Textron Corporation

Jacobsen Manufacturing Company

Anthony J Saiia

Alan R Fillman

Kirk W Reimers

Donald G Haffner

Frank J Giandenoto

Frank Allen Ecker

Glenn Richard Hubbard

Harold John Jacoby

Franklin A Ecker

Provided is an all-electric riding greens mower. The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a modularly interchangeable power source and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The interchangeable power source provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The modularly interchangeable power sources may comprise a bank of batteries, a motor/generator set, a fuel cell, or a combination of these. The power source may be easily exchanged in the field for another, freshly charged power source. Exchange occurs using either a fixed change stand or a mobile change stand. The change stands are configured to facilitate exchange by reducing friction caused by the generally weighty power source. The power source is delivered to the fixed stand on towable trailers.

Electric drive mower with trailed auxiliary power source

An all-electric riding greens mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a modularly interchangeable power source and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The interchangeable power source provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The modularly interchangeable power sources may comprise a bank of batteries, a motor/generator set, a fuel cell, or a combination of these. The power source may be easily exchanged in the field for another, freshly charged power source. Exchange occurs using either a fixed change stand or a mobile change stand. The change stands are configured to facilitate exchange by reducing friction caused by the generally weighty power source. The power source is delivered to the fixed stand on towable trailers.

A greens mower having internally powered cutting units. The motor to power the cutting units is located inside the cutting unit thus eliminating the need to balance the weight of the motor outside the cutting unit and also eliminating the need for belts, chains, gears or couplers to transfer power from the motor to the cutting unit.

Mower cutting unit having an internal motor

Electric drive mower with interchangeable power sources

A greens mower having cutting units powered internally. The motor to power the cutting unit is located inside the cutting unit thus eliminating the need to balance the weight of the motor outside the cutting unit and also eliminating the need for belts, chains, gears or couplers to transfer power from the motor to the cutting unit.

A vehicle steering control system and apparatus for controlling steering radius to prevent vehicle and surface damage and to provide improved low speed vehicle maneuverability. The steering control system and apparatus provides a first controllably limited turning radius range in relation to a first condition and a second controllably limited turning radius range in relation to a second condition. Examples of the first and second conditions include speed related conditions, such as, the actual speed of the vehicle, a selected gear of the vehicle, and manual selection of the turning radius. The system and apparatus includes a dual stroke hydraulic cylinder having a cylinder body housing a hydraulically controllable primary piston. A shaft is attached to and extends from the primary piston, projects through the cylinder body, and connects to the steering linkage of the vehicle. Hydraulic operation of the primary piston transfers forces along the shaft to the linkage. First and second hydraulically controllable stroke limiting stops are positioned at each end of the cylinder body. The stops are hydraulically positionable for limiting the stroke length of the primary piston and the attached shaft. A hydraulic control device is associated with the hydraulic cylinder for operating the primary piston and the first and second stops. A mode selection device is associated with the hydraulic control device selecting a desired mode of operation and thus controllably operating the first and second stops to controllably limit the turning radius range of the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

System and apparatus for limiting vehicle turning radius

Apparatus and method for establishing reel-to-bedknife clearance in a lawn mower which has an assembly of the two elements, one movable toward and away from the other. A threaded arrangement is provided for setting the desired clearance in the apparatus, and then, upon releasing a force which moves the two cutting elements into contact with each other, a spring will re-establish the movable parts, through a lost-motion connection, to establish the desired cutting clearance.

Apparatus and method for establishing reel-to-bedknife clearance

A lawn mower having a cutting reel and a bedknife as its cutting elements, and with those elements being adjustable toward and away from each other for establishing cutting clearance. A hydraulic system is utilized for establishing the pre-selected clearance and for ultimately setting that clearance and maintaining it.

Apparatus for establishing reel-to-bedknife clearance

A lawnmower reel-to-bedknife adjustment system wherein the bedknife cutting edge can be automatically positioned relative to the circumference of the cutting reel. An extendable and retractable link is connected to the pivotal bedknife at a numerical advantage relative to the pivot axis and thereby provide for a fine adjustment of clearance between the reel and the bedknife upon extension and contraction of the link. The link can be extended by fluid pressure, or the like, and it can be retracted by spring pressure, and a yielding force is arranged to establish the clearance to a pre-set condition each time. Also, a manual threaded adjustment is provided along the adjustment link so that manual adjustment can be accomplished when desired.

Lawnmower reel-to-bedknife adjustment system

A tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control including a power tractor and a hydraulically powered implement connected with the tractor. A hydraulic valve on the tractor is controlled by a manual lever connected therewith and by a mechanical connection between a pivotally mounted operator's seat and the valve. When the operator is off the seat the control moves the valve to the neutral position.

Tractor seat-operated hydraulic valve control

A hydraulic system for controlling a gang of lawn mowers including a hydraulic pump and a multi-section valve and hydraulic motors driving the mowers. Hydraulic cylinders are also included in the system, for raising and lowering the mowers, and a check valve is connected with the cylinders for controlling the lowering of the mowers. The main valve is arranged with a plurality of spools which control the aforementioned functions and with the spools being set by means of a single handle so that the operator can perform the aforementioned functions through maneuvering the single handle for each set of hydraulic motors and cylinders. A hydraulic flow restrictor is included in the system for reversing the motors at a speed slower than the forward motor speed, for a slower reverse rotation of the mowers, such as for back-lapping of the mowers.

Hydraulic system for controlling a gang of lawn mowers

A mobile sweeper having a body and ground-engaging wheels. The body defines a trash compartment which has a bin having a top plate such that trash can be swept into the bin and also thereabove onto the top plate. Sweeping reels are disposed in front of and rearwardly of the body compartment for sweeping the trash into and onto the bin. A closure or door is included in the body and can be opened for dumping the trash from the compartment, and a hydraulic system is employed for opening the door and for effecting the dumping of the trash.

Mobile sweeper

A powered lawn mower hydraulic system for use with a reel type of mower. The system includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic valve, all interconnected with hydraulic hoses or lines. The valve permits reversing of the direction of rotation of the motor which is driving the mower reel, and there is a hydraulic flow restrictor in the reversing line for limiting the speed of the motor, and thus the mower, in the reversing direction. Also, there is shown a relief valve for limiting the hydraulic pressure in the reversing mode, and there is also shown a relief valve for limiting the hydraulic pressure in the forward mode.

Growing community of inventors

Racine, WI, United States of America

Anthony J Saiia