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EP-4740720-A2 - SPEED CONTROL ASSEMBLY

EP4740720A2EP 4740720 A2EP4740720 A2EP 4740720A2EP-4740720-A2

Abstract

A mower comprising a handle assembly, a grip coupled to the handle assembly, the grip moveable longitudinally relative to a portion of the handle assembly external to the grip, a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the portion of the handle assembly external to the grip, a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal, and a controller configured to receive the output signal and control the drive assembly based on the output signal.

Inventors

  • FERRELL, James, C.
  • COLBER, William, E.
  • FENG, Dayu

Assignees

  • Techtronic Outdoor Products Technology Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20180622

Claims (14)

  1. A mower (1) comprising: a handle assembly (14); a grip (46) coupled to the handle assembly (14), the grip (46) moveable longitudinally relative to a portion of the handle assembly (14) external to the grip (46); a sensor (66) operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip (46) relative to the portion of the handle assembly (14) external to the grip (46); a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal; and a controller (70) configured to receive the output signal and control the drive assembly based on the output signal.
  2. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein the sensor (66) is at least one selected from a group consisting of a pressure sensor and a force-sensitive sensor.
  3. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein the grip (46) includes a gripping portion (50), a first grip leg (55), and a second grip leg (56).
  4. The mower (10) of claim 3, wherein the first grip leg (55) and the second grip leg (56) are received by the handle assembly (14).
  5. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein the output signal varies proportionally to a magnitude of displacement of the grip (46) relative to the portion of the handle assembly (14).
  6. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein the sensor (66) is a transducer.
  7. The mower (10) of claim 1, further comprising a wheel (26) coupled to the drive assembly, wherein the drive assembly drives the wheel (26).
  8. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein the drive assembly includes an electric motor.
  9. The mower (10) of claim 1, wherein a first portion (66a) of the sensor (66) is coupled to the grip (46) and moves with the grip (46) as the grip (46) moves relative to the handle assembly (14); and wherein a second portion (66b) of the sensor (66) is fixed with respect to the handle assembly (14).
  10. The mower (10) of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member (84) positioned between the grip (46) and the handle assembly (14).
  11. A handle assembly (14) for a mower (10) comprising: a first upper arm (33); a second upper arm (34); a cross member (62) extending transversely between the first upper arm (33) and the second upper arm (34); a first housing (60) coupled to the cross member (62) and the first upper arm (33); a second housing (61) coupled to the cross member (62) and the second upper arm (34); a grip (46) at least partially received within the first housing (60) and the second housing (61), wherein the grip (46) is movable relative to the first housing (60) and the second housing (61); a biasing member (84) biasing the grip (46), the biasing member (84) at least partially positioned within the housing; a sensor (66) positioned within the first housing (60) or the second housing (61), wherein the sensor (66) generates a control signal based on the position of the grip (46) with respect to the cross member (62); and a controller (70) that receives the control signal and operates the mower (10) based on the control signal.
  12. The handle assembly (14) of claim 11, further comprising a lower arm (35) pivotally coupled to a bracket attached to a deck of the mower (10) and wherein a lower end of the first upper arm (33) or the second upper arm (34) is telescopically received by an upper end of the lower arm (35).
  13. The handle assembly (14) of claim 12, wherein the grip (46) translates along a longitudinal axis defined by the first upper arm (33) or the second upper arm (34).
  14. The handle assembly (14) of claim 12, wherein the grip (46) is pivotally coupled to the first upper arm (33) or the second upper arm (34).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/524,179, filed on June 23, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a speed control system, and more particularly to a speed control system for a lawn mower. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides, in one aspect, a mower comprising a handle assembly, a grip coupled to the handle assembly, the grip moveable longitudinally relative to a portion of the handle assembly external to the grip, a sensor operable to generate an output signal based on a position of the grip relative to the portion of the handle assembly external to the grip, a drive assembly configured to operate based on the output signal, and a controller configured to receive the output signal and control the drive assembly based on the output signal. The present invention provides, in another aspect, a handle assembly for a mower comprising a first upper arm, a second upper arm, a cross member extending transversely between the first upper arm and the second upper arm, a first housing coupled to the cross member and the first upper arm, a second housing coupled to the cross member and the second upper arm, a grip at least partially received within the first housing and the second housing, wherein the grip is movable relative to the first housing and the second housing, a biasing member biasing the grip, the biasing member at least partially positioned within the housing, a sensor positioned within the first housing or the second housing, wherein the sensor generates a control signal based on the position of the grip with respect to the cross member, and a controller that receives the control signal and operates the mower based on the control signal. Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lawn mower including a speed control assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.FIG. 2 is a partial section view of the lawn mower of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 shown in FIG. 1.FIG. 3 is a front view of the lawn mower and the speed control assembly of FIG. 1.FIG. 4A is a section view of the speed control assembly taken along the line of 4A-4A shown in FIG. 3, illustrating a grip of the speed control assembly in a first position.FIG. 4B is another section view of the speed control assembly and taken along the line of 4A-4A shown in FIG. 3, illustrating the grip of the speed control assembly in a second position.FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a speed control assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a speed control assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.FIG. 7 is a front view of a speed control assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a lawn mower 10 including a handle assembly 14 pivotally coupled to a main body 18 that supports a drive system assembly 22 (FIG. 2). The drive system 22 includes, for example, an electric motor 24 powered by a battery pack 80 received within the main body 18. The motor 24 drives a set of wheels 26, which support the main body 18 for movement over a surface. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear wheels 26 are driven by the drive system 22, but alternative embodiments include both the front and the rear wheels being driven by the drive system 22. A transmission is coupled to the motor 24 to reduce the rotational speed from the motor 24 and to transfer the motor torque to the wheels 26. The mower 10 further includes a cutting element 28 rotationally supported on a mower deck 20 positioned beneath the main body 18. The cutting element 28 is ultimately driven by the motor 24. In alternative embodiments, the cutting element 28 may be driven by a motor separate from the motor that drives the wheels 26. As described in greater detail below, the mower 10 also includes a speed control assembly 30 that controls the operation of the drive system 22. More specifically, the speed control assembly 30 automatically controls the ground travel speed of the lawn mower 10 based on a user's walking pace. With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and