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.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 13, 2017

Filed:

Jan. 06, 2016
Applicant:

The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US);

Inventors:

Chris A. Wadzinski, Inver Grove Heights, MN (US);

John T. Gill, Savage, MN (US);

Khari S. Clarke, Minneapolis, MN (US);

Ryan M. Petersen, Shoreview, MN (US);

John O. Hurst, Lakeville, MN (US);

Assignee:

The Toro Company, Bloomington, MN (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60K 17/34 (2006.01); F16H 7/08 (2006.01); B60K 17/354 (2006.01); B60K 17/342 (2006.01); F16H 7/02 (2006.01); A01D 34/69 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
F16H 7/0827 (2013.01); A01D 34/69 (2013.01); B60K 17/342 (2013.01); B60K 17/354 (2013.01); F16H 7/02 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/225 (2013.01); F16H 2007/0865 (2013.01);
Abstract

A control system for controlling engagement of a first and second transmission of an all-wheel drive (AWD) walk-behind power equipment unit such as a lawn mower. The control system may include a mechanical load balancer to split an input drive force vector into two output force vectors. These two forces act upon associated first and second connection elements coupled to the first and second transmissions, respectively. One transmission may include a resistance element selected to sequence engagement of the first and second transmissions so that both transmissions begin driving their respective wheels at or near the same time even when the wheels associated with one transmission are more heavily-loaded than the wheels associated with the other transmission.


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