Zero Turn Vehicle Supplemental Brake System for Slope Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Zero turn vehicles, such as mowers, face difficulties in maintaining stationary position after releasing the brake pedal, especially on slopes, due to uneven braking forces, making it challenging for inexperienced operators to control the vehicle's direction safely.
Innovation Solution
A supplemental brake system that includes a prime mover, brake pedal, axles, transaxles with brakes, and supplemental braking means to stop power transmission and apply combined braking force, ensuring safe and controlled restart by detecting brake pedal depression and setting transaxles to neutral, using sensors and belt clutches for even braking and differential locking to stabilize the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional brake system with individual transaxle brakes is used, then braking function is provided, but vehicle cannot be kept stationary after brake release especially on slopes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of the left and right transaxle brakes into a unified brake system controlled by a single brake pedal. The brake pedal simultaneously actuates both transaxle brakes through a common brake line, ensuring coordinated braking action and preventing unintended vehicle movement after brake release.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a differential lock mechanism as an intermediary between the transaxles. This differential lock prevents the transaxles from rotating at different speeds, thereby preventing the vehicle from veering or changing direction unexpectedly after the brake is released, especially on slopes.
2Reliability
If supplemental braking means is added to stop power transmission, then combined braking force increases for safe restart, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the brake pedal serve multiple functions: it not only actuates the transaxle brakes but also simultaneously operates the differential lock mechanism and controls power transmission to the transaxles. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control mechanisms and minimizes overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake system is designed to automatically coordinate the operation of multiple components (transaxle brakes, differential lock, and power transmission control) through a single brake pedal input. The system self-regulates the braking forces and lock mechanism engagement without requiring additional operator input or complex external control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A supplemental brake system of a zero turn vehicle has a prime mover, a brake pedal, a pair of axles, and a pair of transaxles driven by the prime mover so as to drive the respective axles. The transaxles include respective brakes for braking the respective axles according to depression of the brake pedal. Also included are supplemental braking means for stopping transmission of power from the prime mover to the pair of transaxles according to depression of the brake pedal.