Speed control system for walk behind powered equipment

1. A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus comprising:

a mobile structure;

a handle assembly coupled to said mobile structure, said handle assembly having a pair of grip portions; a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to said mobile structure, said ground engaging traction member imparting traction movement to said mobile structure for movement on the ground;

a power source outputting drive power;

a drive system operably coupled between said power source and said ground engaging traction member, said drive system selectively transmitting said drive power to said ground engaging traction member; and

a speed control actuation system operably coupled to said drive system, said speed control actuation system having a control member pivotable about an axis by thumbs of an operator without removal of hands of the operator from said pair of grip portions, said axis being generally parallel to a plane extending between said pair of grip portions of said handle assembly;

wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a pulley member fixed for rotation with said shaft, said pulley member engaging said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

2. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control member is generally U-shaped having a pair of end portions, each of said pair of end portions being disposed generally adjacent a corresponding one of said pair of grip portions to permit actuation of said control member by an operator without said user operator releasing said pair of grip portions.

3. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a cable member operably coupled between said control member and said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

4. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control member is offset inboard of said grip portions.

5. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control member is precluded from rotating in a direction along said axis.

6. A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus comprising:

a mobile structure;

a handle assembly coupled to said mobile structure, said handle assembly having a pair of grip portions;

a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to said mobile structure, said ground engaging traction member imparting traction movement to said mobile structure for movement on the ground;

a power source outputting drive power;

a drive system operably coupled between said power source and said ground engaging traction member, said drive system selectively transmitting said drive power to said ground engaging traction member in response to a drive command signal; and

a speed control actuation system operably coupled to said drive system to provide said drive command signal, said speed control actuation system having a control member rotatable about an axis in a first direction to output said drive command signal to increase drive speed and in a second direction to output said drive command signal to decrease drive speed, said control member being displaceable only about said axis, said axis being generally parallel to a plane extending between said pair of grip portions of said handle assembly.

7. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control member is generally U-shaped having a pair of end portions, each of said pair of end portions being disposed generally adjacent a corresponding one of said pair of grip portions to permit actuation of said control member by an operator without said user operator releasing said pair of grip portions.

8. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a pulley member fixed for rotation with said shaft, said pulley member engaging said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

9. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a cable member operably coupled between said control member and said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

10. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control member is offset inboard of said grip portions.

11. The walk-behind self-propelled apparatus of claim 6 wherein said handle assembly further includes a top portion offset above said control member.

12. A walk-behind self-propelled apparatus comprising:

a mobile structure;

a handle assembly coupled to said mobile structure, said handle assembly having a pair of grip portions; a ground engaging traction member rotatably coupled to said mobile structure, said ground engaging traction member imparting traction movement to said mobile structure for movement on the ground;

a power source outputting drive power;

a drive system operably coupled between said power source and said ground engaging traction member, said drive system selectively transmitting said drive power to said ground engaging traction member; and

a speed control actuation system operably coupled to said drive system, said speed control actuation system having a control member offset inboard of said grip portions and pivotable about an axis by thumbs of an operator without removal of hands of the operator from said pair of grip portions;

wherein said axis is generally perpendicular to a line extending through said grip portions.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said axis is generally parallel to a plane extending between said pair of grip portions of said handle assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control member is generally U-shaped having a pair of end portions, each of said pair of end portions being disposed generally adjacent a corresponding one of said pair of grip portions to permit actuation of said control member by an operator without said operator releasing said pair of grip portions.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a pulley member fixed for rotation with said shaft, said pulley member engaging said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control member of said speed control actuation system is coupled to a shaft extending through said handle assembly, said speed control actuation system further including a cable member operably coupled between said control member and said drive system to provide control input to said drive system in response to actuation of said control member by an operator.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said handle assembly further includes a top portion offset above said control member.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said control member is precluded from rotating in a direction along said axis.