Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Nathan W Bonny

Thomas J Langenfeld

Michael Lee Bennett

Raymond M Hauser

Scott W Keller

Jesse L Probst

Bruce E Reid

Danny Ray Harrison

Alyn G Brown

K Mike McCoy

Damon J Hoyda

Ryan S Buescher

Michael W Taylor

Gregory E Arends

Heath F McCormick

Kenneth Michael McCoy

Henry J Hansen

Ryan N Wilson

An electric motor and related components, such as a motor controller assembly, are disclosed having a coolant circuit where the related components are cooled by the same fluid flow that cools the electric motor. The compact coolant circuit minimizes the need for external lines between the electric motor and related components, while providing separate heat sinks for the electric motor and, for example, a motor controller assembly. The liquid-cooled electric motor and related components may engage and power a variety of reduction output assemblies to form drive assemblies. The coolant circuit of the electric motor and its related components cooperates with an external coolant circuit to form a cooling system. The external circuit may include a radiator (e.g., heat exchanger or oil cooler) and an electric pump for the coolant which may cool one or more drive assemblies of a vehicle drive system.

Liquid-cooled electric drive assembly

A control assembly for a lawn mower includes a shaft configured to rotate about a first axis and a pivot bar coupled to and configured to rotate with and pivot relative to the shaft. The pivot bar is configured to rotate with the shaft between a forward position, a neutral position, and a rear position about the first axis and pivot relative to the shaft between an operative position and a stopped position about a second axis. The control assembly includes a magnet coupled to an end of the shaft, a position sensor positioned to interact with a magnetic field of the magnet to detect rotation of the pivot bar about the first axis, and a return-to-neutral assembly configured to bias the pivot bar toward the neutral position about the first axis.

Control assembly for zero turn device

A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a system power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, at least one electric drive motor configured to generate power through the regenerative braking and supply the power onto the system power bus, and a first controller configured to decrease a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of the power generated through the regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the power is greater than a power consumption limit.

Regeneration power control

A vehicle control system includes a communication network, a vehicle integration module, and a pair of control assemblies. Each of the pair of control assemblies is configured to be operated by a respective control lever and communicatively connected to the vehicle integration module. Each of the pair of control assemblies comprises an operator control assembly that includes a neutral switch, a return-to-neutral assembly configured to provide a return force to the respective control lever, a return-to-neutral shaft supporting a portion of the return-to-neutral assembly, a magnet attached to the return-to-neutral shaft, a position sensor assembly, and a linkage connecting the operator control assembly to the return-to-neutral assembly. The position sensor assembly includes a circuit board, a magnetic field sensor configured to sense a rotational orientation of the magnet, and a plurality of terminals for communication with the circuit board.

Control assembly for zero turn vehicle

A power control system is disclosed for a utility vehicle having position sensors configured to collect vehicle position data. The system includes a propulsion system having electric drive motors powered by a battery, and the drive motors are configured to recharge the battery via regenerative braking. The battery has a maximum charge capacity and a regenerative capacity, wherein the regenerative capacity is a portion of the maximum charge capacity reserved for regenerative braking. Memory is configured to store terrain data indicative of terrain types for a plurality of locations. A processor is configured to determine a location of the utility vehicle based on the position data, identify a current terrain type based on vehicle location and stored terrain data, and generate a command signal to adjust the regenerative capacity of the battery based on the current terrain type.

Automatic performance learning system for utility vehicles

A vehicle having a prime mover and a central gear box mounted to a frame. First and second transaxles are driven by the central gear box. Each transaxle includes an output axle having a completely splined external portion and a threaded end for engagement with a driven wheel, and the completely splined portion of each output axle is disposed in one of the driven wheels of the vehicle. A cross brace may be mounted to the two transaxle housings for rigidity.

Modular drive system

An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The actuator has a rotary design incorporating a magnetic field sensor chip disposed on a circuit board to sense the rotational orientation of the magnetic field of a magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of the drive apparatus. The actuator further includes an electric motor driving a gear train, and a fastener connecting a drive adapter to the control shaft, and the magnet is engaged to the fastener. A jack shaft may be used to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus, with a first end of the jack shaft configured to rotatably mount a gear of the gear train, and a second end including threads to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus housing.

