Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Maytag Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation

Christopher Wayne Vaughn

Karl R C Wendt

Jeffrey Allen Wians

Nathaniel Artemis Lenfert

Barry E Tuller

Heather M Hagans

John Henry Miilu

Thomas M Johnson

Scott D Raches

Wayne M VanLandingham

Andrew Joseph McDaniel

Debra L Bengston

Mark Britton

Christopher M Osborne

Ginger L Allen

Vincent Andrew Prinzo

Christopher Todd Walker

Hiroshi Hojo

Brian C Doklovic

Kevin D King

Jeffrey A Wians

Karl R Wendt

Andrew Joseph Mcdaniel

A lawn mower includes a blade housing and a height adjusting mechanism for adjusting a height of the blade housing with respect to the associated ground. The height adjusting mechanism includes rear wheel support members for supporting rear drive wheels. Each rear drive wheel includes a cover having an exterior cover part and an interior cover part. The interior cover part is directly connected to one of the support members without the use of separate associated mechanical fasteners.

Drive wheel cover for wheeled machine

A lawnmower is provided. The lawnmower includes a prime mover, a first pulley assembly, a second pulley assembly, a cooling fan, and a blade assembly. The prime mover includes a drive shaft. The first pulley assembly is coupled to the drive shaft. The second pulley assembly is coupled to the first pulley assembly. The blade assembly is coupled to the prime mover via the second pulley assembly. The cooling fan is coupled to the second pulley assembly.

Lawnmower propulsion system for use with DC power source

A transmission includes an output shaft, a first gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft, a shuttle movably axially on the output shaft, and an engagement member fixedly mounted on the output shaft. The first gear includes first dog teeth. The shuttle includes second dog teeth which engage the first dog teeth. In a drive condition, the engagement member axially moves the shuttle into engagement with the first gear, first surfaces of the first and second dog teeth engage, and, as a result, the first gear rotates in together with the output shaft. In a freewheeling condition the output shaft is stationary, an overdrive of the first gear results in engagement of second surfaces of the first and second dog teeth, and, as a result, the shuttle moves out of engagement with the first gear allowing for free rotation of the first gear about the output shaft.

Transmission for wheeled machine

A transmission for a manually operated wheeled machine includes an output shaft having a close-ended axial channel. A drive gear mounted on the output shaft includes an engaging groove. A ratchet is received in the channel and is in engagement with the engaging groove. A holder mounted on the output shaft includes a relief that receives the ratchet. A friction member applies radial friction to the holder to temporarily prevent rotation of the holder with the output shaft in a drive condition of the machine moving the ratchet into engagement with the engaging groove, and in the drive condition the drive gear and holder rotate with the output shaft. In a freewheeling condition of the machine the output shaft is stationary, and an overdrive of the drive gear disengages the ratchet from the engaging groove allowing for free rotation of the drive gear about the stationary output shaft.

A cooling device for use with an engine is provided. The cooling device includes a flow control portion that includes a base and an opening defined therein. The flow control portion also includes a plurality of blades that extend from at least a portion of the base. The cooling device also includes a grid portion having an opening defined therein, said grid portion opening is substantially concentrically aligned with the base opening. An attachment portion is configured to couple the cooling device to at least one rotatable component of the engine. Each of the flow control portion, the grid portion, and the attachment portion are formed integrally together such that the cooling device is a single component.

Cooling device for use with engines

Systems and methods for mounting a timing belt pulley to a crankshaft can include a crankshaft rotatable about a center longitudinal axis, the crankshaft including a pin assembly configured for connection to a reciprocating piston. A timing belt pulley can be positioned against the pin assembly and configured for engaging the pin assembly such that the timing belt pulley is coupled to the crankshaft for rotation about the center longitudinal axis. For example, the pin assembly can include a slot formed on an exterior surface thereof, and the timing belt pulley can include a key extending towards the pin assembly and configured for engaging the slot.

Timing belt pulley mounting and geometry for use in internal combustion engines

Linearly adjustable torque transmission systems and methods for a power driven machine are provided. The system can include a first wheel adapted to be rotatably driven. The system can further include a second wheel positioned proximate the first wheel that can engage the first wheel such that rotational movement of the first wheel can impart rotational movement to the second wheel. The second wheel can be coupled to a shaft with bearings between the second wheel and the shaft such that the second wheel is movable along the shaft in a lateral direction while the second wheel is coupled to the shaft wherein rotational movement of the second wheel rotationally moves the shaft.

