Stand on mower with traction drive pedals

A stand on mower includes a left foot pedal and a right foot pedal. Each foot pedal is spaced from the other and is dimensioned to support one of the operator's feet. Each foot pedal is biased to a neutral position generally parallel to a horizontal surface of a foot platform located generally between or behind a pair of traction drive wheels. The left foot pedal and the right foot pedal pivot independently forwardly and rearwardly to forward and reverse traction drive positions, and are connected to a pair of wheel motors respectively that rotate each of the traction drive wheels in either forward or reverse based on the traction drive positions of the foot pedals.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to stand on mowers, and more specifically to a stand on mower with traction drive pedals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stand on mowers are self propelled power mowing machines with dual traction drive systems that propel drive wheels on the left and right sides of the machines, foot platforms on which operators stand between, or slightly forward or behind, the drive wheels, and hand operated controls in front of the operator. The hand operated controls include traction speed and direction control levers that operators use to control the dual traction drive systems. Stand on mowers have mowing decks with a plurality of rotary cutting blades designed and used to mow grass effectively and efficiently. An example of a stand on mower is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,507,138.

Stand on mowers may include stationary bars in front of the operator adjacent the traction speed and direction control levers. Operators may grip the stationary bars with their hands to help stabilize themselves while standing on the foot platform. However, operators may have difficulty operating the traction speed and direction control levers while holding onto the stationary bars, especially while the machine travels over uneven terrain. Operators also may release the stationary bars to actuate other controls, such as push button controls to raise and lower the mowing deck, or to shut off the mowing deck. These actions may result in a temporary loss of operator stability.

A stand on mower is needed having traction speed and direction controls that operators may use without removing their hands from the stationary bars. A stand on mower is needed that increases operator stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A stand on mower with traction drive pedals pivotably mounted between a pair of traction drive wheels. Each foot pedal is dimensioned to support one of an operator's feet in a standing position. Each foot pedal pivots between a forward position and a reverse position, and is connected to a motor that rotates one of the traction drive wheels at a desired speed in forward or reverse corresponding to the foot pedal position. The stand on mower with traction drive pedals may be used to control traction speed and direction without removing hands from stationary bars. The stand on mower with traction drive pedals increases operator stability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In one embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, stand on mower100may be provided with traction drive pedals101including left foot pedal102and right foot pedal104at or adjacent the rear of the machine. The left foot pedal and right foot pedal may be spaced from each other, and each pedal may be dimensioned to support one of the operator's feet. Each foot pedal may be mounted to the stand on mower between traction drive wheels110,112, and each pedal may be biased to a neutral or base position that may be generally parallel and coplanar to the horizontal surface or plane of foot platform121that is located generally between or behind traction drive wheels110,112. The foot platform also may include sufficient area for one or both of an operator's feet if the operator steps off the foot pedals.

In one embodiment, each foot pedal may be connected directly or indirectly to a wheel motor that rotates a traction drive wheel at a forward or reverse speed corresponding to the pedal position. Each wheel motor may be hydraulic or electric. Each foot pedal may pivot or rock independently forwardly and rearwardly to forward and reverse traction drive positions respectively. For example, each foot pedal may be independently mounted to rocker bar120extending transversely across the rear of the stand on mower below foot platform121. Additionally, the stand on mower may include an interlock switch that may need to be actuated before either wheel motor rotates a traction drive wheel in response to the position of a traction drive pedal.

In one embodiment, each foot pedal may be connected to one side of variable displacement dual hydraulic pump114. Each side of the pump may provide hydraulic fluid to one of hydraulic motors106,108to rotate one of traction drive wheels110,112at a desired speed. The left side of the variable displacement hydrostatic pump and right side of the variable displacement hydrostatic pump may provide pressurized hydraulic fluid through conduits to the left hydrostatic motor and the right hydrostatic motor respectively so that the motors may rotate each the machine's rear drive wheels in either forward or reverse. The foot pedals operate independently of each other, so that one of the foot pedals may be in a forward drive position and the other may be in a reverse drive position.

In one embodiment, mowing deck103may be mounted forwardly of the traction drive wheels. Additionally, one or more stationary bars107may be positioned in front of the operator on operator station113positioned forwardly of the rear drive wheels. The stationary bar(s)107may be mounted to the top of the operator station, and may extend substantially across the width of the operator station so that an operator may grip the stationary bar with both hands while in a standing position on the foot pedals.

In one embodiment, mechanical linkages may connect each foot pedal102,104to one of swash plate controls146,148on each side of hydraulic pump114. For example, in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1-3, left pedal arm122may connect to a forward end of left foot pedal102. Left connection rod126may pivotably connect left pedal arm122to left crank arm130. Left crank arm130may extend radially and rearwardly from left sleeve134pivotably mounted on rod pivot axis141. Left crank arm138may extend radially and forwardly from left sleeve134. Left connection rod142may pivotably connect left crank arm138to left swash plate control146. Hydraulic hoses116connect the left side of pump114to left wheel motor106.

Similarly, in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3, right pedal arm124may connect to a forward end of right foot pedal104. Right connection rod128may pivotably connect right pedal arm124to right crank arm132. Right crank arm132may extend radially and rearwardly from right sleeve136pivotably mounted on rod pivot axis141. Right crank arm140may extend radially and forwardly from right sleeve136. Right connection rod144may pivotably connect right crank arm140to right swash plate control148. Hydraulic hoses118connect the right side of pump114to right wheel motor108.

In an alternative embodiment, each foot pedal may provide electronic signals to the swash plate controls of the variable displacement dual hydraulic pump, instead of mechanical linkages.

In another alternative embodiment, instead of a variable displacement dual hydraulic pump and hydraulic motors, the stand on mower may include electric motors for each traction drive wheel, and each foot pedal may be electrically connected to each motor and provide electronic signals to command the speed and direction of each electric motor.

In one embodiment, left and right biasing springs145,147may be connected to left and right biasing arms146,148that may urge each of left foot pedal102and right foot pedal104to their neutral positions. The operator may exert pressure on each foot control to rock or pivot the control forwardly in a first direction or rearwardly in a second direction.

In one embodiment, each foot pedal may be moved or pivoted from the neutral position to a forward drive position by depressing the forward portion of the pedal with the front of the operator's foot or toes. Each foot pedal may be moved or pivoted between a minimum and a maximum forward drive speed position. For example, each foot pedal may move a swash plate control to a forward drive position, causing the variable displacement hydrostatic pump to supply hydraulic fluid to one of the left and right hydrostatic motors sufficient to rotate a traction drive wheel at a forward speed corresponding to the foot pedal position. Alternatively, each foot pedal may move a potentiometer or other electronic control to a forward drive position, causing an electric wheel motor to rotate a traction drive wheel at a forward speed corresponding to the foot pedal position.

In one embodiment, each foot pedal also may be moved or pivoted from the neutral position to a reverse drive position by depressing the rear portion of the pedal with the back of the operator's foot or heel. Each foot pedal may be pivoted between a minimum and a maximum reverse drive speed position. For example, each foot pedal may move a swash plate control to a reverse drive position, causing the variable displacement hydrostatic pump to supply hydraulic fluid to one of the left and right hydrostatic motors sufficient to rotate a traction drive wheel at a reverse speed corresponding to the foot pedal position. Alternatively, each foot pedal may move a potentiometer or other electronic control to a reverse drive position, causing an electric wheel motor to rotate a traction drive wheel at a reverse speed corresponding to the foot pedal position.