Suspension system for lawnmower

Abstract

In a riding mower having a frame, a mower deck supported beneath the frame, a chair on said frame and a source of motive power also supported on said frame and including two hydraulic transaxles depending beneath the frame to each selectively rotate a drive wheel. The frame is supported on forward and rear wheel assemblies with a supporting wheel. The transaxles are supported beneath the frame and pivotally secured thereto by a flange captivating vibration pillows and proximate the driven wheel and an inner pivot rod secured to the frame by apertures in downwardly depending tabs.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to riding mowers and, more particularly, to an improved suspension system for motive systems on such mowers or the like. Known art can be found in U.S. Class 280, subclass 124 and in other classes and subclasses.

2. Description of the Known Art

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that riding mowers have been a staple for maintaining residential yards, commercial lawns, golf courses and highway rights of way for many years. They are seen moving along grass in many settings including grassy center dividers and along the sides of roads in rough, sometimes rocky terrain, and in all sorts of attitudes from flat and level to severe side hills.

In many instances, an operator may be in the seat for hours, and even with a kidney belt, will suffer considerable discomfort and, in some cases, injury. Indeed, it is not inconceivable that the constant bouncing and jarring could cause an operator to lose control, resulting in damage to the operator and others.

The underlying purpose and function of the present invention is to provide an element of relief to an operator and increased vehicle control. The invention disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,708,292 issued to Foster deals with these issues. While this invention works well for its intended purpose, an improved system that places a hydrostatic axle proximate a drive wheel improves vehicle stability while also promoting operator comfort.

Most of the other known riding mowers in use today have their wheels affixed directly to the frame of the mower. In the late '90s the self proclaimed leader in the field, David Ferris, and others filed an application for a suspension system for riding mowers. The application claims priority based on provisionals, at least one of which dates back to 1996, and was divided and one of those continuations-in-part issued as Ferris et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,318. The patent features a four bar mechanism relatively common in automotive suspensions.

Known art which may be relevant to the present invention includes the following patents with their abstracts, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference.

Gordon U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,242 is yet another patent assigned to Ferris Industries and claims priority under a 1997 provisional, which is also claimed under the earlier mentioned Ferris et al. patent. Gordon, like Ferris et al., features a four bar mechanism. A very early patent featuring a rubber bumper between two elements in an automotive structure is found in Hickman U.S. Pat. No. 3,737,174.

Several other patents offer variations on the same theme. See, for example, Dunlap et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,669,467, which has additional buffering devices, such as springs, leaf or coil, and shock absorbing devices. Dunlap has a pair of cushions, but also uses a pair of rods 32 and 34, which attach directly to the frame rail.

Krakowiak et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,920, uses the simple bumper between the frame rail and a leaf spring. This is a device which is common on many of the earlier motor vehicles.

Merkle U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,717, uses what he refers to as an elastomeric spring, again, between the frame rail and what he refers to as a web section which holds the axle upon which the wheel is connected. It appears in the drawing that there may be a shock absorber in the middle of this assembly.

Bonzer et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,559,669, employs a resilient buffer 19 for a caster assembly. Heitzman U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,470 uses a couple of resilient buffers as part of a system for adjusting camber and caster. It is evident from these patents that using an elastomeric as a spring or shock absorber is not new in the art. All of these references seek, to a greater or lesser extent, some modulation of the amplitude and frequency of shock transmitted through a wheel of a vehicle, but are unsuited for a riding mower.

Also, commercially available equipment and components may be relevant, including hollow metal frames, shoe brushes and the like. Such equipment may be used in implementing an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

None of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention. It is desirable to have a improved lawnmower to address the perceived shortcomings of the known art.

While it is evident from past attempts that suspension systems for lawnmowers are desirable, the known art is limited in its teaching and utilization, and an improved system is needed to overcome these limitations. An improved suspension system should provide a simple and efficient system for meeting the various needs of the users and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the perceived needs in the known art discussed above. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. The suspension system for lawnmower may be advantageously used with zero-turn lawnmowers or others using transaxles combined with hydraulic pumps for motive power and the like. The transaxles are dampened by at least one pillow interposed between the frame the wheel with each pillow being of a resilient material for absorbing shock and vibration resulting from a wheel contacting irregularities in the terrain traversed thereby.