Electric actuator and vibration damping apparatus for drive apparatus

An electrical connector for a reduction drive assembly includes a connector body and a plurality of pins disposed within the connector body. The plurality of pins include one or more motor pins to conduct power to an electric motor, one or more brake pins to conduct power to an electric brake coil, and one or more sensor pins electrically connected to a sensor board for control of the electric motor.

Electric drive assembly

A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.

A vehicle control assembly having a control lever for controlling output of a traction drive. An operator control mechanism of the control assembly has an arm pivotable about a first pivot axis between a neutral position and a range of both forward and reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the arm can pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative and stopped position, and a switch is engaged when the arm is in the stopped position. A linkage connects the operator control mechanism to a return to neutral (RTN) module that provides a return force to the arm when it is pivoted away from the neutral position. The RTN module includes a shaft pivotable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and placing a magnet proximate to a magnetic field sensor chip mounted on a circuit board comprising CAN Bus and switch terminals.

A drive includes an electric motor disposed in a housing and driving a motor shaft, a Hall effect sensor adjacent to the motor, a power and control assembly, and a pinion gear driven by the motor shaft. A planetary gear reduction assembly is driven by the pinion gear, and an output axle has an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to the motor shaft axis of rotation. The reduction drive is substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane passing through the motor shaft axis of rotation and the output axle axis of rotation. The power and control assembly comprises a control board oriented perpendicular to a power board and includes a heat dissipation apparatus that applies multi-point, localized, indirect pressure to a plurality of field effect transistors mounted on the power board.

Power and control assembly for an electric drive apparatus

A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, and at least one electric drive motor to generate power through regenerative braking and supply the generated power onto the power bus. The utility vehicle includes a power regulation controller configured to direct the generated power to the battery to recharge the battery when the battery is not fully charged, direct the generated power to at least one power sink to consume the generated power when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is less than or equal to a power consumption limit, and reduce a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of power generated by the at least one electric drive motor through regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is greater than the power consumption limit.

An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The electric actuator has a rotary design incorporating a magnetic field sensor chip disposed on a circuit board to sense the rotational orientation of the magnetic field of a cylindrical diametric magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of a hydrostatic drive unit. The circuit board includes a microprocessor, electric motor power control and CAN Bus communication capability. The gear housing of the electric actuator features an integral end cap to accommodate mounting of the electric motor to enable a compact design. A vibration damping apparatus may be utilized to improve integrity of signals generated by the magnetic field sensor chip.

A vehicle transmission housing has first and second axle housings pivotably connected to opposite ends of the transmission housing and a stand-on platform may be connected to the assembly. A first gear train in the first axle housing drives a first axle having a first axis of rotation. A second gear train is disposed in the second axle housing drives a second axle having a second axis of rotation collinear with the first axis of rotation. The axle housings are both capable of pivoting about the transmission housing about a third axis that is parallel to the first and second axes. The first and second axle housings may also be separately rigidly or flexibly connected to one another. This assembly permits adjustment of the ground heights of the platform with respect to a vehicle frame.

Pivotable drive apparatus for a stand-on vehicle

A lawn mower includes a pair of electric motors configured to drive respective driven wheels and a control assembly. The control assembly includes a controller configured to control operation of the pair of electric motors, a bracket, a pivot bar, and rotation assembly. The rotation assembly is configured to rotatably mount the pivot bar to the bracket such that the pivot bar is configured to rotate between a forward position, a neutral position, and a rear position about a first axis and between an operative position and a stopped position about a second axis. The control assembly also includes a magnet and a position sensor spaced apart from the magnet. The position sensor is configured to detect rotation of the pivot bar about the first axis. The lawn mower also includes a return-to-neutral assembly configured to bias the pivot bar toward the neutral position about the first axis.

Growing community of inventors

Shelbyville, IL, United States of America

Nathan W Bonny