1495results about "Lawn-mowers" patented technology

A method of establishing an area of confinement and an autonomous robot for performing a task within the area of confinement. In one aspect, the invention can be a method of defining an area of confinement for an autonomous robot comprising: a) positioning the autonomous robot at a first location point P₁, the autonomous robot comprising a location tracking unit, and recording the first location point P₁ within a memory device; b) moving the autonomous robot from the first location point P₁ to a plurality of location points P_2-N and recording each of the plurality of location points P_2-N within the memory device; and c) defining, with a central processing unit, a first closed-geometry comprising the first location point P₁ and the plurality of location points P_2-N as a perimeter of the area of confinement within the memory device.

A method for automatically operating a robot, attached to a lawnmower or other unmanned machine, within an enclosed area is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: 1) providing the following elements: a proximity sensor positioned on the robot, a boundary along the perimeter of the working area and along the perimeter of each area enclosed in the working area in which the robot should not operate, the boundaries being detectable by the proximity sensor, a processing unit connected to the proximity sensor and receiving an input therefrom, a navigation unit on the robot to determine the coordinates of the robot relative to an arbitrary origin, a direction finder, and a memory to store values generated by the processing unit; and 2) causing the robot to move along each of the boundaries provided around or within the working area, to detect the boundaries and to memorize their shape, and to store in the memory values representative of the coordinates of the boundaries, thereby to generate a basic map of the working area. When the robot is to operate within the area, the method includes the steps of: (a) causing the robot to start from a starting point having known coordinates within the basic map of the working area; (b) continuously determining the coordinates of the robot by analyzing data obtained from the navigation unit and by detecting the vicinity of a boundary; and (c) correcting the actual position of the robot on the basic map by comparing the calculated and the actual coordinates of each detected boundary.

A zero turning radius power lawn mower for operation by a standing occupant includes first and second independently driven and controlled rear drive wheels mounted on separate drive axles. A riding platform for supporting the standing occupant or operator is located between the first and second rear drive wheels. The rear drive wheels are independently driveable in both the forward and reverse directions at variable speeds so as to allow for substantially zero radius turning of the mower about a central turning point. The riding platform is positioned near this turning point or axis so that the standing occupant remains substantially unaffected by centrifugal force created during approximate zero radius is turning of the mower thereby allowing the mower to take such turns at higher speeds. The low center of gravity created by the position of the riding platform for the standing operator also results in the mower having improved traction and being less likely to pop “wheelies” upon acceleration.

A battery-operated mower is described that includes a chassis supporting a first drive wheel and a second drive wheel, a battery pack, a first electric drive wheel motor interconnected to the first drive wheel and second electric drive wheel motor interconnected to the second drive wheel; one or more electric blade motors; an electric cooling fan in fluid communication with at least one of the first electric drive wheel motor and second electric drive wheel motor; one or more controllers for controlling the rotational speed of the first electric drive wheel motor, the second electric drive wheel motor, and the blade motors; and a left control actuator in communication with a first throttle sensor and a right control actuator in communication with a second throttle sensor, wherein the first throttle sensor and second throttle sensor are in communication with the one or more controllers.

The mower front independent suspension assembly in some embodiments of the present invention includes a first suspension arm connected to the front of the lawn mower frame and a second suspension arm connected to the side of the lawn mower frame. In some embodiments, the first suspension arm is connected to the front of the frame at or near the longitudinal center of the frame, while the second suspension arm is connected to the side of the frame a distance from the front of the frame. Also, in some embodiments the cutter deck of the lawn mower is connected to the front independent suspension assemblies for movement therewith.

