FR2570571A1 - CONTROL DEVICE FOR LAWN MOWER - Google Patents

Abstract

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LAWN MOWER EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVE MOTOR FOR THE WHEELS AND A CUTTING BLADE, AND A STEERING HANDLE WITH A 6A CROSSMER AND DIRECTED TO THE REAR OF THE MACHINE. THE DEVICE INCLUDES A FIRST ON-OFF LEVER 13 MOBILE AROUND A FIRST AXIS 13A AND A SECOND ON-OFF LEVER 15 MOVABLE AROUND A SECOND AXIS 16, TO CONTROL THE TRANSMISSION OF POWER FROM THE MOTOR TO THE WHEELS AND THE BLADE, RESPECTIVELY. THE FIRST AXIS IS SPACE OF THE SECOND AXIS SO THAT A FIRST TRAJECTORY A FOLLOWED BY A PART OF PREHENSION 13B OF THE FIRST LEVER AND A SECOND TRAJECTORY B FOLLOWED BY A PART OF PREHENSION 15A OF THE SECOND LEVER IS SUPERPOSED ON THE SENSIBED POSE A SENSIB. CROSSES, SO THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THESE TRAJECTORIES GRADUALLY INCREASES AS THE GRIPPING PARTS MOVE AWAY FROM THE CROSSING.

Description

CONTROL DEVICE FOR LAWN MOWER

  The present invention relates to a device

  control unit for lawn mower and, more particularly

  rement, to improvements of the lever device

  control for a self-propelled type lawn mower

  propulsion fitted with a drive motor serving

  common source of multi-function energy.

  In general, the control lever device for lawn mowers of the above type includes a

  first on-off lever, to control the transmission

  engine power output to a pair of drive wheels

  and a second on-off lever to control the transmission of power from the engine to a rotary cutting blade. In a lawn mower of the above type, according to the prior art, the first and second start-stop levers, each resiliently recalled so as to move in their stop direction, are arranged completely separately and independently of the one another, without any interlocking relationship. The operator must therefore, in operation, maintain the first lever in its driving position, with one hand, then maintain the second lever in its working position, with his other hand. As a result, the operator must always use both hands to manipulate the levers. It therefore appears that such a separate and independent provision of

  first and second levers is inconvenient for their manipulation-

  lation. In order to avoid the above disadvantage in the

  manipulation of the levers, it has been proposed to lock

  first and second on-off levers,

  as described in the Japanese User Model Publication

  bed n 59-1466 which corresponds to US patent N 4 159 614

and French patent no. 79 02 469.

  According to this known mower device, the first and second on-off levers are both pivotally connected at their lower end

  respective to a steering handle, so as to be mobi-

  coaxially around the same common axis within a certain angular range, and they are locked to each other so that the first lever, when grasped, engages with the second lever and always moves it around the pivot axis, in its

  active steering, and keeps it in its working position.

  More particularly, when the mower is put in its self-propelled condition, by handling the

  first lever, the second lever is automatically

  dragged and takes up its working position, which

  vice the cutting blade. In other words, the cutting blade cannot be at rest when the mower is in good condition

  self-propelled. Of course, when you move the tone-

  deuse according to the prior art, in self-propulsion on a stony path or an uneven ground, for example to go from a garage place to a distant place, the cutting blade which is in its working condition may be damaged by collision with stones or other obstacles accessible on the road or uneven ground. It is therefore necessary in this case to move the mower

  according to the prior art by human energy or trans-

  wear by vehicle or the like.

  The present invention avoids the various disadvantages

  above known devices, in that it pro-

  cure a better arrangement of the first and second levers.

  More particularly, the subject of the invention is an improved device for controlling a lawn mower which allows the mower to self-propel while the

  cutting blade is kept at rest.

