Electric drive mower with trailed auxiliary power source

• US 6,729,114 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Reimers, Kirk W., Fillman, Alan R., Saiia, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US10/268,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029149A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/53.5, 180/68.5, 280/422, 56/6, 56/7, 56/106
• US Class Current: 56/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/58 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/822 Devices for guiding or supporting cables
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/18 of two or more battery modules
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

An all-electric riding greens mower includes a frame which is supported for movement upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels and upon which are supported a modularly interchangeable power source and a plurality of reel lawn mowers. An electric motor provides driving torque to enable movement of the mower between and over golf course greens or other surfaces to be mowed, electric motors provide driving torque for each of the reel lawn mowers. The interchangeable power source provides electrical energy for driving the electric motors, including the primary mover and the electrical motors for the reel type lawn mowers. The modularly interchangeable power sources may comprise a bank of batteries, a motor/generator set, a fuel cell, or a combination of these. The power source may be easily exchanged in the field for another, freshly charged power source. Exchange occurs using either a fixed change stand or a mobile change stand. The change stands are configured to facilitate exchange by reducing friction caused by the generally weighty power source. The power source is delivered to the fixed stand on towable trailers.

Claims

1. A self-propelled riding mower, comprising:

a frame supported upon a plurality of ground engaging wheels;

a plurality of mowers driven by electric motors receiving electrical power from an interchangeable first electrical power source, said mowers supported by said frame and moveable between a raised non-operative position and a lowered operative position,

a prime mover including an electric motor supplied with electrical energy from said first electrical power source to provide driving torque to at least one of said ground engaging wheels; and

a trailer interconnected to said frame by a hitch and including a platform carrying a second electrical power source behind said frame, said second electrical power source adapted to be exchanged with said interchangeable first electrical power source to reduce mowing interruptions.

2. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, further comprising:

a single connector adapted for one of said first electrical power source and said second electrical power source to provide an electrical connection between one of said first electrical power source and said second electrical power source and a control circuit, based on which electrical power source is to provide electric power to said electric motors.

3. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, further comprising:

a support engaging and disengaging said frame and supporting said first electrical power source to facilitate removal of at least a portion of said first electrical power source or installation of at least a portion of said second electrical power source.

4. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 3, wherein said support includes:

a tray supporting said power source, and

a guide fixed to said frame, wherein said tray engages said guide to align said tray and to facilitate removal and installation of said tray.

5. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 3, wherein said frame includes friction reducing means disposed beneath said support so that said support engages said friction reducing means during installation onto and removal from said frame.

6. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said first electrical power source is a battery power source.

7. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said first electrical power source is a motor/generator set.

8. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said first electrical power source is a fuel cell.

9. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said second electrical power source is a battery power source.

10. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said second electrical power source is a motor/generator set.

11. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said second electrical power source is a fuel cell.

12. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, wherein said trailer includes a removable temporary change stand attached thereto for interchanging, at the mower, said second electrical power source on said platform of said trailer with said first electrical power source.

13. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 12, wherein

said temporary change stand includes legs that extend when the temporary change stand is removed from the trailer, said legs adapted to support the weight of the stand and said first electrical power source to be replaced.

14. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 13, wherein

said first electrical power source and said second electrical power source are exchanged by sliding the first electrical power source from the mower onto the temporary change stand, and moving said second electrical power source from said platform on said trailer to the mower.

15. The self-propelled riding mower of claim 1, further comprising

a support engaging and disengaging said frame to facilitate removal and installation of said first electrical power source thereon, wherein said trailer includes a temporary change stand attached thereto for a direct interchanging of said second electrical power source on said trailer with said first electrical power source on said support.