Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

K Mike McCoy

Alyn G Brown

Jesse L Probst

Damon J Hoyda

Gregory Barton Moebs

Gregory E Arends

Joseph Hamilton

Scott W Keller

John Tyler Hibbard

Brian D Laymon

Christopher Kenneth Wyatt

Ivan Eugene Fox

Jake Siudyla

Nathan W Bonny

Lonnie E Holder

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 zero turn vehicle is disclosed, having an operator platform located adjacent to the rear of the frame. An upright riser is disposed on the frame. The vehicle uses first and second electric drive transmissions to drive the output wheels. An electrical bus or controllers may be mounted on a panel of the upright riser or on the drive transmissions to assist in providing a compact design. A pair of drive levers is mounted on the upright riser for controlling the output of the vehicle.

Vehicle having electric drive and operator platform

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.

A drive system for a vehicle having a rear drive assembly powered by a first power source, a front drive assembly in selective electrical communication with a second power source, a selector switch to selectively permit or prevent electrical communication between the front drive assembly and the second power source, and an output capacity sensor to detect an output of the first power source, where the rear drive assembly drives the vehicle when the selector switch is in a first position and both the rear and front drive assemblies drive the vehicle when the selector switch is in a second position and the output capacity sensor detects that the output of the first power source meets a threshold output.

Selectable four-wheel drive system

A zero turn vehicle is disclosed, having an operator platform located adjacent to the rear of the frame. An upright riser is disposed on the frame. The vehicle uses first and second electric drive transmissions to drive the output wheels. An electrical bus or controllers may be mounted on a panel of the upright riser to assist in providing a compact design. A pair of drive levers is mounted on the upright riser for controlling the output of the vehicle.

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.

A utility vehicle having operator selectable onboard and remote controls also includes a prime mover and a power generating device driven thereby, first and second electric wheel motors, and a drive controller in communication with the wheel motors to control the output thereof and in communication with the onboard controls. A radio control receiver is in communication with the drive controller and with a radio control transmitter having steering and speed controls. The vehicle includes a control mode switch having a first position where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the onboard controls, and a second position where the drive controller receives steering and speed control inputs from the radio control transmitter.

Utility vehicle with onboard and remote control systems

A hybrid zero turn vehicle is disclosed, having an internal combustion engine supported on a frame and an operator platform located adjacent to the rear of the frame. An upright riser is disposed on the frame. The vehicle uses an electrical generating device driven by the engine and first and second electric drive transmissions to drive the output wheels. An electrical bus or controllers may be mounted on a panel of the upright riser and offset vertically above the engine to assist in providing a compact design. A pair of drive levers is mounted on the upright riser for controlling the output of the vehicle.

Hybrid vehicle

A drive system for a vehicle having a rear drive assembly having a first pair of axles drivingly engaged to a pair of rear wheels, a single front drive assembly in selective electrical communication with a power source and having a second pair of axles drivingly engaged to a pair of front wheels, a selector switch having a first position which prevents electrical communication between the front drive assembly and the power source and a second position which places the front drive assembly in electrical communication with the power source, where the rear drive assembly can power the vehicle when the selector switch is in the first position, and both the rear drive assembly and the front drive assembly can power the vehicle when the selector switch is in the second position.

Growing community of inventors

Avon, IN, United States of America

K Mike McCoy