Abstract: An electric starter apparatus and method with three-stage gearing and method for starting an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a starter assembly, a first gear, a second gear, a third gear, a fourth gear and an engine shaft. The starter assembly includes an electric starter motor and a starter motor shaft communicating with the starter motor. The starter motor shaft is rotatable in response to energizing of the starter motor. The first gear is attached to the starter motor shaft for rotation therewith. The second gear engages the first gear, the third gear engages the second gear, and the fourth gear engages the third gear. The fourth gear is attached to the engine shaft for communicating with an internal combustion engine. The engine is started by energizing the starter motor to rotate the starter motor shaft, the gears, and the engine shaft. The arrangement of gears enables the use of a low-torque/high-rpm electric starter motor in combination with a nickel-cadmium battery.

Abstract: A gasoline-fueled lawn mower has a pull rope that extends from the lawn mower engine and is attached to a pulley. An electrically powered starter motor is brought into engagement with the pulley, so that actuation of the starter motor causes the rope to be drawn out of the lawn mower engine, so as to start the engine. When the engine starts, the starter motor is disengaged, allowing the pull rope to be at least partly retracted into the engine. The pulley and the starter motor are preferably mounted on cross bars extending between portions of the lawn mower handle, the starter motor being mounted so as to slide along the cross bars. The invention also includes a kit for modifying a lawn mower to include a power-assisted starting mechanism.

Abstract: A walk-behind greensmower includes an operator presence control for selectively determining when power from a source is delivered to an output. The operator presence control includes a handle, a bale coupled to the handle, a control arm and an electromagnet. The bale is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The control arm is moveable between a neutral position and a drive position where the control arm causes delivery of power from the source to the output when in the drive position. The electromagnet is selectively energizable in response to the position of the bale such that the control arm is retained in the drive position when the bale is in the engaged position.

Abstract: A gasoline-fueled lawn mower has a pull rope that extends from the lawn mower engine and is attached to a pulley. An electrically powered starter motor is brought into engagement with the pulley, so that actuation of the starter motor causes the rope to be drawn out of the lawn mower engine, so as to start the engine. When the engine starts, the starter motor is disengaged, allowing the pull rope to be at least partly retracted into the engine. The pulley and the starter motor are preferably mounted on cross bars extending between portions of the lawn mower handle, the starter motor being mounted so as to slide along the cross bars. The invention also includes a kit for modifying a lawn mower to include a power-assisted starting mechanism.

Abstract: A walk-behind greensmower includes an operator presence control for selectively determining when power from a source is delivered to an output. The operator presence control includes a handle, a bale coupled to the handle, a control arm and an electromagnet. The bale is moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The control arm is moveable between a neutral position and a drive position where the control arm causes delivery of power from the source to the output when in the drive position. The electromagnet is selectively energizable in response to the position of the bale such that the control arm is retained in the drive position when the bale is in the engaged position.

Abstract: An apparatus for starting an engine comprises a frame and an internal combustion engine operatively mounted to the frame. A control member is operatively connected to the frame, wherein the control member has an activated position and a deactivated position. The control member adapted to complete an engine circuit when in the activated position. An energy storage medium is operatively associated with the engine such that release of energy stored in the energy storage medium turns the engine and facilitates its starting. A starting assembly is utilized to release the stored energy in the energy storage medium. As such, an operator must utilize two separate and distinct actions, activating the control member and activating the starting assembly, to restart the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A control apparatus for an implement such as a snow thrower, the control apparatus comprising a handle having at least two substantially upright portions and a cross portion extending between the upright portions. A first bail is pivotally connected to both upright portions of the handle to pivot about a first axis. A second bail is also pivotally connected to both upright portions of the handle to pivot about a second axis that is not co-linear with the first axis. The first and second bails are both separately movable between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. Both the first and second bails are independently operable from one another, and move in the same direction with respect to the handle when moving from the disengaged condition to the engaged condition. The first bail may control a first mechanism, and the second bail may control a second mechanism.

Abstract: A zero turning radius power lawn mower for operation by a standing occupant includes first and second independently driven and controlled rear drive wheels mounted on separate drive axles. A riding platform for supporting the standing occupant or operator is located between the first and second rear drive wheels. The rear drive wheels are independently driveable in both the forward and reverse directions at variable speeds so as to allow for substantially zero radius turning of the mower about a central turning point. The riding platform is positioned near this turning point or axis so that the standing occupant remains substantially unaffected by centrifugal force created during approximate zero radius is turning of the mower thereby allowing the mower to take such turns at higher speeds. The low center of gravity created by the position of the riding platform for the standing operator also results in the mower having improved traction and being less likely to pop “wheelies” upon acceleration.

Abstract: A clutch safety switch of a power chainsaw includes a safety member slidably connected to the casing and a trigger which is not able to be squeezed when the safety member is not slid away. A gear connected to the power source has engaging recesses and a clutch member is rotatably mounted to an output shaft which is independent from the gear. An engaging member is movably mounted to the output shaft and retained in a central hole in the clutch member. A link is connected between the safety member and the clutch member which is rotated and moved toward the gear to let engaging member be engaged with the recesses in the gear to transfer the power to the output shaft.

Abstract: Switch operation mechanism includes a handling lever pivotally connected to a portion of a handle, a generally-fan-shaped actuating member pivotally connected at its pivot portion to the handle in such a manner that the actuating member is pivotable in response to operation, by a human operator, of the handling lever, and a noncontact reed switch for turning on or off a cutter-driving electric motor in accordance with an ON/OFF state of the noncontact reed switch. The ON/OFF state of the noncontact reed switch is determined in accordance with pivoting movement, toward or away from the switch, of the actuating member responsive to the operation of the handling lever. With such arrangements, the switching operations of the operation mechanism can be performed accurately in a stable manner.

Abstract: A clutch safety switch of a power chainsaw includes a safety member slidably connected to the casing and a trigger which is not able to be squeezed when the safety member is not slid away. A gear connected to the power source has engaging recesses and a clutch device member is rotatably mounted to an output shaft which is independent from the gear. A link is connected between the safety member and a plate connected to the clutch member which is rotated to engage the output shaft with the gear by sliding the safety member. A lever is connected to the plate which is pivoted by pushing the lever to allow the link to move in a horizontal portion of an L-shaped slot in the plate to make the safety member be pushed back to disengage the clutch device from the gear to release the connection.

Abstract: An engine starting and stopping device for an internal combustion engine includes an energy storing mechanism having at least one elastic member such as a spring, an input element engageable with the elastic member and movable during engine coast down to load the elastic member, and an output element that is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism. The output element is movable in response to the energy storing mechanism as the elastic member unloads from the loaded state, to thereby move a rotatable member (i.e., a crankshaft and/or flywheel) of the engine during starting of the engine. An input control device is also provided for positioning the input element into engagement with the rotatable member of the engine such that rotation of the rotatable member moves the input element to load the elastic member during engine coast down and also to brake the engine.

Abstract: The present invention involves a harvesting machine with a front-mounted harvesting attachment that is pivotable about a shaft running transversely to the direction of travel comprising and capable of lifting when an obstacle is detected that includes a sensing device with at least one double-acting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit, having a first cylinder chamber and a second cylinder chamber, arranged on the harvesting attachment, a control valve associated with the sensing device in such a way that when the sensing device is not operated, the first cylinder chamber is in fluid communication with the second cylinder chamber by a control valve and when the sensing device is operated, fluid communication between the first cylinder chamber and the second cylinder chamber is interrupted by the control valve.

Abstract: A device for preventing reverse mowing of a Snapper, rear engine rider lawnmower having an ABS system, by halting rotation of the mower blade when the gear shift lever of the mower is shifted from the forward into the reverse driving position. The reverse mowing prevention device is designed to be mounted on riding mowers having a blade engagement lever for selectively engaging a mower blade in driving configuration and a pivoting lever retaining member for selectively retaining the blade engagement lever in the blade-driving configuration, typically by depression of a blade engagement foot pedal. In a first embodiment the reverse mowing prevention device is characterized by a blade release rod for connecting the lever retaining member to the shift linkage of the mower transmission system.