WO2009000344A1 - Rear wheel drive lawnmower provided with clutch device for the four wheel drive - Google Patents

Rear wheel drive lawnmower provided with clutch device for the four wheel drive Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2009000344A1
WO2009000344A1 PCT/EP2008/001333 EP2008001333W WO2009000344A1 WO 2009000344 A1 WO2009000344 A1 WO 2009000344A1 EP 2008001333 W EP2008001333 W EP 2008001333W WO 2009000344 A1 WO2009000344 A1 WO 2009000344A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
wheel drive
lawnmower
gearbox
fact
gearboxes
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/001333
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Pierluigi Rivolta
Original Assignee
Ma.Ri.Na Systems S.R.L.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ma.Ri.Na Systems S.R.L. filed Critical Ma.Ri.Na Systems S.R.L.
Priority to AT08715902T priority Critical patent/ATE552720T1/en
Priority to EP08715902A priority patent/EP2170032B1/en
Publication of WO2009000344A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009000344A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01DHARVESTING; MOWING
    • A01D34/00Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters
    • A01D34/01Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus
    • A01D34/412Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters
    • A01D34/63Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a vertical axis
    • A01D34/67Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a vertical axis hand-guided by a walking operator
    • A01D34/68Mowers; Mowing apparatus of harvesters characterised by features relating to the type of cutting apparatus having rotating cutters having cutters rotating about a vertical axis hand-guided by a walking operator with motor driven cutters or wheels
    • A01D34/6806Driving mechanisms
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60KARRANGEMENT 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
    • B60K23/00Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for
    • B60K23/08Arrangement or mounting of control devices for vehicle transmissions, or parts thereof, not otherwise provided for for changing number of driven wheels, for switching from driving one axle to driving two or more axles
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60YINDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
    • B60Y2200/00Type of vehicle
    • B60Y2200/20Off-Road Vehicles
    • B60Y2200/22Agricultural vehicles
    • B60Y2200/225Walk behind vehicles, e.g. motorized wheel barrows

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a self propelled lawnmower for which it is possible to select two different traction modes.
  • Said lawnmower indeed, beside the conventional traction system on the rear wheels, is able to transmit the movement even to the front wheels.
  • Such possibility is provided to the operator through the drive of an clutch device suitable designed to allow ease and flexibility of the use.
  • the prior art lawnmowers have a single traction system also applied onto either the rear axle, such as it occurs in the most cases, or the front axle.
  • These two known solutions are alternatively utilized for different uses: the rear wheel traction assures more maneuvering ease especially verifiable on complex paths and with high bend sections, whilst the front wheel drive facilitates the cutting operation in presence of medium and high slope lands, but having at the same time considerable steering difficulties.
  • both previously disclosed solutions badly suit cutting on sloping irregular and rough lands and/or characterized by not uniform and high lawn; for such lands the only possible solution is given by a four wheel drive transmission system.
  • Main object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a self propelled lawnmower which allows for overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages by leaving to the operator the possibility to select either a rear wheel drive mode or a four wheel drive mode, depending on the type of land on which cutting has to be performed.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a self propelled lawnmower able to assures high level performances on every type of land and in absolute safety and comfort conditions.
  • the conventional lawnmowers take the operator to difficult conditions mainly due to the need of physically pushing the lawnmower because, in case of rear wheel drive, the traction and therefore the self-propelling operation are no longer assured whilst, in case of front wheel drive traction, the maneuverability is compromised by forcing the operator to push the machine towards the desired direction. It is therefore clear how, in hard conditions in terms of slope or irregularity of the land, the practicability of the cutting operation is jeopardized and the operator safety as well.
  • Further object of the present invention is to provide a self propelled lawnmower able to make the shift from a rear wheel drive system to a four drive system particularly easy to be engaged/disengaged, thus supporting even the reduction of consumption and wear connected to four wheel drive, by limiting the use of this traction system for the necessary cases. It is, indeed, expected that the four wheel drive mode can be activated even for few seconds, those necessary, for example, to overcome an obstacle, a subsidence, or to climb a slope in a smooth manner, returning then to the traditional traction, i.e. on the rear axle.
  • fig. 1 is a perspective view of the self propelled lawnmower according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • fig. 2 is a perspective view of the traction actuating levers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • fig. 2 there is shown the handlebar 2 on which the two command levers 14 and 24 are installed, operatively connected to the cables 13 and 23.
  • a third lever 3 is installed, operatively connected to a cable 4 (see also fig. 1) in turn connected, at its opposite end, to the engine unit 40.
  • the arrows A and B are shown pointing the direction to which the command levers 14 and 24, respectively, can be rotated in order to actuate the two different traction modes provided for the lawnmower 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the rear traction mode activation occurs, instead, by rotating the command lever 14 towards the direction indicated by the arrow A: thus the cable 13 acts on the clutch device within said gearbox 10 such that by the transmission belt 12 the movement is transmitted from the drive shaft 30 to the rear axle 11, with consequent use of the only rear traction.
  • the lever 24 i.e. by making it rotating towards the direction of the arrow B a pull is carried on the cable 23 which acts on the clutch device within said gearbox 20 such that by the transmission belt 22 the movement is transmitted from the drive shaft 30 to the front axle 21: the rotation of the lever 24 towards the direction of the arrow B occurs along a path which, from a given angular position, overlaps the path of the lever 14 and thus forcing the two levers 14 and 24 to rotate together. In such way it is possible to switch from the rear wheel to the four wheel drive traction. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that several embodiments can result from the present disclosure which therefore is not to be considered restricted to the preferred embodiment just shown.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Arrangement And Driving Of Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Arrangement And Mounting Of Devices That Control Transmission Of Motive Force (AREA)
  • Harvester Elements (AREA)

