Drive-by-wire riding lawn mower
First Claim
1. A drive-by-wire riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:
- at least two independently driven wheels capable of bi-directional rotation, the at least two wheels being independently driven so that operation of the at least two wheels causes the at least two wheels to independently rotate which propels and steers the mower;
a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the at least two wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor; and
at least one controller, the at least one controller sending signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the at least two wheels so that operation of the at least one controller causes the at least two wheels to propel and steer the mower.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The mower has at least two independently driven wheels that are each capable of bi-directional rotation. The at least two wheels are independently driven so that operation of the at least two wheels causes the at least two wheels to independently rotate which propels and steers the mower. A microprocessor controls the operation of the at least two wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor. The mower has at least one controller. The at least one controller sends signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the at least two wheels. The operation of the at least one controller causes the at least two wheels to propel and steer the mower.
39 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A drive-by-wire riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:
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at least two independently driven wheels capable of bi-directional rotation, the at least two wheels being independently driven so that operation of the at least two wheels causes the at least two wheels to independently rotate which propels and steers the mower;
a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the at least two wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor; and
at least one controller, the at least one controller sending signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the at least two wheels so that operation of the at least one controller causes the at least two wheels to propel and steer the mower. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A drive-by-wire dual path hydraulically driven riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:
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first and second hydraulic pumps, the first and second hydraulic pumps providing respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid;
first and second hydraulically driven wheels that operate independently and are capable of bi-directional rotation, the first and second wheels being independently rotated by the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid, and the independent rotation of the first and second wheels propelling and steering the mower;
a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the first and second wheels by controlling the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid to the respective first and second wheels in accordance with signals received by the microprocessor; and
at least one controller, the at least one controller sending signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels so that operation of the at least one controller causes the first and second wheels to propel and steer the mower. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A drive-by-wire dual path hydraulically driven riding lawn mower, the mower comprising:
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first and second hydraulic pumps, the first and second hydraulic pumps providing respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid;
first and second hydraulically driven wheels that operate independently and are capable of bi-directional rotation, the first and second wheels being independently rotated by the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid, and the independent rotation of the first and second wheels propelling and steering the mower;
first and second proportional servo valves, the first and second valves controlling a direction and volume of flow of the respective first and second flows of hydraulic fluid in response to signals received by the valves, the controlling of the direction and volume of flow of the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid controlling a direction and speed of rotation of the respective first and second wheels;
a microprocessor, the microprocessor controlling the operation of the first and second wheels by sending signals to the valves in response to signals received by the microprocessor, the signals sent by the microprocessor to the valves instruct the valves on how to control the first and second flows of hydraulic fluid to the respective first and second wheels; and
at least one controller, the at least one controller sending signals to the microprocessor that the microprocessor uses to control the operation of the first and second wheels so that operation of the at least one controller causes the first and second wheels to propel and steer the mower.
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Specification