초록 ▼

A drive wheel steering system for a lawnmower has a handle bar assembly that is pivotal about a vertical axis to provide directional control of the mower and rotatable about a horizontal axis to provide speed control of the mower. A control bar is operable to set a desired forward speed of the mower

A drive wheel steering system for a lawnmower has a handle bar assembly that is pivotal about a vertical axis to provide directional control of the mower and rotatable about a horizontal axis to provide speed control of the mower. A control bar is operable to set a desired forward speed of the mower via engagement of a cam and the linkage assembly providing directional and speed control for the mower.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A lawnmower system comprising: a. a mower frame that is movably supported for rolling over the ground by a pair of drive wheels; b. at least one pump and motor unit for driving the drive wheels; c. a handle bar assembly pivotally mounted to a control panel support positioned

What is claimed is: 1. A lawnmower system comprising: a. a mower frame that is movably supported for rolling over the ground by a pair of drive wheels; b. at least one pump and motor unit for driving the drive wheels; c. a handle bar assembly pivotally mounted to a control panel support positioned upwardly and rearwardly from said mower frame by at least one support member, said handle bar assembly operable for maneuvering and controlling the mower frame; d. a linkage mechanism connecting the handle bar assembly to the pump and motor unit, wherein rotating a portion of the handle bar assembly about a vertical axis increases a rotation of at least one drive wheel while decreasing the rotation of another drive wheel to steer the mower frame; and rotating a portion of the handle bar assembly about a horizontal axis increases or decreases the rotation of all drive wheels to control the forward or rearward speed of the mower frame; and e. a control assembly selectively engageable with said linkage mechanism to set a desired forward speed of the mower frame, said linkage mechanism further comprising a first upper crank and a second upper crank pivotally mounted on a bearing supported by said control panel support, each said crank having at least one arm; and a connecting rod operatively connecting said at least one arm of each said crank with a corresponding first lug and a second lug extending from said handle bar on opposite sides of said vertical axis. 2. The lawnmower system of claim 1, wherein said upper crank further comprises a second arm, and at least one linkage member operatively connects said second arm of said upper crank with a swash plate on said pump and motor unit. 3. The lawnmower system of claim 1, further comprising a first lower crank and a second lower crank interposed between said upper crank and said pump and motor unit, pivotally mounted to said frame forwardly of said upper crank. 4. The lawnmower system of claim 3, wherein said at least one linkage member operatively connects each said upper crank and a corresponding said lower crank. 5. The lawnmower system of claim 4, further comprising at least one pump rod operatively connecting each said lower crank to a corresponding pump and motor unit. 6. The lawnmower system of claim 1, wherein said control assembly comprises a control bar pivotally mounted to said control panel support, and a control cam pivotal with said control bar, wherein movement of said control bar engages said control cam with an arm of said upper crank. 7. The lawnmower system of claim 2, wherein said control cam is operable by said control assembly to prevent rotation of said upper crank. 8. The lawnmower system of claim 1, wherein the pump and motor unit is biased to rotate said drive wheels in a forward direction. 9. The lawnmower system of claim 1, further comprising: a damper assembly for returning the handle bar assembly to a centered, non-steering condition. 10. The lawnmower system of claim 2, wherein said damper assembly comprises a damper operatively connected between a damper arm that is rotatable with the handle bar assembly about said vertical axis, and said support member. 11. A lawnmower having a frame movably supported for rolling over the ground by a pair of drive wheels, a pump and motor unit for driving each drive wheel, a control panel support member positioned upwardly and rearwardly from said mower frame, a handle bar assembly pivotally mounted to the control panel support member, a linkage mechanism operatively connecting the handle bar assembly to each pump and motor unit, wherein rotating the handle bar assembly about a vertical axis increases rotation of one drive wheel while decreasing the rotation of the other drive wheel to steer the mower frame; and rotating the handle bar assembly about a horizontal axis increases or decreases the rotation of both drive wheels to control the forward or rearward speed of the mower frame; said handle bar assembly comprising a control bar pivotally mounted to said control panel support member and a control cam pivotal with said control bar, wherein movement of said control bar engages said control cam with said linkage mechanism to set a desired forward speed of the mower frame, said linkage mechanism further comprising an upper crank having at least one arm, said crank pivotally mounted to said control panel support member, and a connecting rod operatively connected between said arm and a lug extending from a said handle bar. 12. The lawnmower of claim 11, wherein said linkage mechanism further comprises a linkage member operatively connected between a second arm of said upper crank and a swash plate on said pump and motor unit. 13. The lawnmower of claim 11, further comprising a lower crank interposed between said upper crank and said pump and motor unit, said lower crank pivotally mounted to said mower frame forwardly of said upper crank. 14. The lawnmower of claim 13, wherein a linkage member operatively connects said upper crank and said lower crank. 15. The lawnmower of claim 14, wherein a pump rod operatively connects said lower crank to a swash plate on said pump and motor unit. 16. The lawnmower of claim 11, wherein movement of said control bar engages said control cam with an arm of said upper crank. 17. The lawnmower of claim 16, wherein said control cam is operable to prevent rotation of said upper crank. 18. The lawnmower of claim 11, wherein the pump and motor unit is biased to rotate said drive wheels in a forward direction. 19. The lawnmower of claim 11, further comprising: a damper assembly for returning the handle bar assembly to a centered, non-steering condition, said damper assembly comprising a damper operatively connected between said control panel frame and a damper arm that is rotatable with the handle bar assembly about said vertical axis.