A lawn mower having selectively drivable wheels, includes dirigible front drive wheels, a pair of right and left rear drive wheels, a body frame, an engine supported by the body frame, a mower unit vertically movably supported by the body frame forwardly of the rear drive wheels, a change speed device for changing a speed of drive from the engine, a front wheel driving device for transmitting drive from the change speed device to the front wheels, a left rear wheel driving device for transmitting drive from the change speed device to a right axle of the left rear wheel, a right rear wheel driving device for transmitting drive from the change speed device to a left axle of the left rear wheel, and rear wheel clutches associated with the left rear wheel driving device and the right rear wheel driving device, respectively, for selectively connecting and disconnecting drive. The rear wheel clutches are operable by an interlocking mechanism in response to a displacement to the front drive wheels from a straight running posture, to disconnect drive transmission to one of the rear drive wheels moving along an inner track of turning of the vehicle body. The interlocking mechanism has a link mechanism operatively connecting a steering mechanism for steering the front drive wheels to each of the rear wheel clutches, and extending over the mower unit.

The present invention relates to a method and an electronic search system for operating an automatic device, preferably an automatic lawnmower. The system comprises at least one first electrical cable (1, 4, 5, 6) connected to at least one first signal generator (3, 7, 8) and at least one sensing system arranged on said device. Said sensing system detects at least one magnetic field being transmitted via said cable (1, 4, 5, 6) and propagating through the air, the sensing system transmitting a processed signal to at least one driving means which contributes to the movements of said device in relation to a surface. Said search system comprises means by which the first signal generator (3, 7, 8) of the present invention transmits a current through said first cable (3, 7, 8), said current during a part of time being is in a state of rest where it is substantially constant, said state periodically being interrupted by at least one first characteristic current pulse.

A deck assembly for a self-propelled, walk-behind rotary lawn rotary mower is provided. The deck assembly is configurable for either front or rear wheel drive and includes a deck defining a cutting chamber which may house a cutting member. The cutting chamber is bound at least in part by a rear enclosure member. The deck assembly also includes a side discharge port having a side discharge port door. A rear discharge port located on a rear portion of the deck is also provided. Preferably, a duct of substantially rectangular cross section extends through the rear enclosure member between the cutting chamber and the rear discharge port. In one embodiment, the duct has a first, uppermost surface and a second, lowermost surface, wherein the first, uppermost surface and the second, lowermost surface both form substantially horizontal planes.

The invention provides an intelligentized precision automatic hay mower and a control device thereof. According to the intelligentized precision automatic hay mower and the control device thereof, a direct current accumulator serves as the power source, computer image processing, distributed beacon location, laser scanning displacement and angle measurement, ultrasonic distance measurement, wireless communication and intelligentized track movement control are combined together in an organic mode, the functions of precision location, automatic deviation rectification, track control, automatic anticollision and the like are achieved, and the purposes of lawn beautifying, energy conservation and environmental friendliness are achieved. The intelligentized precision automatic hay mower and the control device thereof are ingenious in structure, low in production cost, friendly in interface, convenient to operate, capable of saving energy, environmentally friendly and suitable for conducting finishing mowing on land parcels of medium-sized lawn or small-sized lawn.

A tool having a quick-change mechanism for replacing tool implements on a shaft, post or handle comprising a shaft, post or handle having a flange and a threaded connector. The tool further includes a tool implement adapted to be received on the shaft, post or handle adjacent thc flange. The tool also includes a stabilizer washer adapted to be received on the shaft, post or handle adjacent the work implement. A threaded fastener is adapted to be threaded onto the threaded connector of the shaft, post or handle whereby the tool implement and the stabilizer washer are retained on the shaft, post or handle by the fastener, and wherein the tool implement and the stabilizing washer are configured to allow removal of the tool implement without removing the fastener from the shaft, post or handle.

The invention comprises: a motherboard circuit processor unit, a power and charging management circuit, a walk driving circuit, a grass-cutting driving circuit, a remote receiving circuit, an infrared detection circuit, a virtual line detecting circuit, a filter circuit, a hit processing circuit, a remote controller circuit. The motherboard processor unit is connected to the other circuits via each functional pin; the walk driving circuit is used for controlling the direction and speed of the mowing motor; the grass-cutting driving circuit is used for turn on or off the mowing motor; the infrared circuit uses a infrared transmitting tube and receiving tube to collect signals; the virtual line detecting circuit is used for converting the electromagnetic field signal produced by the virtual line into the electric signal; the filter circuit is used for filtering the virtual line signal.

