Remotely controlled power equipment system

• US 10,126,741 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reuben B. Gates
• Original Assignee: Reuben B. Gates
• Inventors: Gates, Reuben B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, James A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johns, Hilary L
• Application Number:
  US15/422,079
• Publication Number:
  US 20180217587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 20/30 Apparatus for treating the lawn or grass surface machines for aerating lawns A01B45/02
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2025/005 driven by electric motors forming part of the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 25/00 Auxiliary drives B60K16/00 takes precedence; arrangements of tyre-inflating pumps mounted on vehicles B60C23/10; driving tyre-inflating pumps B60C; driving engine auxiliaries F02B
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/42 related to electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/098 about horizontal or substantially horizontal axises perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the direction of clearing
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A remotely controlled power equipment system which allows various types of power equipment to be remotely controlled by a transmitter. The remotely controlled power equipment system generally includes a base which is adapted to removably connect to one of a plurality of attachments. The base includes a pair of wheels which are each individually powered by one of a pair of drive motors. A battery, which is charged by the primary motor via an alternator, is adapted to power the drive motors. The base includes a control unit which has a receiver adapted to receive commands from a transmitter and a controller adapted to individually control each of the drive motors in response to a signal received from the transmitter. In this manner, power equipment may be remotely controlled via a transmitter without the operator needing to manually operate the power equipment.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled power equipment system, comprising:

a base including a primary motor, wherein the base includes at least one wheel;

an attachment adapted to be removably connected to the base, wherein the attachment is adapted to be powered by the primary motor when the attachment is connected to the base;

wherein the base comprises an engagement mechanism for starting and stopping the rotation of the attachment via a signal from the transmitter, wherein the base comprises an actuator, wherein the actuator is interconnected with the engagement mechanism such that adjustment of the actuator in a first direction engages the engagement mechanism and adjustment of the actuator in a second direction disengages the engagement mechanism, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a power take off adapter;

a cable connected between the actuator and the engagement mechanism;

at least one drive motor for powering the at least one wheel;

a transmitter; and

a control unit including a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the at least one wheel based on the signal received from the transmitter.

2. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 1, wherein the base includes a battery, wherein the battery is charged by the primary motor.

3. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 2, further comprising an alternator connected between the primary motor and the battery.

4. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 2, wherein the drive motor is comprised of an electric motor, wherein the drive motor is powered by the battery.

5. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a lawn mower.

6. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 1, wherein the attachment comprises a leaf blower.

7. The remotely controlled power equipment system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises a smart phone.

8. A remotely controlled power equipment system, comprising:

a base including a primary motor, wherein the base includes a first wheel and a second wheel;

wherein the base comprises a first wheel drive compartment and a second wheel drive compartment, wherein the first wheel drive is positioned within the first wheel drive compartment and the second wheel drive is positioned within the second wheel drive compartment;

an attachment adapted to be removably connected to the base, wherein the attachment is adapted to be powered by the primary motor when the attachment is connected to the base;

an engagement mechanism for controlling rotation of the attachment while connected to the base;

a first drive motor for powering the first wheel;

a second drive motor for powering the second wheel;

a transmitter; and

a control unit including a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the first drive motor and the second drive motor based on the signal received from the transmitter.

9. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 8, wherein the base includes a battery, wherein the battery is charged by the primary motor.

10. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 9, further comprising an alternator connected between the battery and the primary motor.

11. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 10, wherein the first drive motor and the second drive motor are each comprised of an electric motor.

12. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 8, further comprising an actuator for engaging or disengaging rotation of the engagement mechanism.

13. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 12, further comprising a cable connected between the actuator and the engagement mechanism.

14. The remote controlled power equipment system of claim 13, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a power take off adapter.

15. A remotely controlled power equipment system, comprising:

a base including a primary motor, wherein the base includes a first wheel and a second wheel;

an attachment adapted to be removably connected to the base, wherein the attachment is adapted to be powered by the primary motor when the attachment is connected to the base;

a power take off adapter for on/off control of the rotation of the attachment while connected to the base;

an actuator connected to the power take off adapter by a cable, wherein adjustment of the actuator in a first direction engages the power take off adapter, wherein adjustment of the actuator in a second direction disengages the power take off adapter;

a battery adapted to be charged by the primary motor;

an alternator connected between the primary motor and the battery;

a first drive motor for powering the first wheel, wherein the first drive motor is powered by the battery;

a second drive motor for powering the second wheel, wherein the second drive motor is powered by the battery;

a transmitter; and

a control unit including a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the first drive motor and the second drive motor based on the signal received from the transmitter, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the actuator based on the signal received from the transmitter.

16. A remotely controlled power equipment system, comprising;

a base including a primary motor, wherein the base includes a first wheel and a second wheel;

an attachment adapted to be removably connected to the base, wherein the attachment is adapted to be powered by the primary motor when the attachment is connected to the base;

an engagement mechanism for controlling rotation of the attachment while connected to the base, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a power take off adapter;

an actuator for engaging or disengaging rotation of the engagement mechanism;

a cable connected between the actuator and the engagement mechanism;

a first drive motor for powering the first wheel;

a second drive motor for powering the second wheel;

a transmitter; and

a control unit including a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the first drive motor and the second drive motor based on the signal received from the transmitter.