Electric linear deck lift assembly

• US 20060021315A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dennis Brandon
• Original Assignee: Dennis Brandon
• Inventors: Brandon, Dennis
• Granted Patent: US 7,146,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/14.700
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/74 Cutting-height adjustment

Abstract

An electric linear deck lift assembly for raising and lowering in a controlled and accurate manner the cutting deck of a lawnmower to a variety of different heights, including preset heights. An electric motor drives a linear drive rod connected to the cutting deck, thus raising and lowering the cutting deck to particular heights as determined by a positional sensor which monitors the position of the linear drive rod or an encoder which monitors the direction and number of rotations of the electric motor. Also disclosed is a combination of two or more deck lift assemblies for raising and lowering different sides of a cutting deck.

Claims

1. An electric deck lift assembly, comprising:

a. an electric motor; and

b. a linear drive rod mechanically connected to the electric motor, said linear drive rod comprising an exposed end and an interior end.

2. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 1, further comprising a positional control circuit, electrically connected to the electric motor, for monitoring and controlling the height of the cutting deck.

3. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 2, further comprising a positional sensor, electrically connected to the positional control circuit, for monitoring the position of the interior end of the linear drive rod.

4. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 2, further comprising an encoder, mechanically connected to the electric motor, for monitoring and controlling the height of the cutting deck based on the direction and number of rotations of the electric motor.

5. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 2, wherein the positional control circuit moves the linear drive rod to any height between the ground and a maximum cutting height.

6. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 2, wherein the positional control circuit moves the linear drive rod to pre-determined positions.

7. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 1, wherein the linear drive rod is mechanically connected to the electric motor by a motor gear mechanically connected to and driven by the electric motor, and a reduction gear mechanically connected to the motor gear and the linear drive rod.

8. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing assembly fastened to and enclosing the electric motor, wherein the exposed end of the linear drive rod extends out of the housing assembly.

9. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for mechanically connecting the exposed end of the linear drive rod to a cutting deck of a lawnmower.

10. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a. an electric current sensor monitoring the electric current to the electric motor.

11. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 10, wherein the electric current to the electric motor is shut off when the electric current sensor detects a substantial increase in the electric current.

18. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 3, wherein the positional sensor is a linear potentiometer with a moveable arm or terminal connected to the linear drive rod.

19. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 18, wherein the linear drive rod has a slot or hole into which the moveable arm or terminal of the linear potentiometer is inserted.

12. An electric deck lift system, comprising two or more electric deck lift assemblies, each electric deck lift assembly comprising an electric motor and a linear drive rod mechanically connected to the electric motor, said linear drive rod comprising an exposed end and an interior end.

13. The electric deck lift system of claim 12, each electric deck lift assembly further comprising a positional control circuit, electrically connected to the respective electric motor, for monitoring and controlling the height of the side of the cutting deck to which the respective linear drive rod is mechanically connected.

14. The electric deck lift system of claim 13, each electric deck lift assembly further comprising a positional sensor, electrically connected to the respective positional control circuit, for monitoring the position of the interior end of the respective linear drive rod.

15. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 13, each electric deck lift assembly further comprising an encoder, mechanically connected to the respective electric motor, for monitoring and controlling the height of the side of the cutting deck to which the respective linear drive rod is mechanically connected based on the direction and number of rotations of the respective electric motor.

16. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 13, each electric deck lift assembly further comprising an electric current sensor monitoring the electric current to the respective electric motor.

17. The electric deck lift assembly of claim 16, wherein there are two electric deck lift assemblies adapted to automatically level the cutting deck.