Abstract

Self propelled lawnmower (1) able to operate either in a rear wheel drive mode or in a four wheel drive mode, the two modes being selectable by rotating two different command levers (14, 24), each operatively connected with a gearbox (10, 20) placed on the rear axle (11) and front axle (21), respectively.

Description

REAR WHEEL DRIVE LAWNMOWER PROVIDED WITH CLUTCH DEVICE FOR THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE
The present invention relates to a self propelled lawnmower for which it is possible to select two different traction modes. Said lawnmower, indeed, beside the conventional traction system on the rear wheels, is able to transmit the movement even to the front wheels. Such possibility is provided to the operator through the drive of an clutch device suitable designed to allow ease and flexibility of the use.
The prior art lawnmowers have a single traction system also applied onto either the rear axle, such as it occurs in the most cases, or the front axle. These two known solutions are alternatively utilized for different uses: the rear wheel traction assures more maneuvering ease especially verifiable on complex paths and with high bend sections, whilst the front wheel drive facilitates the cutting operation in presence of medium and high slope lands, but having at the same time considerable steering difficulties. Nevertheless both previously disclosed solutions badly suit cutting on sloping irregular and rough lands and/or characterized by not uniform and high lawn; for such lands the only possible solution is given by a four wheel drive transmission system.
Main object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a self propelled lawnmower which allows for overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages by leaving to the operator the possibility to select either a rear wheel drive mode or a four wheel drive mode, depending on the type of land on which cutting has to be performed.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a self propelled lawnmower able to assures high level performances on every type of land and in absolute safety and comfort conditions. In presence of great differences in height, indeed, the conventional lawnmowers take the operator to difficult conditions mainly due to the need of physically pushing the lawnmower because, in case of rear wheel drive, the traction and therefore the self-propelling operation are no longer assured whilst, in case of front wheel drive traction, the maneuverability is compromised by forcing the operator to push the machine towards the desired direction. It is therefore clear how, in hard conditions in terms of slope or irregularity of the land, the practicability of the cutting operation is jeopardized and the operator safety as well.
Further object of the present invention is to provide a self propelled lawnmower able to make the shift from a rear wheel drive system to a four drive system particularly easy to be engaged/disengaged, thus supporting even the reduction of consumption and wear connected to four wheel drive, by limiting the use of this traction system for the necessary cases. It is, indeed, expected that the four wheel drive mode can be activated even for few seconds, those necessary, for example, to overcome an obstacle, a subsidence, or to climb a slope in a smooth manner, returning then to the traditional traction, i.e. on the rear axle.
The possibility to obtain the abovementioned functions and the corresponding advantages is assured by the particular technical concept of the transmission members: two different independent gear boxes are indeed provided onto both the rear and front axles. Such configuration has further advantages in terms of reliability: in case of gear box fault on the main rear axle the lawnmower can keep operating only with the front wheel traction engaged in order to complete the just started cutting operation and before proceeding with the repair of the fault member.
The essential features of the self propelled four wheel drive clutching lawnmower are indicated in claim 1, and its advantageous improvements are indicated in the dependant claims. Now a detailed disclosure of the invention follows, made with reference to a preferred embodiment, given by way of illustrative and not limiting example, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which: fig. 1 is a perspective view of the self propelled lawnmower according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and fig. 2 is a perspective view of the traction actuating levers according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to fig. 1, there is shown the lawnmower 1 on which the engine unit 40 is installed operatively connected to the transmission system: such transmission system has a crankshaft 30, connected by suitable transmission belts 12 and 22 to the rear and front gearboxes 10 and 20, all of them shown as a scheme in fig. 1. Each gearbox 10 and 20 is interlocked for the movement transmission onto the corresponding rear and front axles 11 and 21. The command signal for actuating said gearboxes 10 and 20 is generated by the pull carried on two proper cables 13 and 23, associated with the gearboxes 10 and 20, respectively.
Referring now to fig. 2, there is shown the handlebar 2 on which the two command levers 14 and 24 are installed, operatively connected to the cables 13 and 23. On said handlebar 2 a third lever 3 is installed, operatively connected to a cable 4 (see also fig. 1) in turn connected, at its opposite end, to the engine unit 40. Even in fig. 1 the arrows A and B are shown pointing the direction to which the command levers 14 and 24, respectively, can be rotated in order to actuate the two different traction modes provided for the lawnmower 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
The rear traction mode activation occurs, instead, by rotating the command lever 14 towards the direction indicated by the arrow A: thus the cable 13 acts on the clutch device within said gearbox 10 such that by the transmission belt 12 the movement is transmitted from the drive shaft 30 to the rear axle 11, with consequent use of the only rear traction. By acting, then, on the lever 24, i.e. by making it rotating towards the direction of the arrow B a pull is carried on the cable 23 which acts on the clutch device within said gearbox 20 such that by the transmission belt 22 the movement is transmitted from the drive shaft 30 to the front axle 21: the rotation of the lever 24 towards the direction of the arrow B occurs along a path which, from a given angular position, overlaps the path of the lever 14 and thus forcing the two levers 14 and 24 to rotate together. In such way it is possible to switch from the rear wheel to the four wheel drive traction. It is clear to a person skilled in the art that several embodiments can result from the present disclosure which therefore is not to be considered restricted to the preferred embodiment just shown.

Claims

1. A self propelled lawnmower (1) able to operate either in a rear wheel drive mode or in a four wheel drive mode, characterized by the fact that the rear (11) and front (21) axles are each provided with a gearbox (10, 20), respectively, independent from each other, each gearbox being operatively connected to the primary transmission (30) of the engine (40) of said lawnmower (1), and engageable with said primary transmission (30) by command devices (14, 24) standing on board of the machine (1), said command devices (14, 24) being operatively connected with said gearboxes (10, 20) , respectively.
2. The lawnmower (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the command device (24) of the front gearbox (20) can be actuated only concurrently with the actuation of the command device (14) of the rear gearbox (10).
3. The lawnmower (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said command devices (14, 24) are levers hinged onto the handlebar (2) of said lawnmower (1) and respectively connected to said gearboxes (10, 20), respectively by cables (13, 23).
4. The lawnmower (1) according to claim 1, characte rized by the fact that the movement transmission system from the crankshaft (30) to each gearbox (10, 20) is obtained by a pair of transmission belts (12, 22), each interlocked to only one of said gearboxes (10, 20).
PCT/EP2008/001333 2007-06-28 2008-02-18 Rear wheel drive lawnmower provided with clutch device for the four wheel drive WO2009000344A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT08715902T ATE552720T1 (en) 2007-06-28 2008-02-18 REAR-WHEEL DRIVE LAWNMOWER EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE CLUTCH DEVICE
EP08715902A EP2170032B1 (en) 2007-06-28 2008-02-18 Rear wheel drive lawnmower provided with clutch device for the four wheel drive

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI2007A001290 2007-06-28
IT001290A ITMI20071290A1 (en) 2007-06-28 2007-06-28 REAR TRACTION MOWER EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRAL TRACTION ENGAGEMENT DEVICE

