Mower traction device

• US 20070187157A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Hurley
• Original Assignee: Robert Hurley
• Inventors: Hurley, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,497,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/6.200
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/68 with motor driven cutters or wheels

Abstract

A device for stabilizing traction in a zero turn mower having a riding frame, a pair of front caster-type wheels, a primary right-side rear wheel and a primary left-side rear wheel, and an asymmetric drive system to said rear wheels for driving and steering, comprising: a) auxiliary right-side and left-side rear wheels rotatably mounted on stub axles positioned rearwardly of said primary rear wheels; b) a first rigid member extending between and pivotally coupled to said auxiliary right-side rear wheel and said primary right-side rear wheel; c) a second rigid member extending between and pivotally coupled to said auxiliary left-side rear wheel and said primary left-side rear wheel; d) a first drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary right-side rear wheel in tandem with said primary right-side rear wheel; and e) a second drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary left-side rear wheel in tandem with said primary left-side rear wheel.

Claims

1. An asymmetrical drive vehicle comprising:

(a) a base structure;

(b) an engine for powering said vehicle;

(c) a first pair of laterally spaced left and right caster-type wheels mounted on a forward end of said base structure;

(d) a second pair of laterally spaced left and right wheels mounted on a rearward end of said base structure;

(e) a third pair of laterally spaced left and right wheels mounted on said rearward end of said base structure and in respective longitudinal alignment with but located behind said second pair of wheels;

(f) first asymmetrical drive means connected between said engine and said second pair of wheels;

(g) mounting means extending between said second and third pairs of laterally spaced left and right wheels;

(h) second drive means operatively associated with said second and third pairs of laterally spaced left and right side wheels and enabling said second pair of wheels to drive said third pair of wheels;

(i) manual control means enabling said second pair of wheels to be driven by said drive means and to rotate either at the same speed and in the same direction or at selected different speeds and directions whereby to provide a means for steering said vehicle; and

(j) wherein said base structure, engine, wheels, first drive means, mounting means, second drive means, and control means comprise an integral assembly.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle comprises a zero turn type riding lawnmower and includes an operator seat mounted on said base structure.

3. A device for stabilizing traction in a zero turn mower of the type having a riding frame, a pair of front caster-type wheels, a primary right side rear drive wheel and a primary left side rear drive wheel, and an asymmetric drive system for said rear wheels for driving and steering said zero turn mower, comprising:

a) an auxiliary right side rear wheel rotatably mounted about an axis on a first stub axle positioned rearwardly of said primary right side rear wheel;

b) an auxiliary left side rear wheel rotatably mounted about an axis on a second stub axle positioned rearwardly of said primary left side rear wheel;

c) a first rigid member extending between front and rear ends and providing at its rear end a pivotal connection for mounting said auxiliary right side rear wheel and roviding at its front and a pivotal connection said primary right side rear drive wheel;

d) a second rigid member for pivotally connecting said auxiliary left side rear wheel to said primary left side rear wheel;

e) a first drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary right side rear wheel in tandem with said primary right side rear wheel; and

f) a second drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary left side rear wheel in tandem with said primary left side rear wheel.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second drive coupling members each include a chain and sprocket arrangement attached respectively between said auxiliary right side rear wheel and said primary right side rear wheel and between said auxiliary left side rear wheel and said primary left side rear wheel respectively.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said first and second drive coupling members each include a belt driven mechanism between said auxiliary rear wheels and said primary rear wheels.

6. A device for stabilizing traction in a mower of the type having a pair of front caster-type wheels and powered primary left side and right side rear wheels comprising:

a) a second right side rear wheel rotatably mounted on one end of a live axle and positioned rearward of said primary right side rear wheel;

b) a second left side rear wheel rotatably mounted on the other end of said live axle and positioned rearward of said primary left side rear wheel;

c) a first rigid member extending between said second right side rear wheel and said primary right side rear wheel and having pivotal connections at the axis thereof;

d) a second rigid member connecting said second left side rear wheel to said primary left side rear wheel;

e) a right side drive connecting member connecting said primary and second right side wheels in a manner such that said first right side wheel provides drive to said second right side wheel; and

f) a left side drive connecting member connecting said first and second left side wheels in a manner such that said first left side wheel provides drive to said second left side wheel.

7. A device for stabilizing traction in a mower of the type having a pair of front caster-type wheels, a primary right side rear wheel and a primary left side rear wheel, and a drive system to said rear wheels, comprising:

a) an auxiliary right side rear wheel rotatably mounted about an axis on a first stub axle positioned rearward of said primary right side rear wheel;

b) an auxiliary left side rear wheel rotatably mounted about an axis on a second stub axle positioned rearward of said primary left side rear wheel;

c) a first rigid member extending between and providing pivotal mounts for both said auxiliary right side rear wheel and said primary right side rear wheel;

d) a second rigid member extending between and providing pivotal mounts for both said auxiliary left side rear wheel and said primary left side rear wheel;

e) a first drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary right side rear wheel in tandem with said primary right side rear wheel; and

f) a second drive coupling member for driving said auxiliary left side rear wheel in tandem with said primary left side rear wheel.

8. A device for stabilizing traction in a mower as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mower is a walk behind type of mower.

9. Auxiliary safety apparatus adapted for being added to the rear of a zero turn mower of the type having a pair of free rolling front caster wheels mounted so as to be pivotal around their respective vertical axis, a pair of powered rear drive wheels and a mower frame mounting and extending between the pairs of caster and drive wheels and on which the operator sits, said auxiliary safety apparatus, comprising:

(a) an auxiliary frame structure pivotally mounted on and extending rearwardly of said mower frame;

(b) an auxiliary pair of wheels rotatably mounted on said auxiliary frame structure and arranged for being driven off said powered rear drive wheels of said mower; and

(c) wherein said auxiliary safety apparatus when in use is operative to resist sliding and turning of said pairs of front caster and powered rear drive wheels on a slope when said mower moves across said slope.

10. Auxilary safety apparatus adapted for being mounted on the rear of a mower of the type having a base structure, an engine mounted on said base structure for powering said mower, a pair of caster wheels mounted on a forward end of said base structure, a pair of opposed drive wheels powered by said engine and mounted on a rearward end of said base structure and control means for selectively controlling the application of power from said engine to each of said drive wheels, said auxiliary safety apparatus comprising:

(a) a pair of rigid parallel arms extending rearwardly from said base structure between front and rear ends, each front end of each said arm being mounted for pivoting around the axis of said drive wheels and each rear end of each said arm providing means for rotatably mounting an auxiliary wheel;

(b) an auxiliary wheel rotatably mounted on a respective rear end of each said arm and longitudinally aligned with a respective said drive wheel;

(c) means operatively associated with said arms for driving each respective said auxiliary wheel from the respective drive wheel with which it is aligned; and

(d) wherein said auxiliary wheels are operative when said mower is in use and mowing across a slope to resist said mower from slipping and turning on said slope.