Ransomes America Corporation

Textron Corporation

Dammika Weeratunga

Kirk W Reimers

A self-propelled mower having a frame, a plurality of ground engaging wheels supporting the frame, and an internal combustion engine outputting mechanical motion. An electrical generator is operably coupled with the internal combustion engine to output electrical energy in response to the mechanical motion. An electric wheel motor is operably coupled between the electrical generator and at least one of the plurality of ground engaging wheels to drive the ground engaging wheel in response to the electrical energy. A cutting device is supported by the frame. The cutting device is driven by the internal combustion engine.

Electric riding mower with motor generator set and noise abatement

The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set, an internal combustion motor and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for electric motors that drive the reel type lawn mowers. A housing encloses the internal combustion motor and motor generator set and utilizes a combination of passive noise abatement and active noise abatement to reduce noise generated within the interior of the housing. The passive noise abatement is provided at plurality of locations around the motor generator set within the housing.

The mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a motor generator set, an internal combustion motor and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. The motor generator set provides electrical energy for electric motors that drive the reel type lawn mowers. A housing encloses the internal combustion motor and motor generator set and utilizes a combination of passive noise abatement and active noise abatement to reduce noise generated within the interior of the housing. The passive noise abatement includes multiple sound abating linings, and the active noise abatement is provided at plurality of locations around the motor generator set within the housing.

Provided is an electric drive 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 motor generator set 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 motor generator set provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The motor generator set includes an internal combustion motor which provides the mechanical energy to an electric generator which provides electrical energy in response to the received mechanical energy. Further, a mower is provided which includes fly-by-wire electric steering through an electric mower. In particular, a steering control system receives steering inputs from an operator and generates an electrical output signal to activate a steering motor in accordance with the steering input. The steering motor is powered by electrical energy and is connected to one of the plurality of ground engaging wheels to rotatably displace the wheel in order to steer the mower.

Electric riding mower with electric steering system

Provided is an electric drive 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 motor generator set 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 motor generator set provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The motor generator set includes an internal combustion motor which provides the mechanical energy to an electric generator which provides electrical energy in response to the received mechanical energy. Further, the mower may include a hydraulic system for operation of reel lift assemblies and the steering mechanism. Hydraulic pressure is supplied by a hydraulic pump powered by one of an electrical motor receiving electrical energy from the generator or directly from the internal combustion engine. The hydraulic motor outputs hydraulic fluid at a pressure sufficient to operate the reel lift and steering mechanisms. Further, the frame member includes a housing which encloses devices which generally operate at substantial noise levels. The housing includes interior and exterior linings which provide passive noise abatement. Within the housing, an active noise abatement system detects and determines ambient noise within the housing and generates output signals which effectively cancel the noise generated within the housing. Such noise abatement assists in providing quiet operation of the mower.

Growing community of inventors

Lincoln, NE, United States of America

Dammika Weeratunga