each respective application. In some cases, the applications may include control applications that utilize parametric data to control one or more of the blade motors 110 and/or the drive motor 11 as described in greater detail below.

The processor 212 may be embodied in a number of different ways. For example, the processor 212 may be embodied as various processing means such as one or more of a microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller or various other computing or processing devices including integrated circuits such as, for example, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), FPGA (field programmable gate array), or the like. In an example embodiment, the processor 212 may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory 214 or otherwise accessible to the processor 212. As such, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor 212 may represent an entity (e.g., physically embodied in circuitry — in the form of processing circuitry 210) capable of performing operations according to embodiments of the present invention while configured accordingly. Thus, for example, when the processor 212 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA or the like, the processor 212 may be specifically configured hardware for conducting the operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor 212 is embodied as an executor of software instructions, the instructions may specifically configure the processor 212 to perform the operations described herein.

In an example embodiment, the processor 212 (or the processing circuitry 210) may be embodied as, include or otherwise control the drive controller 150. As such, in some embodiments, the processor 212 (or the processing circuitry 210) may be said to cause each of the operations described in connection with the drive controller 150 by directing the drive controller 150 to undertake the corresponding functionalities responsive to execution of instructions or algorithms configuring the processor 212 (or processing circuitry 210) accordingly. As an example, the drive controller 150 may be configured to control a direction and speed of rotation of the cutting blades 20 as described herein based on the mode the lawn care vehicle 10 is operating in (e.g., collection mode or mulching mode).

The drive controller 150 may be configured to provide control signals to one or both of the blade motors 110 and the drive motor 11 based on input from an operator of the lawn care vehicle 10, via the user interface 230. In this regard, the operator may indicate the mode they wish the lawn care vehicle 10 to operate in via actuation of the mode selector 232 on the user interface 230. Based on the input from the operator, the drive controller 150 may be configured to cause the blade motors 110 to change a direction of rotation of the cutting blades 16 or cause the blade motors 110 or drive motor 11 to change speed. In this regard, the selection of a specific mode (i.e., collection mode or mulching mode) may be associated with a specific rotation direction of the cutting blade 20, speed of rotation of the cutting blade 20, or speed of the lawn care vehicle 11. In that case, the drive controller 150 may be configured to adjust the operating parameters of the cutting blades 20 and respective motors 11, 110 appropriately.

Accordingly, in order for the operator to change between a collection mode and a mulching mode, the operator only has to actuate the mode selector 232. If the operator selects the collection mode via the mode selector 232, the drive controller 150 is configured to cause the cutting blades 20 to rotate toward the axis 90 of the cutting deck 20, which also enables the appropriate first lateral edge 21 of the cutting blade 20 to be used for any cutting operations undertaken. Accordingly, the drive controller 150 ensures the cutting blade 20 is rotating appropriately to discharge or collect the grass/debris in the yard waste collection assembly 80. In some cases, the drive controller 150 may also cause the cutting blade 20 to increase speed. If the operator selects the mulching mode, the drive controller 150 is configured to cause the cutting blade 20 to rotate away from the axis 90 of the cutting deck 20, which also enables the appropriate second lateral edge 22 of the cutting blade 20 to be used. In some cases, the drive controller 150 may also cause the speed of rotation to be reduced in order to prevent the grass clippings from being forced back toward the discharge 84. It should be understood that the speed of the of rotation may be increased or reduced based on conditions detected via the drive controller 150 in either of the collection mode or the mulching mode.

Accordingly, example embodiments described herein provide a lawn care vehicle. The lawn care vehicle includes a frame to which at least a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel of the lawn care vehicle are operably coupled. The lawn care vehicle also includes a cutting deck operably coupled to the frame. The cutting deck includes a cutting blade and a discharge. The lawn care vehicle is configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode based on input received from an operator of the lawn care vehicle. In the collection mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to move toward the discharge. In the mulching mode, the cutting blade is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the grass clippings generated by the cutting blade to stay within the cutting deck to be further cut by the cutting blade.

In some embodiments, additional optional structures or features may be included or the stmctures/features described above may be modified or augmented. Each of the additional features, structures, modifications, or augmentations may be practiced in combination with the stmctures/features above or in combination with each other. Thus, some, all or none of the additional features, structures, modifications, or augmentations may be utilized in some embodiments. Some example additional optional features, structures, modifications, or augmentations are described below, and may include, for example, that the lawn care vehicle further includes a drive controller, and in response to receiving the input from the operator of the lawn care vehicle to operate the lawn care vehicle in the collection mode, the drive controller is configured to cause the cutting blade to rotate in the first direction, and in response to receiving the input from the operator of the lawn care vehicle to operate the lawn care vehicle in the mulching mode, the drive controller is configured to cause the cutting blade to rotate in the second direction. Alternatively or additionally, the cutting blade includes a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge, and each of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge is sharpened. Alternatively or additionally, the first lateral edge is configured to perform cutting operations when the cutting blade is rotated in the first direction, and the second lateral edge is configured to perform the cutting operations when the cutting blade is rotated in the second direction. Alternatively or additionally, the first lateral edge is configured to generate a high energy flow, and the second lateral edge is configured to generate a low energy flow. Alternatively or additionally, the first lateral edge is winged, and the second lateral edge is flat. Alternatively or additionally, the drive controller is further configured to adjust a rotation speed of the cutting blade based on whether the lawn care vehicle is operating in the collection mode or the mulching mode. Alternatively or additionally, when the lawn care vehicle is in the collection mode, the drive controller is configured to increase the rotation speed of the cutting blade. Alternatively or additionally, when the lawn care vehicle is in the mulching mode, the drive controller is configured to decrease the rotation speed of the cutting blade. Alternatively or additionally, the input received from the operator is provided via a user interface disposed on the lawn care vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the user interface includes a mode selector, and the mode selector is selectable by the operator to operate the lawn care vehicle in the collection mode or the mulching mode. Alternatively or additionally, the mode selector includes a button or switch.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain exemplary combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and/or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated as may be set forth in some of the appended claims. In cases where advantages, benefits, or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be appreciated that such advantages, benefits, and/or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily all example embodiments. Thus, any advantages, benefits, or solutions described herein should not be thought of as being critical, required, or essential to all embodiments or to that which is claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

