Modular power source for riding mower

• US 20070095039A1
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Inc
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Carlson, Martin, Wilson, Kenny
• Granted Patent: US 7,392,869 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.6
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric

Abstract

A riding mower includes a frame adapted to support a passenger and a cutting unit connected to the frame having at least one rotatably mounted blade. Interchangeable power unit support assemblies each support either an engine connected to a generator or a battery unit. One of the power unit support assemblies is releasably connected to the frame. A first electric motor is provided to rotate the blade and a second propels the mower. An output voltage generated by either the generator or the battery unit energizes the first and second electric motors.

Claims

1. A power unit support assembly for a riding mower, the power unit support assembly comprising:

a cutting mower frame adapted to support a passenger; and

a plurality of power unit support members each adapted for interchangeably supporting a power unit and each releasably connectable to the cutting mower frame;

wherein the power unit includes one of an engine and a battery unit.

2. The power unit support assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutting mower frame further comprises a power unit receiving member adapted to receive any of the power unit support members.

3. The power unit support assembly of claim 2, wherein each power unit support member is adapted to be fastenably engaged with the power unit receiving member.

4. The power unit support assembly of claim 1, wherein the cutting mower frame further comprises a flattened support portion having at least one fastener receiving aperture.

5. The power unit support assembly of claim 4, further comprising a fastener adapted to threadably engage with the fastener receiving aperture to releasably engage a selected one of the power unit support members to the cutting mower frame.

6. The power unit support assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the power unit support members further comprise a lifting device operable to support a weight of the power unit.

7. The power unit support assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of opposed driving wheels operable to propel the riding greens cutting mower; and

a steerable wheel rotatably operable to steer the riding greens cutting mower.

8. The power unit support assembly of claim 7, further comprising:

an electric motor operably connected to the steerable wheel and operable to rotate the steerable wheel; and

a steering device electrically connectable to the electric motor.

9. The power unit support assembly of claim 1, wherein the engine further comprises a generator.

10. A riding mower, comprising:

a frame adapted to support a passenger;

at least one cutting unit connected to the frame, the cutting unit having at least one rotatably mounted blade;

a support device fixedly connected to the frame; and

a power unit support member adapted for supporting a power unit, the power unit interchangeably including one of an engine unit and a battery unit, the power unit support member being releasably connectable to the support device.

11. The riding mower of claim 10, wherein the support device further comprises a flattened section having a substantially rectangular shape.

12. The riding mower of claim 11, wherein the support device further includes a plurality of fastener receiving apertures.

13. The riding mower of claim 12, wherein the power unit support member further comprises a substantially rectangular-shaped structure adapted to be received by the flattened section.

14. The riding mower of claim 12, further comprising at least one fastener adapted to be received within one of the fastener receiving apertures to releasably engage the power unit support member to the frame.

15. The riding mower of claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises first and second frame members having the support device positioned between and connected to both the first and second frame members.

16. The riding mower of claim 10, further comprising:

a first plug electrically connectable to the power unit; and

a second plug adapted to releasably connect to the first plug, the second plug connectable to an electrical control/routing device mounted on the riding mower.

17. The riding mower of claim 10, further comprising:

a first configuration of the riding mower including a first power unit support member operable to support the engine unit; and

a second configuration of the riding mower including a second power unit support member operable to support the battery unit.

18. The riding mower of claim 10, further comprising:

an electric motor adapted to rotate the blade; and

an electrical connector extending from the electric motor adapted to receive electrical power from any one of the engine unit and the battery unit.

19. The riding mower of claim 10, wherein the engine unit further comprises a generator coupled to the engine unit, the generator operable to generate a first voltage.

20. The riding mower of claim 19, wherein the battery unit further comprises a plurality of batteries, the plurality of batteries being electrically inter-connectable and operable to produce a second voltage substantially equivalent to the first voltage.