  In accordance with the invention, an arrangement is obtained.

  control device for a lawn mower equipped with a drive motor, mounted on a machine body to drive a pair of support wheels and a blade

  cutter located under the machine body, and a poi

  steering assembly comprising a cross member and directed rearward relative to the body of the machine, this device comprising a first on-off lever for controlling the transmission of power from the engine to the wheels, which is pivotally connected to its or its lower ends directly or indirectly to the steering handle, and

  a second on-off lever for trans-

  engine power mission to the cutting blade, which is also pivotally connected at its end (s) directly or indirectly to the steering handle, said device being characterized in that a first axis, around which the first moves lever, is spaced from a second axis, around which the second lever moves, so that a first trajectory along which the gripping portion of the first lever and a

  second trajectory along which the part moves

  grip of the second lever are substantially

  perposed at a predetermined position on said cross member, and so that the distance between the first and second trajectories gradually increases when the parts

  grip move away from the crosspiece.

  With this particular arrangement, the following four operating modes can be presented:

  Mode 1: The first lever is in its no-in position

  the second lever is in its posi-

inactive.

  Thus, the mower remains stationary while the

  cutting blade is at rest. Before and after the

  the mower is placed in this mode.

  Mode 2: The first lever is in its driving position.

  ment and the second lever is in its position i-

inactive.

  Thus, the mower is in self-propulsion tan-

  say that the cutting blade is at rest. This mode is used when moving the mower in self-propulsion from a garage place to a place where one wishes to carry out a cutting operation.

  Mode 3: The first lever is in its driving position.

  and the second lever is in its position

of work.

  Thus, the mower is in self-propulsion tan-

  say that the cutting blade is performing the desired cutting operation. The mower is placed in

  this mode during normal operation.

  Mode 4: The first lever is in its no-in position

  drag and the second lever is in its po-

sition of work.

  Thus, this mode can be used for an additional cut in difficult areas, the mower remaining stationary for some time in a hard place, or for a more careful cut in particular areas by displacement

slow manual mower.

  Mode 1 can be obtained when the first and second levers move / around their respective axis so that the two gripping parts of the first and second levers move away from the cross member of the handle

of management.

  Mode 2 can be obtained when the part of

  gripping the first lever is in contact with the cross

  the steering handle while the pre-

  hension of the second lever is far from the cross-member. This can be easily done since the first axis, around which the first lever moves, is spaced from the second axis around which the second lever moves, so that the first and second levers can be easily manipulated, independently of one of the other. It should be noted that

  this mode could not be obtained in the following mower

before the prior art.

  Mode 3 can be maintained when the crossbar of the steering handle, the gripping part of the first lever and the gripping part of the second lever are gripped together by an operator, with one hand. This is possible since the grip part of the first lever and that of the second lever can be

  partially superimposed on each other, in a pre-

  determined on the crossbar of the steering handle.

  Mode 4 can be obtained when the grip part of the first lever is far from the crossbar of the steering handle while the grip part of the second lever is in contact with the crossbar of the

  steering handle. This can be easily performed as well.

  since the first axis is spaced from the second axis.

  The invention will be better understood in the light of

  the description of its non-limiting embodiment,

  shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a lawn mower according to the invention; Figure 2 is a top view of the mower shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the arrangement of a steering handle, a first lever and a second lever; Figure 4 is a partial elevation, more

  large scale and in partial section, illustrating the maneuver-

  vre of the first and second levers; Figure 5 is a partial rear elevation in the direction of arrows 5-5 of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4

  but representing another embodiment of the invention

  tion. Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings. A lawn mower 1 comprises a machine body 4 supported by two front wheels 2 and two rear wheels 3, so that the mower 1 can move in the usual way. The rear wheels 3 are connected in operation to a drive motor 5 of known type, mounted on the main body.

  china 4, so the rear wheels 3 can be

interrupted streaks.

  A cutting blade 7, of known type, is disposed under the machine body 4 and it is also connected in operation to the motor 5, so as to be driven with the possibility of interruption. So motor 5 is used

  to drive not only the rear wheels 3 but also

the cutting blade 7.

