Hybrid remote control lawn mower

• US 20070294991A1
• Filed: 08/27/2007
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Nagamatsu, Luis Medina
• Original Assignee: Brian Nagamatsu, Luis Medina
• Inventors: Nagamatsu, Brian, Medina, Luis
• Granted Patent: US 7,677,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/11.9
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/00 Mowers convertible to apparatus for purposes other than mowing; Mowers capable of performing operations other than mowing mowers combined with apparatus performing additional operations while mowing A01D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/06 Sweeping or cleaning lawns or other surfaces sweeping apparatus for lawns per se A01G20/43
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 42/08 Sweeping snow
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/07 in or into a trailer A01D43/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/14 with dispensing apparatus, e.g. for fertilisers, herbicides or preservatives
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/16 with lawn edgers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/55 Remote control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/80 Arrangements for controlling instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/225 Walk behind vehicles, e.g. motorized wheel barrows
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/00 Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/00 Removing snow or ice from roads or like surfaces; Grading or roughening snow or ice by applying de-icing agents E01H10/00; obstruction removers on vehicles B60R19/00; sand, gravel or salt spreaders E01C19/20

Abstract

A hybrid remote control lawn mower that includes embodiments to provide use in all seasons. These embodiments include, a wagon, a spreader, a dethacher, a leaf collector, a leaf blower, a lawn trimmer, a lawn edger, an edger, a hedge trimmer, a snow plow blade, a snow blower, etc. The hybrid remote control lawn mower allows an operator to stay at a safe distance away from the hybrid remote control lawn mower in dangerous places such as on steep hills.

Claims

1. A hybrid remote control lawn mower comprising:

a frame;

a right rear motor apparatus attached to the frame for propelling the hybrid remote control lawn mower;

a left rear motor apparatus attached to the frame for propelling the hybrid remote control lawn mower;

a right front free swiveling wheel apparatus rotatably attached to the frame;

a left front free swiveling wheel apparatus rotatably attached to the frame;

a lawn mower deck adjustably suspended from the frame wherein the lawn mower deck may be raised and lowered relative to the frame;

an engine attached to the lawn mower deck;

at least one lawn mower blade connected to a rotating drive shaft of the engine to mow lawn;

an alternator apparatus attached to the lawn mower deck for providing electric power, wherein the alternator apparatus is rotatably connected with the engine;

a battery for storing the electric power;

a voltage regulator for regulating the output voltage of the alternator;

a remote control transmitter that sends a set of command signals to a receiver apparatus;

a brain control system that receives the set of command signals from the receiver and controls the electric power sent to the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus; and

a loss of radio wave signal detector between the remote control transmitter and receiver apparatus that stops operation of the engine and shuts off the electric power to the right rear motor apparatus and to the left rear motor apparatus.

2. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the set of command signals sent from the remote control transmitter to the receiver apparatus includes speed and direction control commands to the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus.

3. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the set of command signals sent from the remote control transmitter to the receiver apparatus includes a command for starting and stopping the engine.

4. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the set of command signals sent from the remote control transmitter to the receiver apparatus includes a command to reset the brain control system.

5. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the set of command signals sent from the remote control transmitter to the receiver apparatus includes a command to turn on and off electric power to an auxiliary electric motor.

6. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the remote control transmitter includes a precision low speed control region for providing very slow speed movement of the hybrid remote control lawn mower.

7. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the remote control transmitter includes a safety button that an operator must depress in order to maintain operation of the engine and the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus.

8. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein a current sensor detects excessive electric current to the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus and electric power is removed from the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus.

9. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein a heat sink is clamped to a set of MOSFET current devices to remove heat generated in the MOSFET devices when the MOSFET current devices are supplying electric current to the right rear motor apparatus and to the left rear motor apparatus.

10. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 9, wherein the set of MOSFET current devices include a temperature sensor to measure temperatures of the set of MOSFET current devices so that the electric current to the right rear motor apparatus and to the left rear motor apparatus is shut off at a predetermine temperature level.

11. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the engine is selected from the group consisting of gasoline, diesel, liquid petroleum, bio fuel, hydrogen, and fuel cell.

12. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the engine includes an exhaust emission control system.

13. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the engine includes an exhaust silencer to reduce noise levels below a predetermined level.

14. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, wherein during slowing down the right rear motor apparatus and the left rear motor apparatus generate electric power that is stored in the battery.

15. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a headlight for providing illumination in low lighting conditions.

16. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including at least one wireless video camera to allow remote viewing of a scene around the hybrid remote control lawn mower.

17. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including at least one bumper attached to the frame, wherein when the bumper is contacted the hybrid remote control lawn mower stops movement.

18. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a pattern recognition apparatus to learn locations of objects to avoid.

19. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a counter weight assembly to enable the hybrid remote control lawn mower to travel along a contour line of a hill.

20. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including an anti-tipping assembly to prevent the hybrid remote control lawn mower from tipping

21. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a hitch assembly attached to the frame of the hybrid remote control lawn mower.

22. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including an electrical insulation means between a hitch support arm of the hitch assembly and a tow bar to prevent radio wave signal interference.

23. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including a wagon apparatus connected to the hitch assembly.

24. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including a spreader apparatus connected to the hitch assembly.

25. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including a dethatcher apparatus connected to the hitch assembly.

26. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including a lawn clippings collector apparatus connected to the hitch assembly.

27. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a leaf blower apparatus attached to the frame.

28. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a weed trimmer apparatus attached to the frame.

29. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including an edge trimmer apparatus attached to the frame.

30. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a right rear tire attached to the right rear motor apparatus and a left rear tire attached to the left rear motor apparatus.

31. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 30, wherein the right rear tire and the left rear tire is selected from a group consisting of smooth, knobby and V shape.

32. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a first track attached to the right rear motor apparatus and a second track attached to the left rear motor apparatus.

33. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a blade apparatus attached to the frame for pushing loose material on a surface.

34. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 1, further including a fluid blade apparatus attached to the frame for pushing loose material on a surface.

35. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 34, further including a power blower to provide pressurized air to the fluid blade apparatus.

36. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 21, further including a snow blower apparatus connected to the hitch assembly for blowing snow from a surface.

37. The hybrid remote control lawn mower of claim 36, further including a remote controlled snow rotation apparatus for rotating a snow outlet chute of the snow blower apparatus.