Remotely controlled self-propelled power lawn mower
First Claim
1. A remotely controlled engine-operated power lawn mower having a rotary cutting blade, comprising(a) a frame including a housing for said blade with actuating means therefor mounted at the top of said housing.(b) a pair of traction wheels with common drive means therefor at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof,(c) transmission means extending between said actuating means and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof,(d) single clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter,(e) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and(f) electric circuit means mounted on said mower comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-propelled gas engine-operated lawn mower adapted to be controlled by a remotely positioned operator holding a radio transmitter, which is capable of transmitting radio signals of differentiating characteristics. A radio receiver mounted on the lawn mower controls servomotors, which in turn operate microswitches and relays assembled therewith to selectively energize a plurality of reversible electric motors which are coupled mechanically with the steering wheel, traction wheels and the transmission between the latter and the main driving shaft of the engine. These motors control the steering, the speed of propulsion of the mower in both forward and reverse directions and the engagement and disengagement of the drive to the traction wheels to start and stop the mower at the will of the operator. The stopping of the mower is also enforced in the event the operator is incapacitated and unable to exert his will, thereby imposing a "dead-man'"'"'s control" to stop the travel of the mower in such a contingency. Additional refinements include the remote control of the throttle adjustment of the carburetor to control the engine speed, and the complete inactivation of the engine.
93 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A remotely controlled engine-operated power lawn mower having a rotary cutting blade, comprising
(a) a frame including a housing for said blade with actuating means therefor mounted at the top of said housing. (b) a pair of traction wheels with common drive means therefor at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (c) transmission means extending between said actuating means and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, (d) single clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, (e) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and (f) electric circuit means mounted on said mower comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means.
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15. A remotely controlled engine-operated power lawn mower having a rotary vertical shaft with a rotary cutting blade mounted on the lower end thereof, comprising
(a) a frame including a housing for said blade with actuating means therefor mounted at the top of said housing, (b) a pair of traction wheels mounted on an axle at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (c) transmission means comprising a bracket mounted on the top of said frame housing, a horizontal drive shaft supported on said bracket for free rotation on an axis parallel to the axis of said traction wheels and in proximity thereto, an adjustable friction disk-and-wheel transmission between said last-mentioned drive shaft and said rotary vertical shaft of said cutting blade, comprising a rotary circular friction disk driven by said vertical shaft, a transversely disposed rotary wheel disposed for only slideable movement on said drive shaft with the periphery thereof in frictional contact with said disk, and means for positioning said wheel at variable radial displacements from the rotary axis of said friction disk for adjusting the rotary speed and direction of said drive shaft, (d) clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, (e) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and (f) electric conduit means mounted on said mower comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means.
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19. A remotely controlled engine-operated power lawn mower having a rotary cutting blade, comprising
(a) a frame including a housing for said blade with actuating means therefor mounted at the top of said housing, (b) a pair of traction wheels mounted on an axle at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (c) transmission means extending between said actuating means and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, said transmission means including a differential on the axle of said traction wheels with an actuating pulley therefor driven by said adjustable drive shaft, (d) clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, comprising a driving pulley on said drive shaft co-planar with said actuating pulley, an endless band extending between said pulleys, and a movable idler pulley therebetween adapted to assume alternate positions, one of which loosens the band and the other tautens the band to effect the transmission of motion between said first-mentioned pulleys, (e) reversible electric motors with mechanical onnections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and (f) electric circuit means mounted on said mower comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operation by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means.
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22. A remotely controlled engine-operated power lawn mower having a rotary cutting blade comprising an internal combustion engine with a carburetor for feeding a regulated supply of fuel to said engine,
(a) a frame including a housing for said blade with said engine actuating means therefor mounted at the top of said housing, (b) a pair of traction wheels mounted on an axle at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (c) transmission means extending between said actuating means and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, (d) clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, (e) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, (f) electric circuit means mounted on said mower comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means, and (g) an additional servomotor operated by said receiver which is responsive to radiant energy of an additional distinctive characteristic for controlling said carburetor and correspondingly the engine speed including a distinctive signal for stopping the engine therewith.
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23. An apparatus of the class described comprising
(a) a rotary main shaft adapted to be actuated by an internal combustion engine, (b) a frame for supporting said engine and rotary shaft, (c) a pair of traction wheels mounted on an axle at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (d) transmission means extending between said main shaft and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, (e) clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, (f) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and (g) electric circuit means mounted on said frame comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means comprising a servomotor operable by said receiver, an armature movable in opposite directions by a pair of signals of different characteristics, a pair of normally open switches, each adapted to be closed selectively by the alternative movement of said armature in each direction, a pair of circuits each comprising said energy source and a relay adapted to be completed by each of said switches in closed position, a relay switch adapted to be closed by the energization of the respective relay, a pair of motor circuits each comprising said energy source, one of said reversible electric motors having an armature and a pair of oppositely wound field windings adapted to be energized selectively to rotate said armature in opposite directions and one of said last-mentioned relay switches, to complete one of said motor circuits through one of said field windings, and a secondary switch in circuit with each of said first-mentioned switches to impose a secondary control on said relay switches.
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28. An apparatus of the class described comprising
(a) a rotary main shaft adapted to be actuated by an internal combustion engine, (b) a frame for supporting said engine and rotary shaft, (c) a pair of traction wheels mounted on an axle at one end of said frame, and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (d) transmission means extending between said main shaft and said traction wheels comprising a horizontally disposed drive shaft, with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, (e) clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, comprising a movable ilder pulley mounted in a bracket which is shiftable between two alternate positions to effect the drive engaging and disengaging functions of said traction wheels, (f) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said clutch means, and (g) electric circuit means mounted on said frame comrising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means comprising a servomotor operable by said receiver having an armature movable in one direction by a distinctive signal from said transmitter which is controlled by the physical force of the operator, a first switch having a lever selectively contacting a pair of terminals, each of said terminals connected to a limit switch operable by said bracket at its respective alternate positions and including a circuit-making spring-biased lever for completing a relay circuit through said first switch, a relay winding and said energy source, a relay switch adapted to be closed by the energization of the respective relay, and a pair of motor circuits each comprising said energy source, one of said reversible electric motors having a rotary armature and a pair of oppositely wound field windings adapted to be energized selectively to rotate said armature in opposite directions, and one of said last-mentioned relay switches to complete one of said motor circuits through one of said field windings.
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30. A remotely controlled power-operated apparatus of the class described having a ground-working tool and comprising
(a) a frame and an internal combustion engine supported thereby, (b) a rotary main shaft extending between said engine and tool, (c) a pair of traction wheels with common drive means therefor at one end of said frame and a ground-engaging steering wheel in an adjustable vertical plane at the opposite end thereof, (d) transmission means extending between said main shaft and said traction wheels comprising a drive shaft with means for adjusting the rotary speed and direction thereof, (e) single clutch means between said drive shaft and traction wheels for selectively controlling the actuation of the latter, (f) reversible electric motors with mechanical connections from each for adjusting, respectively, the vertical plane of said steering wheel, the speed and direction of said drive shaft, and the operative and inoperative positions of said single clutch means, and (g) electric circuit means mounted on said frame comprising a radio receiver, an energy source, servomotors, and relays adapted to be operated by radiant energy from a transmitter held by an operator at a remote point adapted to send signals of differentiating characteristics for selectively controlling said steering wheel, drive shaft and clutch means.
Specification