  A steering handle 6, of known type, is directed rearwardly from the machine body 4, in the usual manner. The steering handle may preferably comprise two spaced apart branches 6b, 6c rigidly fixed at their respective lower end (front) to the machine body 4 and connected to their respective upper end (rear) by a substantially U-shaped element 6a which

  includes a horizontal cross 6a '.

  The machine body 4 has a passage 8 of

  emptying of cut grass, of known type, and a 10 sack of

  collection of grass, of known type, with rigid frame, is fi-

  releasably attached to an outlet 9 of the evacuation passage

8, as usual.

  A first on-off lever 13, for controlling the power transmission from the motor 5 to the pair of rear wheels 3, is pivotally connected to a support.

  attached to the steering handle 6. For this, the first le-

  vier 13 may have a configuration substantially in

  U, comprising two horizontal pivoting parts 13a, coa-

  xial and opposite, and a horizontal gripping bar 13b. One of the pivoting parts 13a engages in a port ae provided provided in a support 11 which is welded for example; to the rear end part 6b ′ (FIG. 3) of the branch 6b of the handle 6. The other of the pivoting parts 13a engages in a bearing orifice of another support 12 which is welded to the part 6c 'end

  back of the branch 6c of the handle 6, Thus, the first

  mier lever 13 is movable around a common axis (hereinafter called "first pivot axis") of the two opposite parts 13a of the first lever, in an angular range

predetermined.

  The first lever 13 has a configuration such that its grip part 13b can come into contact with

  the cross member 6a 'of the steering handle 6 when

  places the lever 13 forwards, around the first pivot axis 13a; to take up its drive position as shown in phantom in Figure 4. This can be done when the operator forces the first lever 13 to move forward around the first pivot axis

  13a, against a tension force applied to a first cable

  control ble 14 which is connected elastically to a pre-

  first end, to a known type of clutch (not shown

  felt) of motor 5 and, at its other end, at the end

lower of the first lever 13.

  On the other hand, when the first lever 13 is released

  backwards around the pivot axis 13a so that the grip part 13b moves away from the crosspiece

  horizontal 6a ′, the lever 13 assumes its position of not in

  dragging. For this, the lever 13 is always pulled elas-

  tick at its lower end by the tensile force

  of the control cable 14 so as to be moved towards the rear

  around the first pivot axis 13a, to take

  automatically its non-drive position, as shown

  felt in solid lines in FIG. 4, when the operator

  releases the grip part 13b.

  It is understood that the configuration of the first lever 13 is not limited to the illustrated U shape but can be modified in various ways. For example, the first lever 13 can be in the form of a bar

  vertical, as shown in figure 6.

  A second on-off lever 15, for controlling the transmission of power from the motor 5 to the blade

  section 7, is also pivotally connected to a support

  port attached to the steering handle 6. More particular-

  ment, the second lever 15 may be in the form of a vertical bar pivotally connected, at its lower end, to a pivot 16 mounted on the support 11 welded to the steering handle 6, so that the second lever

  is movable around an axis (called in the following "two

xiv pivot axis ") of pivot 16.

  The second lever 15 has at its upper end a horizontal extension serving as a gripping part 15a. The cross section of the part of

  gripping 15a may preferably have a configuration

  curved tion, to facilitate gripping by the operator, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. This is also true for the cross section of the grip part 13b of the first lever 13. This example is illustrated on the

figure 6.

  The second lever 15 has a configuration such that its grip part 15a can come into contact with the cross-member 6a 'of the steering handle 6 when the

  lever 15 is moved forward around the axis of pi-

  vot 16 to take up its working position, as represented

  felt in phantom in Figure 4. This can be done

  killed when the operator forces the second lever 15 to move forward, around the second pivot axis 16, against a tension force applied to a second control cable 17 which is elastically connected, at a first end, to another clutch means of known type (not shown) of the engine 5 and, at its other end,

  at the lower end of the second lever 15.

