Lawnmower tilt sensor apparatus and method
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lawnmower comprising a frame, an engine supported by the frame, a mower deck supported by the frame, a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck. A PTO is coupled to the engine and the cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade. A drive system is connected to the frame and coupled to the engine to drive or propel the lawnmower. The lawnmower includes a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane. An signal indicator may provide a notice signal when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined check angle. The PTO may be disengaged from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle. The drive system generally remains operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged to stop rotation of the cutting blade.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1-2. -2. (canceled)
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3. A riding lawnmower comprising:
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a frame;
an engine supported by the frame;
a mower deck supported by the frame;
a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck;
a PTO coupling the engine and the rotating cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade;
a drive system connected to the frame and coupled to the engine for driving the lawnmower; and
a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane, the PTO being disengaging from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged to stop rotation of the cutting blade, wherein the tilt sensor includes a tip switch for providing the limit signal when the tilt angle exceeds the limit angle.
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4. A riding lawnmower comprising:
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a frame;
an engine supported by the frame;
a mower deck supported by the frame;
a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck;
a PTO coupling the engine and the rotating cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade;
a drive system connected to the frame and coupled to the engine for driving the lawnmower; and
a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane, the PTO being disengaging from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged to stop rotation of the cutting blade, wherein the tilt sensor includes an inclinometer for measuring the tilt angle and providing a numerical value for the tilt angle.
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5. A riding lawnmower comprising:
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a frame;
an engine supported by the frame;
a mower deck supported by the frame;
a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck;
a PTO coupling the engine and the rotating cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade;
a drive system connected to the frame and coupled to the engine for driving the lawnmower;
a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane, the PTO being disengaging from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged to stop rotation of the cutting blade;
a CPU coupled to the tilt sensor, the tilt sensor providing a check signal to the CPU when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined check angle, the tilt sensor providing a limit signal to the CPU when the tilt angle exceeds the limit angle, the limit angle being greater than the check angle; and
a signal indicator providing a notice signal being at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal in response to the CPU receiving the check signal. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A riding lawnmower comprising:
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a frame;
an engine supported by the frame;
a mower deck supported by the frame;
a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck;
a PTO coupling the engine and the rotating cutting blade to rotationally drive the cutting blade;
a drive system having two independently controlled drive wheels connected to the frame and coupled to the engine for driving the lawnmower;
a signal system comprising;
a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt angle representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane, the tilt sensor providing a check signal when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined check angle and providing a limit signal when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the limit angle being greater than the check angle;
a processing module coupled to the tilt sensor and being operable to receive the check and limit signals from the tilt sensor; and
a signaling module coupled to the processing module for providing notice signal being at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal when the processing module continuously receives the check signal for at least a pre-determined period of time, the PTO being disengaging from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the processing module receives the limit signal, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged in response to the limit signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of providing a signal for the operating angle of a lawnmower having a frame, an engine supported by the frame, a mower deck supported by the frame, a rotating cutting blade disposed below the mower deck and a PTO connecting the cutting blade and the engine and rotationally driving the cutting blade, and a drive system having two independently controlled drive wheels connected to the frame and rotationally driven by the engine for driving the lawnmower, the method comprising the acts of:
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measuring a tilt angle with a tilt sensor representing the orientation of the lawnmower with respect to a horizontal level plane;
sending a check signal from the tilt sensor to a CPU when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined check angle;
sending a limit signal from the tilt sensor to a CPU when the tilt angle exceeds a pre-determined limit angle, the limit angle being greater than the check angle;
activating a notice signal being at least one of an audible signal and a visual signal when the CPU receives the check signal; and
disengaging the PTO from the engine to stop rotation of the cutting blade when the CPU receives the limit signal, the drive system remaining operable to drive the lawnmower when the PTO is disengaged in response to the limit signal. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification