IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,966,870
Granted Patent B2
US 8,966,870 · App. 13/657,308 · Granted Mar 3, 2015

Methods of controlling a lawn mower having electric drive and blade motors

Inventors: Stuart Craig MacKinnon (Waterloo, CA); Robert Gordon Lankin (St. Agatha, CA); Jason Cornelius Wiseman (Guelph, CA); Christopher Keith Derbecker (Brantford, CA)
Assignee: Accelerated Systems Inc.
A01D34/78B60L2200/40
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,966,870
App. No.
13/657,308
Granted
Mar 3, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle such as a riding lawn mower may have at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors. According to some embodiments, a method of controlling the vehicle may include: operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed; monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor; comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.

Claims (77)

1. A method of controlling a lawn mower, the lawn mower having at least one electric drive motor configured to drive at least one wheel, at least one electric blade motor configured to drive at least one cutting blade, and a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors, the method comprising:

operating the blade motor according to a blade target speed;

monitoring a blade current load for the blade motor;

comparing the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decreasing the blade target speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a blade speed setpoint; and

setting the blade target speed based at least partially on the blade speed setpoint.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operating the drive motor according to a travel target speed;

comparing the blade current load to a heavy load high threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is greater than the heavy load high threshold, decreasing the travel target speed.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a travel speed setpoint; and

setting the travel target speed based at least partially on the travel speed setpoint.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

receiving a blade speed setpoint; and

setting the blade target speed based at least partially on the blade speed setpoint.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

operating the drive motor according to a travel target speed;

comparing the blade current load to a light load high threshold and a heavy load low threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is greater than the light load high threshold and less than the heavy load low threshold, increasing the travel target speed.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

receiving a travel speed setpoint; and

setting the travel target speed based at least partially on the travel speed setpoint.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

if the blade current load is greater than the light load high threshold and less than the heavy load low threshold, increasing the blade target speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a blade speed setpoint; and

setting the blade target speed based on the blade speed setpoint.

10. A lawn mower, comprising:

a driving assembly comprising at least one electric drive motor and at least one wheel that is driven by the drive motor;

a cutting assembly comprising at least one electric blade motor and at least one cutting blade that is driven by the blade motor;

a battery module connected to the drive and blade motors; and

a controller connected to the drive and blade motors, wherein the controller is configured to:

operate the blade motor according to a blade target speed;

monitor a blade current load for the blade motor;

compare the blade current load to a light load low threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is less than the light load low threshold, decrease the blade target speed.

11. The lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a blade speed setpoint; and

set the blade target speed based at least partially on the blade speed setpoint.

12. The lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

operate the drive motor according to a travel target speed;

compare the blade current load to a heavy load high threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is greater than the heavy load high threshold, decrease the travel target speed.

13. The lawn mower of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a travel speed setpoint; and

set the travel target speed based at least partially on the travel speed setpoint.

14. The lawn mower of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a blade speed setpoint; and

set the blade target speed based at least partially on the blade speed setpoint.

15. The lawn mower of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

operate the drive motor according to a travel target speed;

compare the blade current load to a light load high threshold and a heavy load low threshold for the blade motor; and

if the blade current load is greater than the light load high threshold and less than the heavy load low threshold, increase the travel target speed.

16. The lawn mower of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a travel speed setpoint; and

set the travel target speed based at least partially on the travel speed setpoint.

17. The lawn mower of claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

if the blade current load is greater than the light load high threshold and less than the heavy load low threshold, increase the blade target speed.

18. The lawn mower of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a blade speed setpoint; and

set the blade target speed based on the blade speed setpoint.

19. A vehicle, comprising:

a driving assembly comprising at least one electric drive motor and at least one wheel that is driven by the drive motor;

an implement assembly comprising at least one electric implement motor and at least one implement that is driven by the implement motor;

a battery module connected to the drive and implement motors; and

a controller connected to the drive and implement motors, wherein the controller is configured to:

operate the implement motor according to an implement target speed;

monitor an implement current load for the implement motor;

compare the implement current load to a light load low threshold for the implement motor; and

if the implement current load is less than the light load low threshold, decrease the implement target speed.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

operate the drive motor according to a travel target speed;

compare the implement current load to a heavy load high threshold for the implement motor; and

if the implement current load is greater than the heavy load high threshold, decrease the travel target speed.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2015
From: MACKINNON, STUART CRAIG; WISEMAN, JASON CORNELIUS; DERBECKER, CHRISTOPHER KEITH; LANKIN, ROBERT GORDON
To: ACCELERATED SYSTEMS INC.
Reel/Frame 034827/0236 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61551895 · Oct 26, 2011
Related Publication 20130104509A1 · May 2, 2013