Patent ID: 9167741
Filing Date: 2015-10-27
Classification: A01B,A01D,B23P,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising: a frame to which wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle are attachable; a steering assembly comprising a steering wheel operably coupled to two rear wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide steering inputs to the rear wheels; and an axle mount fixed relative to the frame, the axle mount disposed to extend substantially between the rear wheels, the axle mount comprising a first sleeve and a second sleeve disposed at opposite distal ends of the axle mount, the first and second sleeves receiving respective portions of a first axle rod and a second axle rod rotatably mounted therein, wherein the first axle rod and the second axle rod each comprise a top portion received in respective ones of the first and second sleeves and a bottom portion bent with respect to the top portion at an angle greater than ninety degrees, the bottom portion being received by respective ones of the rear wheels at an axis of rotation thereof, wherein the first and second sleeves are disposed in a fixed position relative to the axle mount and an orientation of each of the first and second sleeves is provided such that the bottom portion of each of the first and second axle rods is substantially parallel to a driving surface on which the riding lawn care vehicle operates in response to the steering wheel being oriented in a neutral position and the bottom portion of each of the first and second axle rods is not parallel to the driving surface in response to the steering wheel being rotated out of the neutral position, wherein the first and second axle rods rotate in the first and second sleeves, respectively, responsive to input from the steering wheel that is translated to the first and second axle rods via a cable system, and wherein the cable system comprises a pulley assembly in which each pulley of the pulley assembly handles cables running to and from a steering disc rotatable disposed substantially between the rear wheels and proximate to the axle mount, wherein a first tie rod operably couples the steering disc to a first one of the rear wheels and a second tie rod operably couples the steering disc to a second one of the rear wheels, and wherein the steering disc translates motion of the steering wheel to the rear wheels via the first and second tie rods based on movement of the cable system induced by rotation of the steering wheel.