Abstract: A rotary lawn mower has one or more grass cutting blades that are rotatable in opposite directions about a vertical axis or axes. Each blade is double edged having front and rear cutting edges on each end of the blade. Each blade end has a front sloped face inboard of the front cutting edge and a rear sloped face inboard of the rear cutting edge. These faces create air flow within the cutting chamber when cutting grass regardless of the direction of rotation of the blade. The direction of rotation of each blade is reversed to switch between discharge and mulching modes of operation. A flow director has a curved vertical guide wall that guides the grass clippings through a discharge opening in the discharge mode and that guides the flow of grass clippings away from the discharge opening in the mulching mode.

Abstract: An autonomous working vehicle system having a base station with a canopy configured to shade a working vehicle received by the base station. The canopy may form part of a frame assembly that is attached to the base station. In some embodiments, the frame assembly may be detached from the base station, reconfigured to form a handle, and attached to the vehicle to allow operation of the vehicle in a manual operating mode.

Abstract: A work vehicle has at least one caster wheel on an end of the work vehicle. In response to a caster locking signal sent via an electrical controller, a solenoid is electrically activated to reversibly move a locking pin in an axial direction, causing transitions between unlocking and locking states. In the unlocking state, the locking pin is pulled away from the engagement surface. In the locking state, the locking pin is pushed towards the pivoting support to engage the locking void when the pivoting support is oriented in a predetermined rotation angle.

Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, includes a frame movable over the ground. A handle assembly is provided on the frame to allow an operator to walk on the ground behind the handle assembly while operating the unit. A traction drive and a ground grooming or working implement are carried on the frame. A traction control hand grip and an implement control bail are carried on the handle assembly. Both the hand grip and the bail are movable relative to the handle assembly by flexure provided by first and send compliant mechanisms.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower has one or more grass cutting blades that are rotatable in opposite directions about a vertical axis or axes. Each blade is double edged having front and rear cutting edges on each end of the blade. Each blade end has a front sloped face inboard of the front cutting edge and a rear sloped face inboard of the rear cutting edge. These faces create air flow within the cutting chamber when cutting grass regardless of the direction of rotation of the blade. The direction of rotation of each blade is reversed to switch between discharge and mulching modes of operation. A flow director has a curved vertical guide wall that guides the grass clippings through a discharge opening in the discharge mode and that guides the flow of grass clippings away from the discharge opening in the mulching mode.

Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, includes a frame movable over the ground. A handle assembly is provided on the frame to allow an operator to walk on the ground behind the handle assembly while operating the unit. A traction drive and a ground grooming or working implement are carried on the frame. A traction control hand grip and an implement control bail are carried on the handle assembly. Both the hand grip and the bail are movable relative to the handle assembly by flexure provided by first and send compliant mechanisms.

Abstract: A walk power mower comprises a housing having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle that is gripped by an operator. A load cell is responsive to the force applied by the operator to the handle during a grass mowing operation. Input from the load cell is used by a control system to vary the ground speed of the mower in accordance with the sensed operator applied force through control of an electric traction drive motor.

Abstract: A grounds maintenance vehicle including a chassis, a support platform, at least one hand control, a suspension system, a load sensor, and a controller. The chassis includes a front end, a rear end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The support platform extends along the longitudinal axis. The at least one hand control is carried by the support platform and configured to control at least one of propulsion and steering of the vehicle. The suspension system includes a first suspension apparatus operatively acting between the chassis and the support platform and an actuator configured to adjust a preload applied to the one or more springs. The load sensor is configured to measure a weight applied to the support platform. The controller is operatively coupled to the actuator and configured to adjust the actuator to modify the preload based on the weight measured by the load sensor.

Abstract: A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.

Abstract: An auger housing as part of a snowthrower or part of a snowthrower implement for attachment with a vehicle. The auger housing may include a rear wall and spaced-apart first and second sidewalls connected to one another by the rear wall to define a front-facing collection opening. The rear wall may define a lower edge extending between the first and second sidewalls along a transverse direction. The auger housing may also include an oscillating scraper connected to the lower edge of the rear wall. The oscillating scraper extends downwardly from the lower edge toward a ground surface and is configured to move relative to the rear wall in a reciprocating motion.

