Internal combustion engine traction drive with electric cutting unit drive for walking greens mower

• US 7,168,227 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute, Textron Innovations Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Textron Inc
• Inventors: Derby, Harry L. V, Holby, Bryan E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Petravick; Meredith C.
• Application Number:
  US10/851,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20050257512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 56/135, 562/49, 562/52, 56/102.R, 56/102.G
• US Class Current: 56/10.20G
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/47 with motor driven cutters or wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/58 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric

Abstract

A walk-behind greens mower having a mobile structure and a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to the mobile structure. The ground engaging traction member imparts traction movement to the mobile structure for movement on the ground at a ground speed. An internal combustion engine is supported on the mobile structure and outputs a driving force to the ground engaging traction member. A bed knife is supported by the mobile structure having a cutting edge that cooperates with a grass cutting reel rotatably supported on the mobile structure. An electric motor supported on the mobile structure rotatably driving the grass cutting reel at a rotational speed that can vary depending upon the detected ground speed.

Claims

1. A walk-behind greens mower, comprising:

a base;

a ground engaging traction member coupled to the base for imparting traction movement to the base for movement along the ground at a given ground speed;

an internal combustion engine supported on the base for outputting a driving force to the ground engaging traction member;

a grass cutting reel rotatably supported on the base and including a plurality of cutting blades in grass cutting relationship with a bed knife;

an electric motor supported on the base for driving the grass cutting reel;

a controller coupled to the electric motor and configured to vary a rotational speed of the grass cutting reel;

a plurality of ground engaging rollers coupled to the electric motor and grass cutting reel; and

a sensor coupled to the traction member for detecting rotational speed of at least one of the ground engaging rollers to output a signal to the controller for determining the drive speed of the mower.

2. The greens mower according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to vary a rotational speed of the electric motor so as to vary a clip rate of the grass cutting reel.

3. The greens mower according to claim 1, wherein the controller varies a rotational speed of the electric motor based on the received signal to vary a clip rate of the grass cutting reel.

4. The greens mower according to claim 1, further comprising:

an articulating portion mounted to the base for movement relative to the base, and for supporting the electric motor and grass cutting reel.

5. The greens mower according to claim 4, wherein the ground engaging rollers are rotatably coupled to and support the articulating portion upon the ground.

6. The greens mower according to claim 1, further comprising:

a generator operably coupled to the internal combustion engine for outputting electricity to power the electric motor in response to internal combustion engine operation.

7. The greens mower according to claim 1, further comprising:

a battery configured to output electricity to the electric motor.

8. A walk-behind greens mower comprising:

a base;

a ground engaging traction member coupled to the base and imparting traction movement to the mower;

an internal combustion engine supported on the base for outputting a driving force to the ground engaging traction member;

an articulating portion mounted to the base for movement relative to the base;

a grass cutting reel supported on the articulating portion and having a plurality of cutting blades in cutting relationship with a bed knife;

an electric motor supported on the articulating portion for driving the grass cutting reel;

a controller coupled to the electric motor and configured to vary a clip rate of the grass cutting reel;

a plurality of ground engaging rollers coupled to the electric motor and grass cutting reel; and

a sensor coupled to the traction member for detecting rotational speed of at least one of the ground engaging rollers to output a signal to the controller for determining the drive speed of the mower.

9. The greens mower according to claim 8, wherein the controller is operable to vary a rotational speed of the electric motor so as to vary the clip rate of the grass cutting reel.

10. The greens mower according to claim 8, wherein the controller varies a rotational speed of the electric motor based on the received signal to vary the clip rate of the grass cutting reel.

11. The greens mower according to claim 8, wherein the ground engaging rollers are rotatably coupled to and support the articulating portion upon the ground.

12. The greens mower according to claim 8, further comprising:

a generator operably coupled to the internal combustion engine for outputting electricity to power the electric motor in response to internal combustion engine operation.

13. The greens mower according to claim 8, further comprising:

a battery configured to output electricity to the electric motor.