Interactive sensor, communications, and control system for a utility vehicle

• US 10,629,005 B1
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Issued: 04/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Brown, Alyn G., Dunten, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mustafa, Imran K
• Application Number:
  US14/918,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

A monitoring system is provided for a utility vehicle, and particularly, a zero turn radius type utility vehicle such as a lawnmower. The monitoring system includes an onboard processor and one or more sensors that are in communication with the onboard processor, to report various sensed parameters of the utility vehicle to the processor. The processor includes a transmitter for transmitting information that is processed by the processor to a near range electronic communication device. The near range electronic device includes a processor for further processing information received from the onboard processor. The near range electronic device also includes a transmitter that is capable of transmitting information to a far range electronic device, such as a remote computer, for providing the sensed information to a remote monitor.

Claims

1. A drive and monitoring system for controlling and monitoring the operation of a mower, the drive and monitoring system comprising:

a first electric transaxle driving a first driven wheel and a second electric transaxle driving a second driven wheel;

a first traction controller operatively connected to the first electric transaxle;

a first drive lever connected to a first control assembly, wherein the first control assembly is operatively connected to the first traction controller and communicates a position of the first drive lever to the first traction controller;

a second traction controller operatively connected to the second electric transaxle;

a second drive lever connected to a second control assembly, wherein the second control assembly is operatively connected to the second traction controller and communicates a position of the second drive lever to the second traction controller;

a power take off disposed on the mower and comprising a plurality of blades for cutting grass or other vegetation;

a plurality of sensors disposed on the mower and capable of acquiring operational data of the mower;

an onboard processor in communication with the plurality of sensors, the first control assembly and the second control assembly, the onboard processor housed in a ruggedized casing and comprising a transceiver configured to communicate with a mobile device via a wireless personal area network (WPAN) to transmit real-time streaming of the operational data to the mobile device; and

a far range electronic device configured to communicate with the mobile device via a cellular network, the far range electronic device configured to receive the real-time streaming of the operational data from the mobile device and transmit, in real-time, a command signal to the onboard processor via the mobile device to instruct the onboard processor to limit the mower to a speed that is based on the operational data.

2. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising at least one of an alternator and a generator.

3. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the command signal is a kill signal that instructs the onboard processor to stop at least one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor.

4. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the onboard processor is configured to receive programming data from the mobile device.

5. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein operational data is displayed via the mobile device.

6. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a run time sensor to monitor a run time of at least one of an internal combustion engine and a transmission.

7. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes an oil pressure sensor to monitor an oil pressure of at least one of an internal combustion engine and a transmission.

8. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes a temperature sensor.

9. The drive and monitoring system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors monitors the at least one of the alternator and the generator.

10. The drive and monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the operational data to the mobile device for presentation to an operator.

11. The drive and monitoring system of claim 10, wherein the far range electronic device is configured to send a warning signal to the mobile device for presentation to the operator based on the operational data.

12. The drive and monitoring system of claim 10, further comprising a cradle disposed on the mower to support the mobile device.

13. The drive and monitoring system of claim 12, wherein the cradle includes a charger to charge the mobile device.

14. The drive and monitoring system of claim 13, wherein the cradle is in an operative viewing area of the mower for the operator.

15. The drive and monitoring system of claim 13, further comprising a battery that is in communication with the cradle for charging the mobile device.

16. The drive and monitoring system of claim 15, wherein the mower is a hybrid mower that includes at least one electrical generating device, an internal combustion engine, and the battery that is connected to and configured to receive power from the at least one electrical generating device.

17. The drive and monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the far range electronic device transmits the kill signal upon detecting erratic driving behavior based on the operational data.