Abstract: An electric snowthrower including: an auger and an impeller driven by one or more electric motors; one or more sensors; and an electronic controller coupled to each of the motor(s) and the sensor(s). The electronic controller is configured to monitor data provided by the sensor(s) and, in response to the sensor data, automatically adjust operation of the motor(s) or other feature of the snowthrower. Controls for operating such a snowthrower are also included.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower has one or more grass cutting blades that are rotatable in opposite directions about a vertical axis or axes. Each blade is double edged having front and rear cutting edges on each end of the blade. Each blade end has a front sloped face inboard of the front cutting edge and a rear sloped face inboard of the rear cutting edge. These faces create air flow within the cutting chamber when cutting grass regardless of the direction of rotation of the blade. The direction of rotation of each blade is reversed to switch between discharge and mulching modes of operation. A flow director has a curved vertical guide wall that guides the grass clippings through a discharge opening in the discharge mode and that guides the flow of grass clippings away from the discharge opening in the mulching mode.

Abstract: A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower has one or more grass cutting blades that are rotatable in opposite directions about a vertical axis or axes. Each blade is double edged having front and rear cutting edges on each end of the blade. Each blade end has a front sloped face inboard of the front cutting edge and a rear sloped face inboard of the rear cutting edge. These faces create air flow within the cutting chamber when cutting grass regardless of the direction of rotation of the blade. The direction of rotation of each blade is reversed to switch between discharge and mulching modes of operation. A flow director has a curved vertical guide wall that guides the grass clippings through a discharge opening in the discharge mode and that guides the flow of grass clippings away from the discharge opening in the mulching mode.

Abstract: An outdoor power equipment unit, such as a lawn mower, includes a frame movable over the ground. A handle assembly is provided on the frame to allow an operator to walk on the ground behind the handle assembly while operating the unit. A traction drive and a ground grooming or working implement are carried on the frame. A traction control hand grip and an implement control bail are carried on the handle assembly. Both the hand grip and the bail are movable relative to the handle assembly by flexure provided by first and send compliant mechanisms.

Abstract: A battery pack is provided that includes battery cell magazines and a battery management system to control charging and discharging of the associated battery pack. The battery cell magazines may include a magazine housing and associated battery cells. The magazine housing may define a plurality of battery cell recesses to receive the battery cells. The battery management system may be configured to balance the state of charge of a battery stack of battery packs. Methods for balancing a state of charge of battery packs of a battery stack are also provided, as are systems for lifting a battery stack.

Abstract: A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.

Abstract: A probe assembly for measuring a synthetic turf infill profile having a probe, a turf surface contact assembly and a sensor. The probe is configured to extend down through the turf infill profile until a tip of the probe contacts a lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The surface contact assembly is vertically movable relative to the probe while the probe is being moved downwardly into the turf infill profile, wherein the surface contact assembly has a contact area with the turf surface that is large enough to retain the surface contact assembly resting atop an upper boundary of the turf infill profile when the lowermost tip of the at least one probe has contacted the lower boundary of the turf infill profile. The sensor reads the distance between the upper and lower boundaries of the turf infill profile at a sampled location in the turf surface.

Abstract: A rotary lawn mower has one or more grass cutting blades that are rotatable in opposite directions about a vertical axis or axes. Each blade is double edged having front and rear cutting edges on each end of the blade. Each blade end has a front sloped face inboard of the front cutting edge and a rear sloped face inboard of the rear cutting edge. These faces create air flow within the cutting chamber when cutting grass regardless of the direction of rotation of the blade. The direction of rotation of each blade is reversed to switch between discharge and mulching modes of operation. A flow director has a curved vertical guide wall that guides the grass clippings through a discharge opening in the discharge mode and that guides the flow of grass clippings away from the discharge opening in the mulching mode.