Vacuum actuated control mechanism

• US 6,230,608 B1
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mtd Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robertson, John, Schaedler, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lazo, Thomas E.
• Application Number:
  US09/299,349
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 914/45, 914/59, 914/65, 914/69, 914/62, 914/44, 603/97
• US Class Current: 91/445
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/63 having cutters rotating about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/64 mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle A01D34/695 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/69 with motor driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/74 Cutting-height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/0631 Control devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/06 fluid, i.e. using a pressurised fluid for most or all the force required for steering a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/083 Rotary valves
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/16 Expansible chamber with flexible wall

Abstract

A riding lawn mower is provided that has an engine, a device that requires control and a vacuum actuated control mechanism for controlling the device. The vacuum actuated control mechanism includes a vacuum actuator having first and second chambers separated by a movable membrane, first connecting means for operatively connecting the vacuum actuator to the device, vacuum means for providing a vacuum to the vacuum actuator, activating means for selectively activating the vacuum actuator and securing means for securing the vacuum actuator in place. The securing means also secures the device in place.

Claims

1. A vacuum actuated control mechanism for controlling an associated device, the vacuum actuated control mechanism comprising:

a first vacuum actuator having first and second chambers separated by a movable membrane;

first connecting means for operatively connecting said first vacuum actuator to the associated device;

vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said first vacuum actuator;

activating means for selectively activating said first vacuum actuator, wherein said activating means includes;

first and second switching means for selectively permitting airflow between said first and second chambers and said vacuum means,

a rocking switch for selectively activating said first and second switching means; and

,

vacuum lines for communicating said vacuum means to said first and second switching means and for communicating said first and second switching means to said first and second chambers; and

securing means for securing said first vacuum actuator in place.

2. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises:

third and fourth switching means for selectively permitting airflow between said first and second chambers and said first and second switching means respectively, said rocking switch selectively activating said third and fourth switching means.

3. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 2 wherein said rocking switch comprises:

first and second inner rocking switches; and

,

a rocking button, said rocking button selectively activating said first and second inner rocking switches.

4. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 3 wherein said first inner rocking switch selectively activates said first, third and fourth switching means.

5. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 3 wherein said second inner rocking switch selectively activates said second, third and fourth switching means.

6. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 1 further comprising:

a second vacuum actuator; and

,

second connecting means for operatively connecting said second vacuum actuator to the associated device, said vacuum means providing a vacuum to said second vacuum actuator, said activating means selectively activating said second vacuum actuator, said securing means securing said second vacuum actuator in place.

7. A method for controlling an associated device, the method comprising the steps of:

switching a first switch;

activating a third valve thereby permitting airflow between said first chamber and said first valve;

activating a fourth valve thereby permitting airflow between said second chamber and a second valve;

activating said first valve thereby permitting ambient air to enter said first chamber;

removing a vacuum from a first chamber of a vacuum actuator;

establishing a vacuum within a second chamber of said vacuum actuator; and

,

moving the associated device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein, after the step of moving the associated device, the method comprises the steps of:

releasing said first switch;

activating said third and fourth valves thereby preventing airflow between said first and second chambers and said first and second valves respectively;

securing said vacuum actuator in place; and

, securing the associated device in place.

9. A method for controlling an associated device, the method comprising the steps of:

switching a first switch;

activating a third valve thereby permitting airflow between said first vacuum actuator and said first valve;

activating a fourth valve thereby permitting airflow between said second vacuum actuator and a second valve;

activating said first valve thereby permitting ambient air to enter said first vacuum actuator;

removing vacuum from a first vacuum actuator;

establishing a vacuum within a second vacuum actuator; and

,

moving the associated device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein, after the step of moving the associated device, the method comprises the steps of:

releasing said first switch;

activating said third and fourth valves thereby preventing airflow between said first and second vacuum actuators and said first and second valves respectively;

securing said first and second vacuum actuators in place; and

,

securing the associated device in place.

11. A method for controlling an associated device, the method comprising the steps of:

switching a first switch;

activating third and fourth valves thereby permitting airflow between first and second chambers of a vacuum actuator and first and second valves respectively;

activating said first valve thereby permitting ambient air to enter said first chamber;

removing a vacuum from said first chamber;

establishing a vacuum within said second chamber;

moving a membrane within said vacuum actuator in a first direction;

moving a first connecting means operatively connected to said membrane and to the associated device in said first direction;

moving the associated device;

releasing said first switch;

activating said third and fourth valves thereby preventing airflow between said first and second chambers and said first and second valves respectively;

securing said vacuum actuator in place; and

,

securing the associated device in place.

12. A vacuum actuated control mechanism for controlling the speed of a device having an engine, a drive axle for providing locomotion for the device and a drive system for selectively transferring power from said engine to said drive axle, the vacuum actuated control mechanism comprising:

a first vacuum actuator;

first connecting means for operatively connecting said first vacuum actuator to the drive system;

vacuum means for providing a vacuum to said first vacuum actuator;

activating means for selectively activating said first vacuum actuator; and

, securing means for selectively securing said first vacuum actuator in place, said securing means also for selectively securing a constant speed for the drive axle.

13. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 12 wherein said first vacuum actuator has first and second chambers separated by a movable membrane,

said activating means including,

(1) first and second switching means for selectively permitting airflow between said first and second chambers and said vacuum means,

(2) a rocking switch for selectively activating said first and second switching means and,

(3) vacuum lines for communicating said vacuum means to said first and second switching means and for communicating said first and second switching means to said first and second chambers respectively,

said securing means including,

(1) third and fourth switching means for selectively permitting airflow between said first and second chambers and said first and second switching means respectively, said rocking switch selectively activating said third and fourth switching means.

14. The vacuum actuated control mechanism of claim 13 wherein said rocking switch comprises:

first and second inner rocking switches, said first inner rocking switch selectively activating said first, third and fourth switching means, said second inner rocking switch selectively activating said second, third and fourth switching means; and

,

a rocking button, said rocking button selectively activating said first and second inner rocking switches.