Linearly adjustable torque transmission systems and methods

Systems, devices, and methods are disclosed for automatically adjusting a speed of an engine in response to the loading on the engine. In particular, an automatic idle system and method can comprise a governor linkage with a first end for connection to the rotatable shaft of an engine governor and a second end for connection to a throttle control of the engine, and an actuator connected to the second end of the governor linkage. The actuator can be movable in response to a load on the engine to move the governor linkage from a base position to an adjusted position. In this arrangement, when the engine is in a low-load state, the governor linkage can be moved toward a throttle-closed position.

Throttle auto idle with blade brake clutch

A utensil holder for use in a dishwasher includes a basket including front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls, as well as an upper opening. The rear wall has a height greater than the front wall. A lid member, having a support surface across which are arrayed a plurality of openings, is secured across the upper opening. The plurality of openings receive and arrange utensils to be exposed to a washing operation. A handle member, including first and second upstanding portions interconnected through a cross bar portion, extends from the basket. The cross bar portion includes angled sections that enable a gripping section to be offset. The utensil holder is designed to mount in various configurations to an inner liner of a dishwasher door, or alternatively be supported on a rack in the dishwasher.

Utensil holder for a dishwasher

An auger brake clutch and drive assembly and related methods for a power equipment device such as a snowblower are provided. In use with a snowblower, the auger brake clutch assembly and related methods can be used for driving both the auger and driven wheels of a snowblower. The auger brake clutch can include a transmission wheel rotatably movable for rotating at least one wheel with the transmission wheel having a contact surface. A drive pulley can be provided that has a drive surface. The drive pulley is rotatable and configured for causing the transmission wheel to rotate when the drive surface and the contact surface of the transmission wheel are in contact. An actuation plate is movable to move the drive pulley in and out of contact with the contact surface of the transmission wheel. A friction member can be provided to be selectively rotated by the drive pulley and configured to transfer the rotation to an output shaft, which can attach for example to at least one of an auger or blower blades.

Auger brake clutch and drive assembly and related methods

A utensil holder assembly for a dishwasher includes multiple utensil baskets that can be mounted in various different configurations in the dishwasher to provide a consumer with the flexibility to construct diverse arrangements of dishware, cookware, utensils and the like for a washing operation. In a first configuration, two utensil baskets are interconnected to form an elongated basket which can be mounted to an inner liner of a dishwasher door. In a second configuration, one basket is mounted to the inner liner and the other basket is supported on a rack in the dishwasher. In a third configuration, both of the baskets are supported on the rack.

Utensil holder assembly for a dishwasher

A combination grass discharge and mulch plug insert apparatus and method are provided where the insert can include a first end configured for communication with a discharge opening of a lawnmower and a second end also configured for communication with the discharge opening. The first end can be configured for preventing discharge of grass clippings from the lawnmower, whereas the second end can be configured for allowing discharge of grass clippings through the second end. Further, the insert can be reversible such that it can be oriented in either a first position in which the first end is inserted into the discharge opening or a second position in which the second end is attached to the discharge opening. As a result, the lawnmower can be easily converted between mulching and side- or rear-discharge modes of operation.

Combination grass discharge and mulch plug insert apparatus and method for a lawnmower

Drive assemblies and related methods are provided particularly suited for a snowblower. The drive assemblies include a transmission wheel disposed about a shaft and rotatably movable for rotating at least one wheel. The transmission wheel has a contact surface. The drive assemblies also include a drive pulley having a drive surface. The drive pulley is rotatable and configured for causing the transmission wheel to rotate when the drive surface and the contact surface of the transmission wheel are in contact. At least one brake clutch is disposed about an end of the shaft to provide independent control to the at least one wheel.

Independent variable drive assemblies for wheels on a snowblower and related methods

Apparatuses and methods are provided to facilitate the transport and storage of tilling machines and specifically mini-tillers. A wheel apparatus can attach to a tilling machine, such as by attachment to a drag bar, in a transport position or a storage position. In the transport position, the wheel apparatus can maintain tiller tines of the tilling machine above the ground surface with the weight of the tilling machine supported on the wheel apparatus, thereby allowing the tilling machine to be rolled for transport. In the storage position, the wheel apparatus can be attached to the drag bar, whereby both the tiller tines and the wheel apparatus rest on the ground surface to provide stability to the tilling machine. During operation the wheel apparatus can be removed from the tilling machine.

Tilling machine transport and storage apparatuses and methods

A debris apparatus and method are provided for collecting small particle debris such as dust and dirt from a transmission apparatus. The transmission apparatus can include a housing having a drive shaft channel for receiving a drive shaft. The debris pocket can include one or more radial ribs, which can be spaced apart when there are two or more, disposed peripherally along an inner wall of the drive shaft channel. The debris pocket can collect small particle debris so that at least a portion of the debris is prevented from further movement along the drive shaft channel where it could potentially interfere with desirable rotational movement of the drive shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Mebane, NC, United States of America

Christopher Wayne Vaughn