Textron Innovations Inc.

Textron Corporation

Harry L Derby, V

Bryan E Holby

Kenneth R Wilson

Martin M Carlson

Carlos A Bellot

Scott Chartrand

Christian Stanton Carver Bryant

Sean C O'Connor

Lynn G Westbrook

Brian Melka

Gregory Merriweather

A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus having a mobile structure and a handle assembly coupled to the mobile structure. The handle assembly includes a pair of grip portions. A ground engaging traction member is rotatably coupled to the mobile structure and imparts traction movement to the mobile structure for movement on the ground. A power source outputs drive power and a drive system, coupled between the power source and the ground engaging traction member, selectively transmits the drive power to the ground engaging traction member. A speed control actuation system coupled to the drive system includes a control member pivotable about an axis. An electronic member senses a control member rotation and relays an electronic signal to a controller which generates a linear speed control signal to the drive system.

Speed control system for walk behind powered equipment

Turf cutting reel

A turf maintenance vehicle all-wheel drive traction control system includes a primary wheel propelling the vehicle. A first motor rotates the primary wheel. A traction control system has a first portion communicating with the first motor to monitor either a first motor current demand or a rotational speed of the primary wheel or the first motor and generates a traction control value. A secondary wheel rotated by a second motor steers the vehicle in a vehicle non-slip condition. A traction control system second portion determines a secondary wheel steering angle value. A speed threshold limit stored in the traction control system compared to the traction control value generates a slippage occurrence message indicative of a primary wheel traction loss event. A second motor drive signal created by comparing the steering angle value and the slippage occurrence message energizes the second motor during the traction loss event.

Turf maintenance vehicle all-wheel drive system

A flail mower assembly includes a deck having a shaft rotatably connected to the deck. A flail drum is connected to the shaft and is co-rotatable with the shaft. A plurality of flail blade assemblies is independently rotatably connected to the flail drum to provide two degrees of freedom-of-rotation of each of the plurality of flail blade assemblies independent of a direction of drum rotation. First and/or second electric motors are connected to the deck and rotatably connected to the shaft. The shaft is rotated by an energized one of the first or second electric motors or both energized simultaneously. A load connected to the first and second electric motors when the first and second electric motors are de-energized reduces a rotational velocity of the flail drum.

Electrically powered flail mower

A riding mower assembly may include a mower frame, first and second wheels, and a steering assembly. The steering assembly may include a steering frame member fixed to the mower frame, a first steering arm rotatably coupled to a first end of the steering frame member and having the first wheel coupled thereto, a second steering arm rotatably coupled to a second end of the steering frame member and having the second wheel coupled thereto, an actuation mechanism, and a cross-member. The actuation mechanism may include a first end coupled to the steering frame member and a second end coupled to the first steering arm. The actuation mechanism may include a motor having an actuation arm extending therefrom that rotates the first steering arm. The cross-member may have a first end coupled to the first steering arm and a second end coupled to the second steering arm.

Steering operated by linear electric device

A mower includes a mower base unit and a cutting reel assembly having a plurality of cutting blades rotatable about an axis extending substantially parallel to the ground. The mower also includes at least one leading link pivotally interconnecting the cutting reel assembly and the mower base unit such that the cutting reel moves independently relative to the mower base unit as the cutting reel assembly traverses undulating terrain. Furthermore, the mower includes at least one tracking rod interconnecting the mower base unit and the cutting reel assembly. The tracking rod is configured to cause the cutting reel assembly to track in a substantially straight line along a mowing direction while reducing lateral movement of the cutting reel assembly relative to the mower base unit.

Reel locating system for lawnmower

A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus having a mobile structure and a handle assembly coupled to the mobile structure. The handle assembly includes a pair of grip portions. A ground engaging traction member is rotatably coupled to the mobile structure and imparts traction movement to the mobile structure for movement on the ground. A power source outputs drive power and a drive system, coupled between the power source and the ground engaging traction member, selectively transmits the drive power to the ground engaging traction member. A speed control actuation system is then coupled to the drive system and includes a control member pivotable about an axis. The axis is generally parallel to a plane extending between the pair of grip portions of the handle assembly to permit an operator to operate the control member merely through thumb actuation without removing their hands from the pair of grip portions.

A walk behind powered apparatus having a mobile structure, a work implement drive system coupled to the mobile structure, a power device driving the work implement, and a handle structure coupled to the mobile structure. The handle structure includes a cam slot having a first portion and a second portion. The second portion is orthogonal to the first portion. A bail member is pivotally coupled to the handle structure and includes a pin extending therefrom. The pin cammingly engaging the slot such that when the bail member is in a first position the pin is disposed in the first portion of the slot and when the bail member is in a second position the pin is disposed in the second portion of the slot. A switch device is coupled to the work implement drive system and selectively actuates the work implement drive system in response to the movement of the bail member between the first position and the second position. A biasing member biases the bail member into the first position to prevent inadvertent actuation of the switch device.

Method of operator presence control on walk behind powered equipment

A walk-behind greens mower having a mobile structure and a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to the mobile structure. The ground engaging traction member imparts traction movement to the mobile structure for movement on the ground at a ground speed. An internal combustion engine is supported on the mobile structure and outputs a driving force to the ground engaging traction member. A bed knife is supported by the mobile structure having a cutting edge that cooperates with a grass cutting reel rotatably supported on the mobile structure. An electric motor supported on the mobile structure rotatably driving the grass cutting reel at a rotational speed that can vary depending upon the detected ground speed.

Internal combustion engine traction drive with electric cutting unit drive for walking greens mower

A walk-behind greensmower includes an operator presence control for selectively determining when power from a source is delivered to an output. The operator presence control includes a handle, a bale coupled to the handle, a control arm and an electromagnet. The bale is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The control arm is moveable between a neutral position and a drive position where the control arm causes delivery of power from the source to the output when in the drive position. The electromagnet is selectively energizable in response to the position of the bale such that the control arm is retained in the drive position when the bale is in the engaged position.

Growing community of inventors

Charlotte, NC, United States of America

Harry L Derby, V