Abstract:
A roller driven by an engine through a reversible gearbox that is engaged via a belt or chain by a clutch that engages and disengages the belt base on changes in the engine RPM.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to a roller made for smoothing and/or compacting a surface and more particularly, a roller having a mechanical drive. 
     Rollers are well-known in the art. In one example, rollers are used for putting greens and turf maintenance. Typically, these rollers have an engine connected to a hydrostatic transmission to propel the unit. The hydrostatic transmission is connected via a chain to a sprocket system that is connected to a rubber drive roller that propels the roller back and forth over a green. 
     Hydraulics are desirable because they allow for a quick change of direction. While use of hydraulics are beneficial, there exists a potential risk of hydraulic fluids leaking and damaging or killing the grass. Also, because a hydraulic drive unit does not have changing gear ratios, the unit is generally kept at wide open throttle during operation. This leads to an undesirable noise level. Thus, there is a need in the art for a device that addresses these deficiencies. 
     An objective of the present invention is to provide a roller having a mechanical drive. 
     Another objective is to provide a roller having a lower noise operating level. 
     These and other objectives will be apparent to those skilled in the art based upon the following written description, claims and drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A mechanical drive roller having a drive assembly that includes an engine operatively connected to a gearbox or transaxle via a drive belt or chain. A primary drive clutch is mounted to the engine or to the transaxle and is positioned to selectively engage the drive belt based upon engine RPM. The transaxle is operatively connected to a drive roller. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a mechanical drive roller; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a mechanical drive roller; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a mechanical drive roller; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a mechanical drive roller; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a mechanical drive roller; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of a drive assembly for a mechanical drive roller. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the figures, a roller  10  has a frame  12  with an operating seat  14  connected to the frame  12  by a plurality of leg supports  16 . The frame  12  is of any size and shape and includes a top surface  18 , a first or front end  20 , a second or rear end  22  and a pair of opposing sides  24 . 
     Extending through the top surface  18  of the frame  12  and connected to a drive assembly  26  is a steering arm or wheel  28 . A pair of direction pedals  30  also extend through the top surface  18  of the frame  12  and are connected to the drive assembly  26 . 
     The drive assembly  26  includes an engine  32  mounted to the top surface  18  of the frame  12 . Connected to the engine  32  is a primary or drive clutch  34 . The drive clutch  34  is connected to a secondary or driven clutch  36  by a drive belt or chain  38 . The driven clutch  36  is mounted to a gearbox or transaxle  40 . Preferably, the driven clutch  36  is torque sensing and shifts according to the torque taken to move the roller  10 . 
     The gearbox  40  transfers power to an output shaft  42  through a final drive mechanism such as a chain or belt  44 . Belt  44  is mounted to pulleys  46  and output shaft  42  is connected to a drive roller  48 . The gearbox/transaxle  40  is also operatively connected to steering rollers  49 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the drive clutch  34  is connected to the engine  32  and to a pulley or sprocket  50  via a belt or chain  38 . Pulley/sprocket  50  is mounted to an input shaft  54 . The input shaft  54  is connected to the gearbox/transaxle  40 . The gearbox/transaxle  40  is operatively connected to the drive roller  48  as previously described. 
     In yet another embodiment, pulley/sprocket  50  is connected to the engine  32  and to the drive clutch  34  via belt or chain  38 . The drive clutch  34  is mounted to the gearbox/transaxle  40  which is operatively connected to the drive roller as previously described. 
     In operation for all embodiments, the primary drive clutch  34  is positioned to selectively engage drive belt  38  when the engine  32  reaches a predetermined revolution per minute (RPM). In one example, a sensor or encoder  56  is associated with the engine  32  and is connected to a computer  58  having software logic  60 . When a directional pedal  30  is activated manually, the pedal  30  is connected to a throttle of the engine  32  causing rotation of the engine&#39;s drive shaft (not shown). The sensor  56  determines the RPM of the engine  32  and transmits the RPM information to the computer  58 . The software logic  60  compares the transmitted RPM information with a predetermined RPM level. If the transmitted RPM information meets or exceeds the predetermined RPM level, the computer  58  sends a signal to the primary drive clutch  34  causing clutch  34  to engage belt  38 . 
     Accordingly, a mechanical drive for a roller has been disclosed that, at the very least, meets all the stated objectives.