An agricultural work machine is provided comprising a surroundings detection device for detecting a surroundings in sections, and one or more controllable working elements, wherein the surroundings detection device generates surroundings detection signals, which can be processed in a control and regulating device assigned to the agricultural work machine, wherein the surroundings detection device is designed as a scanner, which scans the surroundings in scanning planes, and wherein each scanning plane is assigned to the control of working elements.

A deck height adjustment apparatus for a walk-behind mower includes a foot pedal actuated lever operably connected to a deck lift mechanism for raising and lowering a mowing deck. A cam wheel, having an outer edge of a varying radius relative to an axis of rotation, is mounted to a mower body proximate the lever. The deck height is a function of the radius of the outer edge of the cam wheel in contact with the lever. An adjustment mechanism for setting the deck height is conveniently located on a handle of the walk-behind mower.

An articulate vehicle comprises a first frame disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle and a second frame disposed at the other of front and rear portions of the vehicle. The first frame supports a first transaxle apparatus supporting a first axle. The second frame supports a second transaxle apparatus supporting a second axle. Proximal ends of the frames with respect to the vehicle are coupled to each other through a coupling part so that the first and second frames are rotatable relative to each other around a vertical axis according to steering operation. An engine is mounted on the first frame. A first hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the first transaxle apparatus so as to drive the first axle. A working vehicle is equipped at a distal side of the second frame with respect to the vehicle. A second hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the second transaxle apparatus so as to drive the second axle. A hydraulic pump is mounted on either the first or second frame, drivingly connected to the engine, and fluidly connected to both the first and second hydraulic motors.

A portable implement for providing a source of electrical energy, where the implement has an electric generator with a drive shaft rotatable about a shaft axis and at least one set of electrical output leads, a support housing with a lower ground engaging base, an upper support plate with a central access opening, a bracket in the housing to mount the generator with the shaft axis extending generally vertically through the access opening and a platform on the housing to fixedly attach a standard lawn mower with a cutter blade rotatable about a blade axis onto the housing with the blade axis extending generally parallel to and generally aligned with the shaft axis. A universal shaft coupling carried by the drive shaft and extending through the access opening, which coupling has a lower section connected to the drive shaft for rotation about the shaft axis and an upper section with a nest to receive the cutter for rotation of the upper section about the blade axis.

An agriculture vehicle has a mobile body and an arm. The arm has a first end supported upon the mobile body and a second end movable relative the mobile body. A cutting tool is operatively supported upon the second end of the arm. The cutting tool includes a blade configured for rotation.

PCT No. PCT/US96/13362 Sec. 371 Date Aug. 17, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Aug. 17, 1995 PCT Filed Aug. 16, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/06664 PCT Pub. Date Feb. 27, 1997An apparatus and a method for cutting vegetation and simultaneously treating the remaining stems of the cut vegetation with a treatment fluid. The apparatus includes a mower, a cutting blade drive rotatably mounted on the mower, a blade carrier secured to the rotatable drive, and at least one cutting blade assembly rotatably mounted on the blade carrier. The apparatus further includes a fluid container for containing the treatment fluid in a plurality of interconnected, stackable and removable fluid container cells, a pumping device for pumping the treatment fluid to the at least one cutting blade assembly, a flow control device for metering the amount of treatment fluid that is pumped to the at least one cutting blade assembly, and a fluid conduit device for delivering the treatment fluid from the fluid container to the cutting and treating device. The method includes the steps of cutting vegetation with at least one cutting blade, and delivering a treatment fluid to the underside of the at least one cutting blade in a continuous stream so that the treatment fluid is continuously available to the remaining stems of the cut vegetation.

A mower deck having a plurality of cutting blades carried within a cutting chamber and having a plurality of flow control baffles positioned within the cutting chamber including a first flow control baffle being movably connected to the mower deck. The first flow control baffle being selectively movable between a pair of orientations within the cutting chamber during a mowing operation. In a preferred embodiment, the first flow control baffle may be positioned between the pair of orientations without access to the cutting chamber.