THAT WHICH IS CLAIMED:

1. A lawn care vehicle (10) comprising: a frame (15) to which at least a first drive wheel (14A, 14B) and a second drive wheel (14A, 14B) of the lawn care vehicle (10) are operably coupled; and a cutting deck (16) operably coupled to the frame (15) and comprising a cutting blade

(20) and a discharge (84); wherein the lawn care vehicle (10) is configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode based on input received from an operator of the lawn care vehicle (10), wherein in the collection mode, the cutting blade (20) is configured to rotate in a first direction to cause grass clippings generated by the cutting blade (20) to move toward the discharge (84), and wherein in the mulching mode, the cutting blade (20) is configured to rotate in a second direction to cause the grass clippings generated by the cutting blade (20) to stay within the cutting deck (16) to be further cut by the cutting blade (20).

2. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 1, wherein the lawn care vehicle (10) further comprises a drive controller (150), wherein in response to receiving the input from the operator of the lawn care vehicle (10) to operate the lawn care vehicle (10) in the collection mode, the drive controller (150) is configured to cause the cutting blade (20) to rotate in the first direction, and wherein in response to receiving the input from the operator of the lawn care vehicle (10) to operate the lawn care vehicle in the mulching mode, the drive controller is configured to cause the cutting blade (20) to rotate in the second direction.

3. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade (20) comprises a first lateral edge (21) and a second lateral edge (22), wherein each of the first lateral edge

(21) and the second lateral edge (22) is sharpened.

4. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 3, wherein the first lateral edge (21) is configured to perform cutting operations when the cutting blade (20) is rotated in the first direction, and wherein the second lateral edge (22) is configured to perform the cutting operations when the cutting blade (20) is rotated in the second direction.

5. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 4, wherein the first lateral edge (21) is configured to generate a high energy flow, and wherein the second lateral edge (22) is configured to generate a low energy flow.

6. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 5, wherein the first lateral edge (21) is winged, and wherein the second lateral edge (22) is flat.

7. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 2, wherein the drive controller (150) is further configured to adjust a rotation speed of the cutting blade (20) based on whether the lawn care vehicle (10) is operating in the collection mode or the mulching mode.

8. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 7, wherein when the lawn care vehicle (10) is in the collection mode, the drive controller (150) is configured to increase the rotation speed of the cutting blade (20).

9. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 7, wherein when the lawn care vehicle (10) is in the mulching mode, the drive controller (150) is configured to decrease the rotation speed of the cutting blade (20).

10. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 1, wherein the input received from the operator is provided via a user interface (230) disposed on the lawn care vehicle (10).

11. The lawn care vehicle (10) of claim 10, wherein the user interface (230) comprises a mode selector (232), and wherein the mode selector (232) is selectable by the operator to operate the lawn care vehicle (10) in the collection mode or the mulching mode.

12. The lawn care vehicle (10) of clam 11, wherein the mode selector (232) comprises a button or switch.

13. A drive controller (150) for a lawn care vehicle (10) configured to operate in a collection mode and a mulching mode, the drive controller (150) comprising processing circuitry (210) configured to: receive an input from a user interface (230) of the lawn care vehicle (10) to operate the lawn care vehicle (10) in one of the collection mode or the mulching mode, and wherein in response to the input indicating the lawn care vehicle (10) is operating in the collection mode, cause a blade motor (110) of the lawn care vehicle (10) to rotate a cutting blade (20) of the lawn care vehicle (10) in a first direction, and wherein in response to the input indicating the lawn care vehicle (10) is operating in the mulching mode, cause the blade motor (110) to rotate the cutting blade (20) in a second direction.

14. The drive controller (150) of claim 13, wherein the cutting blade (20) comprises a first lateral edge (21) and a second lateral edge (22), wherein each of the first lateral edge (21) and the second lateral edge (22) is sharpened.

15. The drive controller (150) of claim 14, wherein the first lateral edge (21) is configured to perform cutting operations when the cutting blade (20) is rotated in the first direction, and wherein the second lateral edge (22) is configured to perform the cutting operations when the cutting blade (20) is rotated in the second direction.

16. The drive controller (150) of claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry (210) is further configured to adjust a rotation speed of the cutting blade (20) based on whether the lawn care vehicle (10) is operating in the collection mode or the mulching mode.

17. The drive controller (150) of claim 17, wherein when the lawn care vehicle (10) is in the collection mode, the processing circuitry (210) is configured to increase the rotation speed of the cutting blade (20).

18. The drive controller (150) of claim 17, wherein when the lawn care vehicle (10) is in the mulching mode, the drive controller (150) is configured to decrease the rotation speed of the cutting blade (20).

19. The drive controller (150) of claim 13, wherein the user interface (230) comprises a mode selector (232), and wherein the input received from the user interface (230) is an actuation of the mode selector (232) by an operator of the lawn care vehicle (10).

20. The drive controller (150) of claim 20, wherein the mode selector (232) comprises a button or switch.