[미국특허]
Suspension system and ride-on grounds maintenance vehicle incorporating same
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62D-021/11
A01D-034/64
A01D-034/82
A01D-067/00
A01D-067/04
출원번호
US-0704062
(2015-05-05)
등록번호
US-9499204
(2016-11-22)
발명자
/ 주소
Gust, Jackie R.
Scherbring, David J.
Stern, Jeffrey W.
Sheats, André A.
출원인 / 주소
The Toro Company
대리인 / 주소
Mueting, Raasch & Gebhardt, P.A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
56
초록▼
A suspension system for use with a grounds maintenance vehicle such as a ride-on lawn mower. In one embodiment, the suspension system provide at least a first suspension apparatus positioned between a chassis of the mower and an operator support platform. The first suspension apparatus may include o
A suspension system for use with a grounds maintenance vehicle such as a ride-on lawn mower. In one embodiment, the suspension system provide at least a first suspension apparatus positioned between a chassis of the mower and an operator support platform. The first suspension apparatus may include one or more suspension units that may be quickly reconfigured to provide variable suspension characteristics. The system may also include a second suspension apparatus longitudinally spaced-apart from the first suspension apparatus. A pivot member may be provided to assist in reducing or eliminating all but certain degrees of freedom of the platform relative to the chassis.
대표청구항▼
1. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising: a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground contact members, the chassis defining a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends;a support platform extending along the longitudinal axis, the support plat
1. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising: a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground contact members, the chassis defining a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends;a support platform extending along the longitudinal axis, the support platform comprising: a seat support portion; a foot support portion; and a connecting structure rigidly connecting the seat support portion to the foot support portion; anda suspension system comprising a first suspension apparatus and a second suspension apparatus, wherein each of the first and second suspension apparatus is operatively connected to the chassis and to the support platform, the second suspension apparatus being connected to a bracket of the seat support portion of the support platform, and the first suspension apparatus being connected to the support platform at a longitudinal location that is aft of the bracket, the first suspension apparatus comprising a suspension unit and a second suspension unit laterally offset from the first suspension unit, wherein the first and second suspension units are pivotable within a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pivot member defining a transverse first pivot axis and a transverse second pivot axis, wherein the pivot member is: pivotally coupled to the chassis at the first pivot axis; and pivotally coupled to the support platform at the second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is located along the longitudinal axis between the first suspension apparatus and the second suspension apparatus. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the pivot member comprises a shaft and first and second arms extending outwardly from the shaft, the shaft defining the first pivot axis of the pivot member and distal ends of the first and second arms define the second pivot axis. 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein pivotal movement of the first suspension unit is adapted to alter one or both of a spring rate and a damping rate of the first suspension unit in at least one direction. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the support platform defines front and rear ends and left and right sides, wherein the first suspension apparatus is positioned at or near the rear end of the support platform. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second suspension apparatus is positioned equidistant from the left and right sides of the support platform. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising: a seat coupled to the seat support portion of the support platform; andan isolator located between the seat and the support platform. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising drive control levers pivotally coupled to the chassis. 9. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising: a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground contact members, the chassis defining a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends;a support platform comprising a foot support portion and a seat support portion;a suspension frame connected to the support platform, wherein the suspension frame comprises a support portion and first and second branch portions, the first and second branch portions attached to the support platform via the support portion, wherein the first and second branch portions are spaced-apart from one another, and wherein the first and second branch portions lie within a vertical plane transverse to the longitudinal axis; anda suspension system connecting the chassis with the support platform, the suspension system comprising: a first suspension unit comprising a first mounting point coupled to the chassis, and a second mounting point adapted to couple at any of a plurality of user-adjustable positions along the first branch portion of the suspension frame; anda second suspension unit comprising a first mounting point coupled to the chassis, and a second mounting point adapted to couple at any of a plurality of user-adjustable positions along the second branch portion of the suspension frame. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first mounting points of the first and second suspension units are pivotally coupled to the chassis at first and second pivot axes, respectively. 11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the plurality of user adjustable positions in both of the first and second branch portions are defined by first and second arcuately shaped slots, respectively, formed in the first and second branch portions of the suspension frame. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein each of the second mounting points of the first and second suspension units comprises a retention member, wherein each retention member is reconfigurable between a loosened configuration, wherein the second mounting point is adapted to slide along its corresponding slot, and a tightened configuration, wherein the second mounting point is immobilized relative to its corresponding slot. 13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein movement of the second mounting point of the first or second suspension unit along the first or second branch portion, respectively, alters one or both of an effective spring rate and an effective damping rate of the respective first or second suspension unit. 14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the suspension system further comprises a forward suspension unit connecting the chassis with the support platform, wherein the forward suspension unit is longitudinally located both forward of the first and second suspension units, and at or near a junction between the foot support portion and the seat support portion of the support platform. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a pivot member defining a transverse first pivot axis and a transverse second pivot axis, wherein the pivot member is: pivotally coupled to the chassis at the first pivot axis; and pivotally coupled to the support platform at the second pivot axis, wherein the second pivot axis is located along the longitudinal axis between the first suspension unit and the forward suspension unit. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the first pivot axis is located aft of the second pivot axis. 17. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the suspension frame comprises a T-shaped tower. 18. A grounds maintenance vehicle comprising: a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground contact members, the chassis defining a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending between the front and rear ends;a support platform operatively connected to the chassis, the support platform comprising a foot support portion and a seat support portion; anda suspension system connecting the chassis with the support platform, the suspension system comprising: a first suspension unit comprising a first mounting point operatively coupled to the chassis, and a second mounting point operatively coupled to the support platform, wherein the first or second mounting point of the first suspension unit is adapted to couple to the chassis or support platform, respectively, at any one of a first plurality of user-adjustable positions; anda second suspension unit comprising a first mounting point coupled to the chassis, and a second mounting point coupled to the support platform, wherein the first or second mounting point of the second suspension unit is adapted to couple to the chassis or support platform, respectively, at any one of a second plurality of user-adjustable positions;wherein each user-adjustable position of the first and second plurality of user-adjustable positions is located within a common vertical plane that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the first plurality of user-adjustable positions is provided by a first arcuately shaped slot adapted to receive the second mounting point of the first suspension unit, and the second plurality of use-adjustable positions is provided by a second arcuately shaped slot adapted to receive the second mounting point of the second suspension unit. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the first and second arcuately shaped slots are formed by first and second branch portions, respectively, of a suspension frame, wherein the suspension frame further comprises a support portion to which the first and second branch portions attach, the support portion connected to the support platform.
Murakawa Masatake,JPX ; Nagai Hiroki,JPX ; Kurohara Kazuaki,JPX, Power transmitting structure for a self-propelling vehicle having a working implement.
Brown Ross K. (Cedar Falls IA) Thompson Raymond D. (Waterloo IA) Woods Terrill W. (Cedar Falls IA) Wright Darrell L. (Cedar Falls IA) Conner James M. (Old Greenwich CT) Crookes William E. (Waldwick N, Suspended operator station.
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