Tiller housing

• US 8,627,897 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2011
• Issued: 01/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Marcil, Patrick, Slobodian, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Troutman, Matthew D
• Application Number:
  US13/214,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303425A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 172/42, 172/43, 172/256, 172/259, 172/329, 172/351, 172/354, 172/358, 172/359, 172/362, 172/364, 372/70, 372/71, 56/171, 56/172, 563/22
• US Class Current: 172/42
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/028 of the walk-behind type walk-type tractors B62D51/04
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 33/082 Transmissions; Gearings; Power distribution

Abstract

A tiller includes a tiller frame and an upright assembly extending from the frame. The frame is supported by at least one wheel and defines a cavity. A transmission assembly is supported by the frame and has an output member that is configured to be drivingly coupled to a first power source in a first battery-powered configuration and to a second power source in a second electric-powered configuration. A tilling implement includes a drive shaft that is driven by the output member. The tilling implement comprises at least one tine plate. The cavity is configured to removably receive a battery in the first battery-powered configuration and removably receive a ballast in the second electric-powered configuration.

Claims

1. A tiller comprising:

a frame

an axle with a pair of wheels that are rotatable about a wheel axis;

an upright assembly extending from the frame;

a drive mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor having an output member;

a tilling implement having a drive shaft that is driven by the output member, the tilling implement comprising at least one tine plate; and

a height adjustment assembly comprising a link assembly, an arm assembly and a rack, the link assembly comprising a first link, a second link and a third link, the second link having a first end, which is pivotably coupled to the axle, and a second end that is pivotably coupled to the frame, the first link being pivotably coupled to the second link between the first and second ends, the third link being generally L-shaped and is pivotally coupled to the first link on an end of the first link opposite the second link, the arm assembly having a shaft, a knob disposed on a terminal end of the shaft, a protrusion extending perpendicular to the shaft, and a collar, the shaft being disposed on an end of the third link that is opposite the first link, the third link being pivotally coupled to the rack, the collar being operable to slidably translate along the shaft wherein translation of the collar causes movement of the protrusion relative to the rack assembly, the rack being fixedly coupled to the fame, the rack having at least a first and a second groove configured to alternatively receive the protrusion, the arm assembly configured to securably locate the protrusion into the first groove wherein the at least one wheel is located at a first elevation relative to the frame and alternatively in the second groove wherein the at least one wheel is located at a second elevation relative to the frame, the first and second elevations being distinct.

2. The tiller of claim 1 wherein the knob and collar are configured for one-handed operation for moving the protrusion from one of the first and second grooves to the other of the first and second grooves.

3. The tiller of claim 2 wherein the collar defines an opening that receives the shaft and wherein the collar extends 360 degrees laterally outwardly beyond the shaft.

4. The tiller of claim 3 wherein the collar has a rounded sidewall on an end opposite the knob.

5. The tiller of claim 1 wherein the rack assembly comprises a pair of opposing racks that receive the shaft therebetween, the rack assembly having three pair of grooves that selectively and alternatively receive the protrusion, wherein the protrusion includes a first and second protrusion oppositely extending from the shaft.

6. The tiller of claim 5 wherein the collar is biased in a direction that urges the protrusion toward one of the three pairs of grooves.

7. The tiller of claim 6, further comprising a drag bar operably interconnected to the link assembly wherein movement of the height adjustment assembly results in movement of the drag bar.