21. A riding mower, comprising:

a frame adapted to support a passenger;

a reel-type cutting unit connected to the frame and having a plurality of rotatably mounted reel blades;

a power unit support fixedly connected to the frame;

a power unit support assembly adapted for interchangeably supporting a power unit, the power unit support assembly being releasably connectable to the power unit support;

an electric motor adapted to rotate the plurality of reel blades of the reel blade cutting unit;

an output voltage operably generated by the power unit being operable to energize the electric motor; and

one of an engine unit and a battery unit being selectable as the power unit, any of the engine unit and the battery unit operable to generate the output voltage.

22. The riding mower of claim 21, further comprising a cord extending from the electric motor adapted for connection to the power unit.

23. The riding mower of claim 21, further comprising a generator operably coupled to the engine unit, the generator operable to generate the output voltage, wherein the output voltage generated by the generator is substantially equivalent to the output voltage generated by the battery unit.

24. The riding mower of claim 21, further comprising a second electric motor connectable to the frame and operable to propel the riding mower.

25. The riding mower of claim 21, wherein the output voltage further comprises a 48 volt direct current voltage.

26. The riding mower of claim 21, further comprising a control unit fastenably connectable to the frame and electrically connectable to the power unit, the control unit operable to control at least a reel blade rotation speed and a mower propulsion speed.

27. A riding mower, comprising:

a frame adapted to support a passenger;

a reel blade cutting unit connected to the frame and having a plurality of rotatably mounted reel blades;

a plurality of power unit support assemblies each adapted for interchangeably supporting a power unit, individual ones of the power unit support assemblies being releasably connectable to the frame;

a first electric motor adapted to rotate the plurality of reel blades of the reel blade cutting unit connected to the power unit;

a second electric motor adapted to propel the riding mower;

a control unit adapted to selectably control both a cutting height of the plurality of rotatably mounted reel blades and a propulsion speed of the riding mower;

wherein an output voltage generated by the power unit is operable to energize the first and second electric motors.

28. The riding mower of claim 27, wherein the power unit further comprises one of an engine connectable to a generator and a battery unit.

29. The riding mower of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of releasable fasteners operable to releasably connect individual ones of the plurality of power unit support assemblies to the frame.

30. A riding mower, comprising:

a frame adapted to support a passenger;

a rotary-type cutting unit connected to the frame having at least one rotatably mounted blade;

a power unit support fixedly connected to the frame;

a power unit support assembly adapted for interchangeably supporting a power unit, the power unit support assembly being releasably connectable to the power unit support;

an electric motor adapted to rotate the blade of the rotary-type cutting unit; and

one of an engine unit and a battery unit being interchangeably selectable as the power unit.

31. The riding mower of claim 30, further comprising:

an output voltage operably generated by the power unit being operable to energize the electric motor;

wherein any one of the engine unit and the battery unit is operable to generate the output voltage.

32. A method for interchangeably mounting a power unit to a riding mower, the riding mower having a frame;

a cutting unit connected to the frame; and

a plurality of power unit support assemblies each adapted for interchangeably supporting the power unit, the power unit including one of an engine connectable to a generator and a battery unit, the method comprising;

mounting the power unit to a selected one of the power unit support assemblies;

releasably connecting the selected one of the power unit support assemblies to the frame; and

releasably linking the power unit to an electric motor operable to rotate at least one blade of the cutting unit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising creating a plurality of fastener engagement apertures in the frame each adapted to receive one of a plurality of fasteners.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising performing the connecting step by fastening the selected one of the power unit support assemblies to the frame using each of the plurality of fasteners operably engaging individual ones of the plurality of fastener engagement apertures.

35. The method of claim 32, further comprising connecting the power unit to a second electric motor operable to propel the riding mower.

36. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

disengaging the selected one of the power unit support assemblies; and

releasably engaging a different one of the power unit support assemblies to the frame.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising extending a power connection plug from the riding mower adapted to releasably connect to an adaptive plug of the power unit.

38. The method of claim 32, further comprising non-releasably connecting a fastener to the selected one of the power unit support assemblies.

39. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

connecting a flattened member to the frame; and

abutting a selected one of the power unit support assemblies with the flattened member to operably support the selected one of the power unit support assemblies.