Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Gregory Barton Moebs

Alyn G Brown

Jesse L Probst

K Mike McCoy

Damon J Hoyda

Gregory E Arends

Joseph Hamilton

John Tyler Hibbard

Eric S Phanco

Bryan K Sparks

Vehicle drive and control systems are disclosed. A utility vehicle includes a first electric drive motor configured to drive a first traction wheel, a second electric drive motor configured to drive the a traction wheel, a steering wheel configured to receive a first user input, one or more pedals configured to receive a second user input, a steering input sensor, and a drive input sensor. The steering input sensor is configured transmit a steering input signal that corresponds with a steering input position. The drive input sensor is configured to transmit a drive input signal that corresponds with a drive input position. A plurality of controllers are configured to collectively generate, based on the steering input signal and the drive input signal, a first drive signal to drive the first electric drive motor and a second drive signal to drive the second electric drive motor.

Vehicle drive and control system

A drive and control system for a utility vehicle includes a CAN-Bus network and a vehicle control module operable to communicate signals to and from one or more components via the CAN-Bus network. The system includes first and second electric actuators with first and second electronic drive modules, respectively. The system includes a steering and drive input device and a steering and drive sensor module operable to post on the CAN-Bus network a steering and drive input command. The vehicle control module processes the steering and drive input command and post on the CAN-Bus network a steering and drive output command. The first and second electronic drive modules process and convert the steering and drive output command to appropriate first and second actuator commands to drive the first and second electric actuators to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the utility vehicle.

Lawn tractor with electronic drive and control system

A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a plurality of controllers, a pair of electric transaxles controlled by the plurality of controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The plurality of controllers communicate with one or more vehicle sensors via the CAN-Bus network. The plurality of controllers receive the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network and generate drive signals to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.

An expansion tank includes a tank body mounted inside a housing forming a sump, and defining an internal expansion volume. A fluid inlet opening in the tank body is in communication with the sump and the expansion volume. A combination valve may be disposed on a lower end of the tank to control fluid flow between the sump and the expansion volume. The valve may be a combination duckbill valve and umbrella valve. Fluid enters the expansion volume through the umbrella valve when sump pressure exceeds expansion volume pressure by a first predetermined amount, and fluid exits the expansion volume through the duckbill valve to the sump when expansion volume pressure exceeds sump pressure by a second predetermined amount. The tank body may include a cover on which an inlet tube is formed.

Fluid expansion tank

A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes one or more sensors configured to detect an operational parameter of an aspect of the vehicle, and one or more controllers for controlling one or more components of the vehicle and for receiving data output from the one or more sensors. The controller communicates with the one or more sensors and one or more vehicle modules configured to control one or more vehicle components via a CAN Bus network. The controller may be coupled to an IMU mounted on the vehicle for dynamically controlling the vehicle on sloped terrain, for example. The controller may be accessible from a remote device over a wireless network for communicating setup, diagnostic, and performance data to and from the vehicle.

A drive and control system for a lawn tractor includes a CAN-Bus network, a vehicle controller, a pair of hydrostatic or electric transaxles controlled by respective electronic drive controllers, and one or more steering and drive input devices coupled to respective sensor(s) for sensing user steering and drive inputs. The vehicle controller communicates with one or more vehicle sensors and one or more vehicle controllers that control one or more vehicle components via the CAN-Bus network. The vehicle controller processes the user's steering and drive inputs and posts on the CAN-Bus network digital drive signals configured to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor. The electronic drive controllers convert the digital drive signals to appropriate signals for driving the hydrostatic transaxles or the electric transaxles, as equipped, based on tunable motion parameters to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the lawn tractor.

An expansion tank includes a tank body mounted inside a housing forming a sump, where the tank body defines an internal expansion volume. A fluid inlet tube on the tank body has an upper end open to the sump and a lower end open to the internal expansion volume. A single 2-way check valve is located at the lower end of the tube, and fluid enters the expansion volume when the pressure in the sump exceeds the pressure in the expansion volume by a first predetermined amount, and fluid exits the expansion volume to the sump when the pressure in the expansion volume exceeds the pressure in the sump by a second predetermined amount. The check valve may be a combination duckbill valve and umbrella valve. The tank body may include a cover on which the inlet tube is formed.

A hydraulic fluid expansion tank is located inside a housing of a drive device and includes an upper check valve and a lower check valve in communication with a sump located within the drive device and an internal volume of the expansion tank. The tank may also include a vent opening in communication with a vent of the drive device that is in communication with atmospheric pressure.

A lawn tractor includes one or more sensors configured to detect an operational parameter of an aspect of the vehicle, and one or more controllers for controlling one or more components of the vehicle and for receiving data output from the one or more sensors. The controller communicates with the one or more sensors and one or more vehicle modules configured to control one or more vehicle components via a CAN Bus network. The controller may be coupled to an IMU mounted on the vehicle for dynamically controlling the vehicle on sloped terrain, for example. The controller may be accessible from a remote device over a wireless network for communicating setup, diagnostic, and performance data to and from the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Avon, IN, United States of America

Gregory Barton Moebs