초록 ▼

A self-propelled lawn mower (2) has an engine (4), transmission (8), two drive wheels (10) and a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle (18). A pivotable and rotatable control bar (20) is mounted on handle (18). The pivotable and rotatable bar (20) provides individual or simultaneous engagement of

A self-propelled lawn mower (2) has an engine (4), transmission (8), two drive wheels (10) and a rearwardly and upwardly extending handle (18). A pivotable and rotatable control bar (20) is mounted on handle (18). The pivotable and rotatable bar (20) provides individual or simultaneous engagement of drive wheels for ground traction, gradual or zero radius turns, and braking. Thus a single control bar (20) provides a multitude of functions.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A self-propelled implement including two spaced apart drive wheels with brakes, at least one non-driving support wheel, a power source, a frame, transmission means including drive shafts and drive pulleys, a handle and a working element, the improvement comprising: (a) a control bar having a d

1. A self-propelled implement including two spaced apart drive wheels with brakes, at least one non-driving support wheel, a power source, a frame, transmission means including drive shafts and drive pulleys, a handle and a working element, the improvement comprising: (a) a control bar having a downwardly extending central tube perpendicular to said bar, said tube having two diametrically opposed holes adjacent said bar, said holes prallel to said bar; (b) a shaft transversely and pivotally mounted to said handle, said shaft having an upwardly extending central tubular stem perpendicular to said shaft, said stem sized to fit rotatably inside said tube and having two diametrically opposed holes, said holes parallel to said shaft and slotted in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said stem and corresponding to said holes in said tube, whereby said tube fits over said stem and is secured thereto by a bolt or the like, whereby said slots allow said bar to be pivoted around said stem on a mount permitted by the dimension of said slots, and whereby the securing of tube to stem enables rotation of said bar forward and backward in an arc around said pivot shaft; (c) means for selectively engaging one or both drive wheels for driving traction whereby the implement moves straight and the gear ratio selected when both wheels are engaged, and moves in a gradual turn when only one wheel is engaged, the turn being in the direction opposite the engaged wheel; (d) means attached to said drive engaging means for selectively engaging one or both of said brakes, while simultaneously disengaging tractive power to the drive wheel associated with the engaged brake, whereby engaging both brakes will bring the implement to a stop, and engaging one brake will assist in making a sharp turn, pivoting on the braked wheel; and (e) means for returning said control bar to its original position when said bar is released, thereby disengaging drive power to said wheels. 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said drive engaging means comprises a linkage rod between said bar and a pivotable bracket including an idler pulley, a drive belt loosely disposed over said drive pulley and a pulley attached to said wheel, whereby when said bar is pressed forward said linkage and said pivotable bracket urge said idler pulley into contact with said belt to impose a tension on said belt thereby supplying a driving force to said wheel. 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said brake engaging means comprises a brake rod between said bracket and said brake, and whereby said rod engages or disengages said brake in response to an action of said bar, said linkage and said bracket. 4. The device of claim 3, wherein said returning means comprises a torsion spring disposed between said bracket and said frame, said spring urging said bracket linkage and bar back to their original positions thereby releasing the tension on said belt and disengaging the traction drive. 5. The device of claim 4, wherein a brake lever is pivotally attached to said tube and may be removably inserted between said tube and said hand grip when said bar is pulled rearwardly to engage the brakes, whereby said brakes will be held in the engaged position thereby providing a parking brake function. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein a reverse bar is integrally attached to said pivot shaft to be activated when said transmission is shifted into reverse gear thereby providing a control in conformity with industry standards whereby when the control is moved rearwardly the machine moves rearwardly.