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The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Patent No.:

US 12157443 B1

PDFFull Text
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2024

Filed:

Aug. 02, 2017

Auxiliary brake system for outdoor grounds maintenance vehicles having hydrostatic traction drive systems

Applicant:

The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US);

Inventors:

Matthew J. Decker, Lakeville, MN (US);

Luke R. Nahorniak, Lakeville, MN (US);

John B. Heckel, Shakopee, MN (US);

Assignee:

The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US);

Attorney:

Merchant & Gould P.C.

Primary Examiner:

Arpad Fabian-Kovacs

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60T 1/093 (2006.01); B60K 7/00 (2006.01); B60T 8/32 (2006.01); B60T 10/04 (2006.01); B60T 15/04 (2006.01); F01L 9/10 (2021.01); F01L 13/06 (2006.01); F02D 13/04 (2006.01); A01D 34/00 (2006.01); A01D 34/66 (2006.01); A01D 34/82 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01); B60T 1/02 (2006.01); B60T 1/087 (2006.01); B60T 13/58 (2006.01); B60T 15/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60T 1/093 (2013.01); B60K 7/0015 (2013.01); B60T 8/32 (2013.01); B60T 8/3215 (2013.01); B60T 10/04 (2013.01); B60T 15/041 (2013.01); F01L 9/10 (2021.01); F01L 13/065 (2013.01); F02D 13/04 (2013.01); A01D 34/006 (2013.01); A01D 34/66 (2013.01); A01D 34/828 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01); B60T 1/02 (2013.01); B60T 1/087 (2013.01); B60T 13/585 (2013.01); B60T 13/586 (2013.01); B60T 15/048 (2013.01); B60T 15/22 (2013.01);
Abstract

An outdoor grounds maintenance vehicle is self-propelled by a hydrostatic traction drive system that provides dynamic braking to the vehicle without the need for separate service brakes acting on the wheels of the vehicle. An engine kill device can be manually actuated by the operator to access the dynamic braking of the traction drive system by reducing the speed of the prime mover that powers the pump of the traction drive system. This provides an auxiliary braking system that can be used in an emergency or on demand by the operator in the event the accelerator pedal does not properly control the pump swashplates. The operator can control the rate at which the auxiliary brake system reduces the speed of the prime mover to zero.

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