Fill detection device for grass container

• US 7,448,192 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2005
• Issued: 11/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kubota Corporation
• Inventors: Nagai, Hiroki, Yamashita, Nobuyuki, Umemoto, Hideya, Harada, Eriya, Tada, Hiroyuki, Miyaguchi, Kazutomo
• Primary Examiner(s): FABIAN-KOVACS, ARPAD
• Application Number:
  US11/220,971
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 56/102.R, 562/02, 56/166, 563/202, 561/94, 56D/IG.15, 562/03, 340/612, 340/686, 200/47, 200/61.2, 200/61.21, 116/303, 732/90.R
• US Class Current: 56/202
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/0635 with emptying means

Abstract

A fill detection device for a grass container includes:

• • a detection switch;
  • a pivot sensor that is fastened inside the grass container, that can actuate the detection switch as a result of contact with cut grass, and whose position can be changed between a raised non-detection position and a lowered detection position, the pivot sensor having:
    • a first pressure-sensing surface that faces generally upwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position; and
    • a second pressure-sensing surface that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, and that faces generally substantially rearwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position.

Claims

1. A fill detection device for a grass container, comprising:

a detection switch;

a pivot sensor that is fastened inside the grass container, that can actuate the detection switch as a result of contact with cut grass, and whose position can be changed between a raised non-detection position and a lowered detection position, the pivot sensor having;

a first pressure-sensing surface that faces generally upwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position; and

a second pressure-sensing surface that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, and that faces generally substantially rearwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position, wherein

the pivot sensor is fastened to a mounting portion that can be fastened to the grass container, the pivot sensor including a biasing spring and a support arm that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, one end of the biasing spring biasing the pivot sensor to the non-detection position by being coupled to the support arm, and the other end of the biasing spring being coupled to an adjusting member whose position can be changed in a vertical direction.

2. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

further comprising a set height adjustment means for changing a vertical position of the pivot sensor with respect to the grass container.

3. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the pivot sensor is fastened to a mounting portion that can be moved with respect to the grass container, the mounting portion is provided with a elongate hole and can be fastened with a bolt and a nut via the elongate hole to the grass container, so that the position of the pivot sensor can be adjusted in the direction along which the elongate hole extends.

4. The fill detection device according to claim 3,

wherein the elongate hole extends substantially in a vertical direction.

5. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

further comprising a sensitivity adjustment means for changing the sensitivity of the pivot sensor.

6. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the adjusting member can pivot about an axis extending in lateral direction.

7. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the first pressure-sensing surface is formed on a first substantially straight rod-shaped member, and the second pressure-sensing surface is formed on a second substantially straight rod-shaped member, extending in a different direction than the first rod-shaped member.

8. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the second pressure-sensing surface extends substantially perpendicularly to said first pressure-sensing surface.

9. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the first pressure-sensing surface is substantially parallel to a bottom surface of the grass container when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position.

10. The fill detection device according to claim 1,

wherein the pivot sensor is fastened to a front wall of the grass container.

11. A grass container comprising:

a front wall portion;

a main container member supported pivotably by the front wall portion;

a detection switch;

a pivot sensor that is fastened inside the grass container, that can actuate the detection switch as a result of contact with cut grass, and whose position can be changed between a raised non-detection position and a lowered detection position, the pivot sensor having;

a first pressure-sensing surface that faces generally upwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position; and

a second pressure-sensing surface that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, and that faces generally substantially rearwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position, wherein

the pivot sensor is fastened to a mounting portion that can be fastened to the grass container, the pivot sensor including a biasing spring and a support arm that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, one end of the biasing spring biasing the pivot sensor to the non-detection position by being coupled to the support arm, and the other end of the biasing spring being coupled to an adjusting member whose position can be changed in a vertical direction.

12. A grass container comprising:

a front wall portion;

a main container member supported pivotably by the front wall portion;

a detection switch;

a pivot sensor that is fastened to the front wall portion, that can actuate the detection switch as a result of contact with cut grass, and whose position can be changed between a raised non-detection position and a lowered detection position, the pivot sensor having;

a first pressure-sensing surface that faces generally upwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position; and

a second pressure-sensing surface that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, and that faces generally substantially rearwardly when the pivot sensor is in the non-detection position, wherein

the pivot sensor is fastened to a mounting portion that can be fastened to the grass container, the pivot sensor including a biasing spring and a support arm that is linked to the first pressure-sensing surface, one end of the biasing spring biasing the pivot sensor to the non-detection position by being coupled to the support arm, and the other end of the biasing spring being coupled to an adjusting member whose position can be changed in a vertical direction.