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009000344A1 true WO2009000344A1 (en) 2008-12-31

Family

ID=39471619

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2008/001333 WO2009000344A1 (en) 2007-06-28 2008-02-18 Rear wheel drive lawnmower provided with clutch device for the four wheel drive

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2170032B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE552720T1 (en)
IT (1) ITMI20071290A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2009000344A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN104270936A (en) * 2012-02-13 2015-01-07 胡斯华纳有限公司 All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US9677648B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2017-06-13 The Toro Company Walk-behind power equipment unit having all-wheel drive control system
WO2018057721A1 (en) * 2016-09-21 2018-03-29 Mtd Products Inc Control assembly for a walk-behind mower

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10111381B2 (en) 2016-06-28 2018-10-30 The Toro Company Walk power mower with transmission providing both forward and reverse propulsion
US12108701B2 (en) 2017-03-29 2024-10-08 The Toro Company Walk power mower with transmission providing both forward and reverse propulsion

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB566715A (en) * 1943-08-07 1945-01-10 Aveling Barford Ltd Improvements in or relating to mowing machines
US2896603A (en) * 1956-02-27 1959-07-28 Motor Wheel Corp Power take-off for lawn mowers
US4907401A (en) * 1988-06-24 1990-03-13 Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. Drive assembly for walking mowers
JPH03248921A (en) * 1990-02-28 1991-11-06 Kiyoueishiya:Kk Rotally hydraulic drive type lawn mower
EP1055358A2 (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-11-29 Stella Engineering GmbH Mowing device
JP2001063393A (en) * 1999-08-27 2001-03-13 Kubota Corp Riding-type lawn mower
JP2005096700A (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-04-14 Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg Co Ltd Drive device for steered wheels
JP2008000005A (en) 2006-06-20 2008-01-10 Shizuoka Prefecture Agent for ameliorating dysphagia and food for ameliorating dysphagia

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB566715A (en) * 1943-08-07 1945-01-10 Aveling Barford Ltd Improvements in or relating to mowing machines
US2896603A (en) * 1956-02-27 1959-07-28 Motor Wheel Corp Power take-off for lawn mowers
US4907401A (en) * 1988-06-24 1990-03-13 Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. Drive assembly for walking mowers
JPH03248921A (en) * 1990-02-28 1991-11-06 Kiyoueishiya:Kk Rotally hydraulic drive type lawn mower
EP1055358A2 (en) * 1999-05-28 2000-11-29 Stella Engineering GmbH Mowing device
JP2001063393A (en) * 1999-08-27 2001-03-13 Kubota Corp Riding-type lawn mower
JP2005096700A (en) * 2003-09-26 2005-04-14 Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg Co Ltd Drive device for steered wheels
JP2008000005A (en) 2006-06-20 2008-01-10 Shizuoka Prefecture Agent for ameliorating dysphagia and food for ameliorating dysphagia

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3586593A3 (en) * 2012-02-13 2020-04-22 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
AU2012370303B2 (en) * 2012-02-13 2016-09-15 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US9622407B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2017-04-18 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
CN104270936A (en) * 2012-02-13 2015-01-07 胡斯华纳有限公司 All wheel drive, walk behind mower
CN104270936B (en) * 2012-02-13 2018-01-09 胡斯华纳有限公司 Hay mover is manipulated after full wheel drive
US11102925B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2021-08-31 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US10080327B2 (en) 2012-02-13 2018-09-25 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
AU2016273849B2 (en) * 2012-02-13 2018-11-22 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
EP2814312B1 (en) * 2012-02-13 2019-09-11 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
AU2019201017B2 (en) * 2012-02-13 2020-06-11 Husqvarna Ab All wheel drive, walk behind mower
US9677648B2 (en) 2015-01-14 2017-06-13 The Toro Company Walk-behind power equipment unit having all-wheel drive control system
US10485167B2 (en) 2016-09-21 2019-11-26 Mtd Products Inc Control assembly for a walk-behind mower
WO2018057721A1 (en) * 2016-09-21 2018-03-29 Mtd Products Inc Control assembly for a walk-behind mower

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITMI20071290A1 (en) 2008-12-29
ATE552720T1 (en) 2012-04-15
EP2170032B1 (en) 2012-04-11
EP2170032A1 (en) 2010-04-07

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