In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention an improved suspension system may be used with the rear axles to provide a motive source proximate the driven rear wheels and substantially isolated from the frame of the lawnmower to thereby dampen vibrations transmitted to the operator as the vehicle traverses the ground.

The apparatus of the invention is capable of receiving additional, optional features which are not a part of the present invention. For example, a purchaser or user may specify an optional mulcher or bagger or the like for a lawnmower. Other optional features, some of which may be illustrated herein, may or may not be included with apparatus incorporating the basic aspects of present invention.

In addition to providing the features and advantages referred to above, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved suspension system for lawnmower.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a lawnmower with a lowered center of gravity.

A basic object of the present invention is to provide a more stable lawnmower.

Yet another object of the present invention is to enhance user comfort.

A related object of the present invention is to provide a safer lawnmower.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a riding mower in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame of the mower with the rear axle assembly shown;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the encircled portion of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frame;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view thereof;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view taken from the side with the opposite side being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view taken generally from the rear thereof;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged elevational view taken generally from the rear thereof and similar to FIG. 7 but showing movement; and,

FIG. 9 is an enlarged bottom plan view and similar to FIG. 5 but showing movement and axes of rotation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the perceived needs in the known art discussed above. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. The improved suspension system for lawnmower includes a vibration damping system with transaxles that are attached to the rear axle assemblies that also provide motive power thereto.

In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention and shown in FIGS. 1-9, an improved riding mower 11 is illustrated. The mower 11 has a frame 16 supported by a pair of forward wheel assemblies 18 and rear wheel assemblies 72.

The frame 16 supports a mower deck 25, and a chair 27 is provided for a driver, with a pair of steering arms 29 within easy reach. A motor compartment 32 rides on the frame and provides motive power to the mower through right and left integrated hydrostatic transaxles 65 that drive right and left rear wheels 72 in response to operator manipulation of control handles 29.

One important feature of the present invention is the provision of the mower 11 which has enhanced comfort and less fatigue for the driver, all of which increases the ability of the driver to control the mower, even in unusual attitudes resulting from irregularities in the terrain, and over extended periods of operation, and particularly where terrain changes are abrupt. In accomplishing its objectives, both forward and rear systems of vibration control are interposed between each of the supporting wheel assemblies and the frame of the mower.

It is a feature of the present invention that a rear suspension system is provided with vibration damping capability. Referring to FIGS. 2-10, the rear segment 62 of the frame 16 supports two spaced apart rear axle transaxles 65, which are mounted transverse to the longitudinal axis of the mower 11.

The frame supports downward flanges 66 that captivate a portion of each transaxle 65 on the sides of the mower 11. Each of the transaxles 65 supports an outer driven wheel assembly 72 through an axle 73 and, in keeping with the objectives of the invention, are articulated about a pivot pin 74 (which may be a bolt and nut or other similar device) in a plane transverse to the plane of the transaxle housing. The pivot pin 74 is secured in apertures 76 in tabs 78 depending from the frame 62. Companion apertures 78 align with the apertures 76 to receive the pivot pins 74 which then permit pivotal movement thereabout.

Movement of the wheel assemblies 72 is limited and vibration is dampened by the provision of damping pillows 81 which are secured between the downwardly depending frame flanges 60 on the forward and rear sides of the transaxles 65. The pivotal movement of each transaxle 65 is shown by arrow 68 with the axes of rotation indicated by lines 70, which corresponds to an accompanying compression or extension of the affected pillows 81 (FIGS. 8 and 9).

Each pillow 81 is resilient and may be of any one of several durometers of rubber hardness, or may be of other suitable elastomeric materials, including elastic shells with a liquid or other compressible material there within, appropriate to the weight of the mower and the terrain to be traversed. The pillows define a cushion between the wheel and the frame of the mower, thereby absorbing shock created by the wheel moving over the uneven terrain. Further, each wheel functions independently, i.e., independent of the frame, in order that it may respond independently to variations in the terrain met by each individual wheel, which may be several feet removed from its companion wheel.

