RIDING LAWNMOWER VEHICLE

• US 20080264026A1
• Filed: 04/22/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. (Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ishii, Norihiro, Koga, Kazunari, Ebihara, Tomoyuki, Mizukawa, Katsumoto, Sasahara, Kengo, Matsuura, Jun
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,342 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/44 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/66 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/6806 Driving mechanisms for the cutters A01D34/76
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 67/00 Undercarriages or frames specially adapted for harvesters or mowers coupling arrangements between animal or tractor and harvester or mower A01B59/00; Mechanisms for adjusting the frame adjusting devices for the cutter-bar A01D34/28; Platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/30 the ultimate propulsive elements, e.g. ground wheels, being steerable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/003 with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/46 Series type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/156 : Ridable lawn mowers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/223 : Ridable lawn mowers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 : Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A riding lawnmower vehicle includes two main drive wheels, at least one caster wheel, an electric traction motor, an internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the internal combustion engine, and a lawnmower. The electric energy generated by the generator can be supplied directly or via an electric accumulator to the electric traction motor. The main drive wheels are independently driven by the electric traction motor, which can operate as a traction power source. When viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle, the internal combustion engine and a secondary battery operable as the electric accumulator overlap each other, and the main drive wheels overlap at least a part of at least one of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the secondary battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, a cooling device, a mower driving motor, and a grass-collecting duct.

Claims

1. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

two main drive wheels;

at least one caster wheel;

an electric traction motor;

an internal combustion engine;

a generator driven by the internal combustion engine; and

a lawnmower,

wherein electric energy generated by the generator can be supplied directly or via an electric accumulator to the electric traction motor, and

at least the two main drive wheels are independently driven by the electric traction motor, which can operate as a traction power source,

wherein, when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle, the internal combustion engine and a secondary battery operable as the electric accumulator overlap each other, and the main drive wheels overlap at least a part of at least one of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the secondary battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, a cooling device, a mower driving motor, and a grass-collecting duct.

7. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

8. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the secondary battery, the fuel cell, the capacitor, and the inverter is positioned under the grass storage tank.

9. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the lawnmower is connected to a grass storage tank via a grass-collecting duct, and the grass-collecting duct is overlapped with at least one the mower driving motor, the secondary battery, and the capacitor when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle.

10. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a lawnmower driving apparatus that drives the lawnmower, and a grass-collecting duct connecting the lawnmower to a grass storage tank, wherein at least one of the lawnmower driving apparatus and the grass-collecting duct is offset from the center of the vehicle in the width direction thereof.

11. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the inverter, a DC/DC converter, and a control circuit unit is disposed under a driver'"'"'s seat.

16. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.

2. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

two main drive wheels;

at least one caster wheel;

an electric traction motor; and

a lawnmower,

wherein at least the two main drive wheels are independently driven by the electric traction motor, which can operate as a traction power source, and

when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle, the main drive wheels overlap at least a part of at least one of the secondary battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, a cooling device, a mower driving motor, and a grass-collecting duct.

17. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

22. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lawnmower is connected to a grass storage tank via a grass-collecting duct, and the grass-collecting duct is overlapped with at least one the mower driving motor, the secondary battery, and the capacitor when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle.

25. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising a lawnmower driving apparatus that drives the lawnmower, and a grass-collecting duct connecting the lawnmower to a grass storage tank, wherein at least one of the lawnmower driving apparatus and the grass-collecting duct is offset from the center of the vehicle in the width direction thereof.

28. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the inverter, a DC/DC converter, and a control circuit unit is disposed under a driver'"'"'s seat.

33. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.

3. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

main drive wheels that can be driven by a traction power source;

a lawnmower that can be driven by a mower driving motor; and

a power transmission mechanism that can transmit the driving force of the mower driving motor to the lawnmower,

wherein the power transmission mechanism includes a plurality of power transmission shafts connected via universal coupling or a belt wound around at least two pulleys, and the mower driving motor is fixed to a vehicle body frame.

4. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the mower driving motor is positioned on the front side of a rotation center axis of the main drive wheels.

18. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

19. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

23. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the lawnmower is connected to a grass storage tank via a grass-collecting duct, and the grass-collecting duct is overlapped with at least one the mower driving motor, the secondary battery, and the capacitor when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle.

26. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising a lawnmower driving apparatus that drives the lawnmower, and a grass-collecting duct connecting the lawnmower to a grass storage tank, wherein at least one of the lawnmower driving apparatus and the grass-collecting duct is offset from the center of the vehicle in the width direction thereof.

29. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the inverter, a DC/DC converter, and a control circuit unit is disposed under a driver'"'"'s seat.

34. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.

5. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

main drive wheels that can be driven by a traction power source; and

a lawnmower that can be driven by a mower driving motor,

wherein a lower end of at least one of an internal combustion engine, a secondary battery, and a fuel cell is positioned at the same height as a rotation center axis of the main drive wheels, or positioned below the rotation center axis of the main drive wheels.

6. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, wherein two caster wheels are supported to a vehicle body frame on the rear side of the main drive wheels, and the lawnmower is positioned on the front side of the main drive wheels,

wherein, when viewed from upside to downside in the vertical direction of the vehicle, at least a part of at least one of the internal combustion engine, a generator, the secondary battery, the fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, and a cooling device is positioned between the two caster wheels in an area defined by a front end position and a rear end position where the caster wheels are reachable when rotating about vertical axes.

20. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

21. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 6, wherein a grass storage tank is provided on the rear side of a driver'"'"'s seat, and the grass storage tank is connected to the lawnmower via a grass-collecting duct.

24. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the lawnmower is connected to a grass storage tank via a grass-collecting duct, and the grass-collecting duct is overlapped with at least one the mower driving motor, the secondary battery, and the capacitor when viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle.

27. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a lawnmower driving apparatus that drives the lawnmower, and a grass-collecting duct connecting the lawnmower to a grass storage tank, wherein at least one of the lawnmower driving apparatus and the grass-collecting duct is offset from the center of the vehicle in the width direction thereof.

30. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the inverter, a DC/DC converter, and a control circuit unit is disposed under a driver'"'"'s seat.

35. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.

12. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

main drive wheels that can be driven by a traction power source; and

a lawnmower that can be driven by a mower driving motor,

wherein an overall axial length of the mower driving motor is shorter than an outer diameter of the mower driving motor,

the mower driving motor is disposed on a deck constituting the lawnmower,

the deck is positioned above a mower blade constituting the lawnmower, and

the mower driving motor has a rotational shaft extending in the vertical direction.

14. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a braking mechanism is provided for the mower driving motor.

15. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 12, wherein a deceleration device including at least one deceleration stage is provided in a power transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the mower driving motor to the mower blade.

36. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.

13. A riding lawnmower vehicle comprising:

drive wheels that can be driven by a traction power source; and

a lawnmower that can be driven by a mower driving motor,

wherein an overall axial length of the mower driving motor is longer than an outer diameter of the mower driving motor,

the mower driving motor is disposed on a deck constituting the lawnmower,

the deck is positioned above a mower blade constituting the lawnmower, and

the mower driving motor has a rotational shaft extending in the horizontal direction.

31. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a braking mechanism is provided for the mower driving motor.

32. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 13, wherein a deceleration device including at least one deceleration stage is provided in a power transmission mechanism that transmits the driving force of the mower driving motor to the mower blade.

37. The riding lawnmower vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the mower driving motor is an electric type or a hydraulic type.