초록 ▼

Some embodiments of the invention provide a suspension system coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment including a subframe coupled to the main frame with a pivot including a pivot axis. Some embodiments include a transaxle assembly supported on the subframe coupled to a drive wheel, and a power

Some embodiments of the invention provide a suspension system coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment including a subframe coupled to the main frame with a pivot including a pivot axis. Some embodiments include a transaxle assembly supported on the subframe coupled to a drive wheel, and a power source supported on the main frame coupled to the transaxle assembly. A rider can control the transaxle assembly with a compensated control linkage assembly that can compensate for movement of the subframe. Some embodiments include driven pulleys, idler pulleys and backside idler pulleys supported by the subframe coupled to the power source not supported by the subframe. In some embodiments, the pivot axis resides between the power source and the transaxle assembly. In some embodiments, the drive wheel can be driven by an electric motor supported by the subframe and the power source can be a battery.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A suspension assembly coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment, the suspension assembly comprising: a subframe comprising a first support having a first end and a second support having a first end;a pivot coupled to the first end of the first support and the first end of the second support, t

1. A suspension assembly coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment, the suspension assembly comprising: a subframe comprising a first support having a first end and a second support having a first end;a pivot coupled to the first end of the first support and the first end of the second support, the pivot configured and arranged to enable pivotal rotation of the subframe on the main frame around a pivot axis;at least one compressible suspension component including a first end coupled to the main frame and a second end coupled to the subframe;at least one transaxle assembly supported by the subframe and coupled by a belt to at least one external power source, wherein the transaxle assembly is configured and arranged to be capable of being driven by the at least one external power source;the at least one external power source positioned external to the subframe and supported by the main frame; andwherein the pivot axis is located substantially between the at least one transaxle assembly and the at least one external power source. 2. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one transaxle assembly includes at least one driven pulley positioned substantially within the subframe and coupled to the belt. 3. The suspension assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a first bell crank pivotally coupled to a compensator arm and a first control linkage and a second control linkage; wherein the compensator arm is mounted to the subframe; anda second bell crank including a second axis pivotally coupled to the subframe and to the second control linkage and to the first control linkage and the at least one drive component; and wherein the second bell crank is configured and arranged to at least partially actuate the at least one transaxle assembly when the first bell crank rotated. 4. The suspension assembly of claim 3, further comprising: at least one control paddle assembly coupled to the main frame and at least one compensated control linkage via the first control linkage; and wherein the at least one control paddle is configured and arranged to move the first bell crank. 5. The suspension assembly of claim 2, further comprising a pulley and belt drive assembly, the pulley and belt drive assembly including: at least one belt idler pulley positioned substantially within the subframe;at least one backside idler pulley positioned substantially within the subframe and coupled to at least one component that is supported by the subframe; wherein the at least one backside idler pulley is positioned substantially in the same plane as the at least one driven pulley and the at least one belt idler pulley; andwherein the belt is an endless belt coupled with the at least one driven pulley, the at least one belt idler pulley and the at least one backside idler pulley. 6. The suspension assembly of claim 5, wherein the endless belt is further coupled with at least one drive pulley positioned substantially outside the subframe, the at least one drive pulley being mounted so that it does not pivot around the pivot axis. 7. The suspension assembly of claim 6, wherein the at least one drive pulley is coupled to a power take-off shaft. 8. The suspension assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one drive pulley is configured and arranged to rotate the at least one backside idler pulley. 9. The suspension assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one drive pulley is coupled to rotate the driven pulley. 10. The suspension assembly of claim 7, further comprising an auxiliary drive pulley coupled to the power take-off shaft. 11. The suspension assembly of claim 10, further comprising a cutter assembly coupled to the auxiliary drive pulley by at least one belt. 12. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one transaxle assembly is configured and arranged to be capable of being belt-driven by the at least one external power source during pivotal motion of the subframe about the main frame. 13. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one transaxle assembly is a hydrostatic transaxle. 14. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion compressible suspension component is a shock absorber. 15. The suspension assembly of claim 14, wherein the shock absorber is a coil spring shock absorber. 16. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one external power source is an engine coupled to and supported by the main frame. 17. The suspension assembly of claim 1, wherein a mower deck is coupled to and supported by the main frame. 18. A suspension assembly pivotally coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment, the suspension assembly comprising: a first support having a first support first end, wherein a first bushing is coupled to the first support first end;a second support having a second support first end, wherein a second bushing is coupled to the second support first end;a third support having a third support first end coupled to a first support second end and a third support second end coupled to a second support second end;a pivot mounting the first support and the second support to a horizontal chassis support and including a pivot axis,at least one transaxle assembly supported by at least one of the first support, the second support and the third support,the at least one transaxle assembly coupled to at least one driven pulley capable of being coupled to an external power source by least one driven belt; andwherein at least a portion of the driven belt is located above the pivot axis; andwherein the pivot axis is located substantially between the at least one transaxle assembly and the at least one external power source. 19. A suspension assembly coupled to a main frame of ride-on equipment, the suspension assembly comprising: a subframe comprising a first support having a first end and a second support having a first end;a pivot coupled to the first end of the first support and the first end of the second support, the pivot configured and arranged to enable pivotal rotation of the subframe on the main frame around a pivot axis;at least one compressible suspension component including a first end coupled to the main frame and a second end coupled to the subframe;at least one transaxle assembly supported by the subframe and coupled by a belt to at least one external power source, wherein the transaxle assembly is configured and arranged to be capable of being driven by the at least one external power source;the at least one external power source positioned external to the subframe and supported by the main frame; andwhere the belt connecting the at least one transaxle assembly to the at least one external power source crosses the pivot axis.