The pillows 81 are positioned between such flanges and a bolt 85 passes through the longitudinal axis of each pillow and is secured in apertures in the aligned flanges to thereby hold the pillow between them. The pillow is sized to abut the flanges above and beneath each, where it is held in place by bolts, and the pillow is compressed by the rapid upward movement of a wheel assembly, thereby dampening that movement and inhibiting, or at least modulating, transmission of that movement to the frame of the mower. The rapid movement resulting from the traversing of rocks and other debris is particularly well dampened. Moreover, if the wheel were to move downwardly, in a pot hole for example, it is inhibited from moving too rapidly or too far from its unstressed position.

The apparatus of the invention is capable of receiving additional, optional features which are not a part of the present invention. For example, a purchaser or user may specify an optional railing or grab bars may be included to facilitate handling of the device during deployment. Other optional features, some of which may be illustrated herein, may or may not be included with apparatus incorporating the basic aspects of present invention.

In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology has been used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

Claims

1. A riding lawnmower system comprising: a frame;a right rear drive system comprising: a right integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a right hydraulic pump, a right hydraulic motor and a right drive axle, the right drive axle configured to rotate about a right axle axis, and the right integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a right pivot assembly such that the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a right pivot axis oriented transverse to the right axle axis;the right pivot assembly comprising: a first right pivot element coupled to a first side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second right pivot element coupled to a second side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the right pivot axis and the first right pivot element;a right rear drive wheel coupled to the right drive axle of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle, the right rear drive wheel configured to rotate about the right axle axis and to pivot about the right pivot axis with the right integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda right resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis; anda left rear drive system comprising: a left integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a left hydraulic pump, a left hydraulic motor and a left drive axle, the left drive axle configured to rotate about a left axle axis, and the left integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a left pivot assembly such that the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a left pivot axis oriented transverse to the left axle axis;the left pivot assembly comprising: a first left pivot element coupled to a first side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second left pivot element coupled to a second side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the left pivot axis and the first left pivot element;a left rear drive wheel coupled to the left drive axle of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle, the left rear drive wheel configured to rotate about the left axle axis and to pivot about the left pivot axis with the left integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda left resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the right axle axis is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, and the right pivot axis is offset to a right side of the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, andwherein the left axle axis is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, and the left pivot axis is offset to a left side of the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the right rear drive wheel about the right axle axis, andwherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the left rear drive wheel about the left axle axis.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis comprises the right hydraulic pump, the right hydraulic motor and the right drive axle pivoting together as a unit about the right pivot axis, andwherein pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis comprises the left hydraulic pump, the left hydraulic motor and the left drive axle pivoting together as a unit about the left pivot axis.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about the right pivot axis independent of pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis, andwherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about the left pivot axis independent of pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a right pivot rod, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is pivotally coupled to the frame by way of the right pivot rod; anda left pivot rod, wherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of the left pivot rod.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the right pivot rod is coupled to a right member extending from a body of the frame, andwherein the left pivot rod is coupled to a left member extending from the body of the frame.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising: a right intermediate member, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is coupled to the right pivot rod by way of the right intermediate member; anda left intermediate member, wherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is coupled to the left pivot rod by way of the left intermediate member.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the right resilient member is configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle in a first direction about the right pivot axis,wherein the left resilient member is configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle in a second direction about the left pivot axis, andwherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the right rear drive system further comprises a second right resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis, andwherein the left rear drive system further comprises a second left resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the right resilient member and the second right resilient member are located on opposite sides of the right axle axis from one another, andwherein the left resilient member and the second left resilient member are located on opposite sides of the left axle axis from one another.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the riding lawnmower system comprises a zero-turn riding lawn mower.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the zero-turn riding lawn mower comprises a right steering arm and a left steering arm, andwherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the right drive axle and the right rear drive wheel responsive to manipulation of the right steering arm and the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the left drive axle and the left rear drive wheel responsive to manipulation of the left steering arm.