  On the other hand, when the second lever 15 comes off

  backwards around the second pivot axis 16

  with the result that the gripping part 15a moves away

  of the horizontal cross member 6a ', the lever 15 takes its inactive position, as shown in solid lines on the

  figure 4. For this, the lever 15 is always pulled elas-

  tick at its lower end by the tensile force

  control cable 17, so that it can be moved to

  the rear around the pivot axis 16 to take automa-

  tick its inactive position when the operator releases

the gripping part 15a.

  It is understood that the second lever 15 can be

  be modified in various ways and is not limited to the

  particular structure of the illustrated embodiment.

  In this regard, it should be noted that the first pivot axis 13a is spaced from the second pivot axis 16, so that a first trajectory (A), along which the gripping part 13b of the first lever 13 moves, and a second path (B), along which the gripping part 15a of the second lever moves

  , are substantially superimposed on a predeter position -

  mined on the crosspiece 6a 'of the steering handle 6, and so that the distance between the two trajectories (A)

  (B) gradually increases when the grip portion

  sion 13b of the first lever 13 and the grip part a of the second lever 15 move away from the cross-member 6a 'of the steering handle 6, as shown in FIG. 4. It is understood that the first pivot axis 13a and the second pivot axis 16 can be at the same

  level from the ground, or at different levels.

  Figure 6 illustrates another embodiment

  of the invention, in which the first lever 13 is provided

  dries towards the rear of the second lever 15. In other words, the

  first pivot axis 13a is placed substantially at the rear

  re of the second pivot axis 16. This modified device appears to

  also cure substantially the same beneficial results

provided by the invention.

  In operation, the operator can grasp with one hand both the gripping parts 13b, 15a of the levers 13, 15, together with the horizontal bar 6a 'of the steering handle 6, in order to execute the 'surgery

usual cutting.

  When the operator releases the grip parts

  sion 13b, 15a, the two levers 13, 15 return automatically

  only to their inactive positions in which the

  gripping part 13b of the first lever 13 is sufficient

  spaced from the gripping portion 15a of the second le-

  sink 15, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, since the

  distance between trajectories (A) (B) increases sufficiently

  ment when the levers 13, 15 move away from the cross 6a 'of the steering handle 6. Thus, it is easy for the operator to operate only the first lever 13

  independently of the second lever, in order to set the

  self propelled deuse while the cutting blade 7

  is kept at rest. On the other hand, it is also fa-

  eyelash for the operator to operate only the second lever independently of the first lever 13, in order to put the cutting blade 7 in its working condition while

the mower remains stationary.

  It is understood that modifications of detail can be made in the form and construction of the device according to the invention, without departing from the scope of

this one.

1 1

Claims (5)

Claims   I. Control device for a lawn mower equipped with a drive motor (5), mounted on a machine body (4) so as to drive a pair of support wheels (2 or 3) and a blade cutting (7) located under the machine body, and a steering handle (6) comprising a crosspiece (6a ') and directed rearwards from the machine body, this device comprising a first operating lever stop (13) to control the power transmission from the engine to the wheels, which is pivotally connected to its lower end (s) directly or indirectly to the steering handle, and a second walking lever (15) to control the transmission   of engine power to the cutting blade, which is equal to   pivotally connected to its lower end (s)   directly or indirectly to the steering handle   tion, said device being characterized in that a first   pivot axis (13a), around which the first le-   is spaced from a second pivot axis (16) around the   which moves the second lever, so that a first trajectory (A) along which part moves   gripping (13b) of the first lever and a second tra-   jectory (B) along which part of   gripping (15a) of the second lever are substantially   positioned at a predetermined position on said cross member, and so that the distance between the first and second trajectories (A, B) gradually increases when the   gripping parts (13b, 15a) move away from this tra-   pours. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the first pivot axis (13a) is located sensitive-   ment in front of the second pivot axis (16).   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the first pivot axis (13a) is located sensitive-   ment behind the second pivot axis (16).   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized in that the gripping part (13b) of the first lever (13) has a substantially curved configuration in cross section, to allow a grip easy by an operator.   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to   4, characterized in that the grip part (15a) of the   second lever (15) has a sensitive configuration   curved in cross section, to allow easy grip by an operator. -15