Automotive working machine of radio control type

• US 5,351,778 A
• Filed: 08/28/1992
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kaaz Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kaaz Corporation
• Inventors: Hitoshi, Akagi, Shigemi, Mori
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US07/936,938
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 180/167, 192/1.44, 192/17 R, 192/17 C, 192/0.094, 56/11.3, 56/10.8, 56/10.2 A, 56/DIG. 7, 56/DIG. 15
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 1/04 with fuel-air mixture admission into cylinder

Abstract

The invention suggests an unmanned radio-control automotive working machine for safely mowing grass and lawns on dangerous slopes, which includes a carriage on which a power source such as a gasoline engine, a traveling apparatus and a working apparatus of a grass cutter, a lawn mowing blade or the like and, more particularly, the structure of a traveling transmission mechanism of a traveling control apparatus in which a traveling brake functions without fail when a traveling clutch is neutral, and a differential-gear lock and the brake function to effect the braking operation quickly even if the working machine is on a steep slope, and the structure of a brake apparatus installed in a gear case of the traveling transmission. Thus, the invention achieves safety in radio-control operation, and size and weight reduction of the working machine.

Claims

1. A radio-control automotive working machine comprising a motor mounted on a carriage, a radio receiver, and an actuator to operate a traveling transmission and steering wheels in response to signals of the receiver so that the working machine is operated when the signals are transmitted to said receiver by a radio transmitter, wherein a traveling brake and a traveling clutch are provided in a traveling control apparatus to function said traveling brake when said traveling clutch is in neutral, switches for operating said traveling clutch which are provided on said radio transmitter of said traveling control apparatus are independent switches for advancing and retreating operations, and said switches are located in a vicinity of a side surface to one side of a vertical center line of a front surface of said transmitter, and maintained at an appropriate distance such that they can not be easily operated simultaneously, said switches for said advancing and retreating operations occupying a position such that the advancing operation is easier to perform then the retreating operation, said switches being designed to transmit a clutch `on` signal only when each of said switches is turned on by a finger of an operator.

2. A radio-control automotive working machine comprising a motor mounted on a carriage, a radio receiver, and an actuator to operate a traveling transmission and steering wheels in response to signals of the receiver so that the working machine is operated when the signals are transmitted to said receiver by a radio transmitter, wherein a traveling brake and a traveling clutch are provided in a traveling control apparatus to function said traveling brake when said traveling clutch is in neutral, said traveling clutch comprises a traveling clutch section, a clutch operating section and an actuator, and said traveling clutch section includes a clutch arm provided on a shifter shaft, while said clutch operating section includes independent clutch levers which have a movement locus at least partially superposed on a rotation locus of said clutch arm, said clutch levers and said clutch arm being elastic member interposed therebetween so that the clutch levers extend along said clutch arm, said actuator including two cams on a left and right having side slots opposite to each other so as to clamp an eccentric projection provided on an output shaft of said actuator, said cams and said clutch levers being connected by rods.

3. A radio control automotive working machine comprising a motor mounted on a carriage, a radio receiver and an actuator to operate a traveling transmission and steering wheels in response to signals of the receiver so that the working machine is operated when the signals are transmitted to said receiver by a radio transmitter, wherein a traveling brake and a traveling clutch are provided in a traveling control apparatus to function said traveling brake when said traveling clutch is in neutral, said traveling brake comprises a first brake clutch attached on a transmission shaft in a gear case so that said first brake clutch can slide on and transmit motive power to the transmission shaft, a second brake clutch which can mesh with said first brake clutch, and braking means for giving said second brake clutch a braking load with respect to the gear case.

4. A radio-control automotive working machine according to claim 3, wherein said braking means of the traveling brake comprise said second brake clutch having teeth to mesh with said first brake clutch which are formed on an end of the second brake clutch and a flange formed on another end, said second brake clutch being fitted around a drive shaft, an annular braking flange fitted around said second brake clutch and attached on the gear case of a traveling transmission at a position can be controlled, and a conical spring washer interposed between said second brake clutch and said braking flange.