14. A riding lawnmower system comprising: a frame;a right rear drive system comprising: a right integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a right hydraulic pump, a right hydraulic motor and a right drive axle, the right drive axle configured to couple to a right rear drive wheel and configured to rotate about a right axle axis, and the right integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a right pivot assembly such that the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a right pivot axis oriented transverse to the right axle axis;the right pivot assembly comprising: a first right pivot element coupled to a first side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second right pivot element coupled to a second side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the right pivot axis and the first right pivot element; anda right resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis; anda left rear drive system comprising: a left integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a left hydraulic pump, a left hydraulic motor and a left drive axle, the left drive axle configured to couple to a left rear drive wheel and configured to rotate about a left axle axis, and the left integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a left pivot assembly such that the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a left pivot axis oriented transverse to the left axle axis;the left pivot assembly comprising: a first left pivot element coupled to a first side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second left pivot element coupled to a second side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the left pivot axis and the first left pivot element; anda left resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis.

15. A riding lawnmower system comprising: a frame;a right rear drive system comprising: a right integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a right drive axle, the right drive axle configured to couple to a right rear drive wheel and configured to rotate about a right axle axis, and the right integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a right pivot assembly such that the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a right pivot axis oriented transverse to the right axle axis;the right pivot assembly comprising: a first right pivot element coupled to a first side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second right pivot element coupled to a second side of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the right pivot axis and the first right pivot element; anda right resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis; anda left rear drive system comprising: a left integrated hydraulic transaxle comprising a left drive axle, the left drive axle configured to couple to a left rear drive wheel and configured to rotate about a left axle axis, the left integrated hydraulic transaxle pivotally coupled to the frame by way of a left pivot assembly such that the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about a left pivot axis oriented transverse to the left axle axis;the left pivot assembly comprising: a first left pivot element coupled to a first side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle; anda second left pivot element coupled to a second side of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle and oriented coaxial with the left pivot axis and the first left pivot element; anda left resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the right axle axis is oriented transverse to a longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, and the right pivot axis is offset to a right side of the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, andwherein the left axle axis is oriented transverse to the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system, and the left pivot axis is offset to a left side of the longitudinal axis of the riding lawnmower system.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the right drive axle about the right axle axis, andwherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the left drive axle about the left axle axis.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle comprises a right hydraulic pump, a right hydraulic motor and the right drive axle, wherein pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis comprises the right hydraulic pump, the right hydraulic motor and the right drive axle pivoting together as a unit about the right pivot axis, andwherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle comprises a left hydraulic pump, a left hydraulic motor and the left drive axle, and wherein pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis comprises the left hydraulic pump, the left hydraulic motor and the left drive axle pivoting together as a unit about the left pivot axis.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about the right pivot axis independent of pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis, andwherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to pivot about the left pivot axis independent of pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising: a right pivot rod, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is pivotally coupled to the frame by way of the right pivot rod; anda left pivot rod, wherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is pivotally coupled to the frame by way of the left pivot rod.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the right pivot rod is coupled to a right member extending from a body of the frame, andwherein the left pivot rod is coupled to a left member extending from the body of the frame.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising: a right intermediate member, wherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is coupled to the right pivot rod by way of the right intermediate member; anda left intermediate member, wherein the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is coupled to the left pivot rod by way of the left intermediate member.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the right resilient member is configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle in a first direction about the right pivot axis,wherein the left resilient member is configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle in a second direction about the left pivot axis, andwherein the second direction is opposite the first direction.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the right rear drive system further comprises a second right resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the right integrated hydraulic transaxle about the right pivot axis, andwherein the left rear drive system further comprises a second left resilient member configured to be compressed by pivoting of the left integrated hydraulic transaxle about the left pivot axis.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the right resilient member and the second right resilient member are located on opposite sides of the right axle axis from one another, andwherein the left resilient member and the second left resilient member are located on opposite sides of the left axle axis from one another.

26. The system of claim 15, wherein the riding lawnmower system comprises a zero-turn riding lawn mower.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the zero-turn riding lawn mower comprises a right steering arm and a left steering arm, andwherein the right integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the right drive axle responsive to manipulation of the right steering arm and the left integrated hydraulic transaxle is configured to transmit motive power to rotate the left drive axle responsive to manipulation of the left steering arm.