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.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 22, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1997
Paul W Mullet, Hesston, KS (US);
Elmer D Voth, Newton, KS (US);
Royce A Steinert, Moundridge, KS (US);
Harlan J Bartel, Newton, KS (US);
Excel Industries, Inc., Hesston, KS (US);
Abstract
The invention is a self-propelled drivewheel steering power mower which can be operated in a standing or sitting position, including a pair of variable flow hydrostatic pumps with tiltable swash plates, each of which drives one of a pair of drivewheels. A vertically mounted steering shaft is rotatably supported on the mower for rotation about an axis concentric with said shaft; and a T-shaped steering handle bar is rotatably journaled to the end of said steering shaft for twisting about an axis concentric with said handle bar. A first pair of connecting rods connects the steering shaft to the swash plate of each variable flow pump whereby rotation of the steering shaft in one direction will increase the flow rate to one of the variable flow pumps while decreasing the flow rate proportionately to the other variable flow pump to effect steering right or left; and a second connecting rod connects the steering handle bar to the first pair of connecting rods whereby twisting of the handle bar in one direction increases the flow rate proportionally to both variable flow pumps while twisting in the opposite direction decreases the flow rate proportionally to both variable flow pumps to effect acceleration and deceleration of the mower.