FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to systems for mowing grass, weeds, brush, and the like, with particular focus on such systems that allow the mower to be controlled remotely e.g. using a handheld unit or other remote control unit, as well as systems in which the mower is adapted for use on moderately- to highly-sloped terrain surfaces. The invention also pertains to related methods, systems, and articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous types of residential, commercial, and industrial mowing systems are known. The vast majority of such systems are configured for manual control by a single user who pushes, or in some cases sits atop, a mower unit. The vast majority of such systems are also configured for use on terrain that is flat or gently sloped, e.g. for terrain whose slope angle may range from 0 degrees (flat and level) to 22 degrees. Furthermore, many known riding mowers are equipped with separate left-wheel and right-wheel control handles by which the user can move the mower forward, reverse, and through a range of turns, including forward turns, backward turns, and so-called zero-turns, i.e., maneuvering the mower through a turn whose turn radius is essentially zero.

There are also some known mowing systems that employ a remote control unit to maneuver and control the mower from a distance, as well as some that employ a mower specially designed to operate on terrain whose slope angle is greater than 22 degrees, such mowers known in the art as “slope mowers”. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,344 (Medina et al.) and U.S. Pat. No. 8,634,960 (Sandhi et al.).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Slope mowers and systems that employ them have unique operational and functional challenges due to the elevated dangers and difficulties associated with sliding, falling, overturning, and maneuvering on steeply sloped terrain. Remotely controlled mower systems also have their own operational and functional challenges, such as how to prevent a powerful cutting device that has its own source of locomotion from losing control or otherwise jeopardizing the safety of the user/operator as well as bystanders. The present inventors have recognized a need for incorporating new, innovative features to mower systems—especially remotely controlled slope mower systems—that can enhance the safety, functionality, or other utility of the system. The disclosed enhancements satisfy one or more of those needs and form the basis for new families of remote-control mower systems and methods, and other mower systems.

This document actually discloses a number of such enhancements, each of which is described in more detail below. The enhancements may be implemented individually in a given mower system, or in combinations as desired. One aspect relates to monitoring a tilt angle of the mower, and defining or executing different system responses as a function of different first and second conditions that relate to the tilt angle. Another aspect relates to automatic adjustment of a speed setting of the mower's drive system as a function of a power takeoff (PTO) unit of the mower.

One aspect relates to a mower that includes a frame, an engine attached to the frame, mower blades attached to the frame and selectively coupled to the engine by a power takeoff (PTO) unit, a controller configured to separately control the PTO unit and the engine, and an inclinometer attached to the frame and coupled to the controller, the inclinometer providing an inclinometer output indicative of a tilt angle of the frame. The controller may be configured to turn the PTO unit off but keep the engine on when the inclinometer output satisfies a first condition, and configured to turn the engine off when the inclinometer output satisfies a second condition.

Another aspect relates to a mower that includes an engine, a power takeoff (PTO) unit, a controller configured to separately control the PTO unit and the engine, the controller including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory unit in which instructions are stored, and an inclinometer coupled to the controller, the inclinometer providing an inclinometer output indicative of a tilt angle of the mower. The instructions may be configured to turn the PTO unit off but keep the engine on when the inclinometer output satisfies a first condition, and configured to turn the engine off when the inclinometer output satisfies a second condition.

Another aspect relates to a method of operating a slope mower having an engine, a power takeoff (PTO) unit, an inclinometer, and a controller configured to separately control the PTO unit and the engine. The method may include turning the PTO unit off but keeping the engine on when an output of the inclinometer satisfies a first condition, and turning the engine off when the output of the inclinometer output satisfies a second condition.

Another aspect relates to a mower that includes an engine, a PTO unit, a drive system, and a controller. The drive system may include a left drive wheel, a right drive wheel, a left actuator, and a right actuator, the left actuator having a position that controls a speed of the left drive wheel, and the right actuator having a position that controls a speed of the right drive wheel. The controller may be coupled to the PTO unit and to the left and right actuators of the drive system, and may be configured to provide first drive signals to the first and second actuators when the PTO unit is off, and second drive signals to the first and second actuators when the PTO unit is on, the first drive signals characterized by a first maximum drive speed and the second drive signals characterized by a second maximum drive speed, the second maximum speed being less than the first maximum speed.

Numerous related methods, systems, and articles are also disclosed.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description below. In no event, however, should the above summaries be construed as limitations on the claimed subject matter, which subject matter is defined solely by the attached claims, as may be amended during prosecution.

