Abstract: An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The actuator has a rotary design incorporating a magnetic field sensor chip disposed on a circuit board to sense the rotational orientation of the magnetic field of a magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of the drive apparatus. The actuator further includes an electric motor driving a gear train, and a fastener connecting a drive adapter to the control shaft, and the magnet is engaged to the fastener. A jack shaft may be used to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus, with a first end of the jack shaft configured to rotatably mount a gear of the gear train, and a second end including threads to connect the actuator housing to the drive apparatus housing.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a reduction drive assembly includes a connector body and a plurality of pins disposed within the connector body. The plurality of pins include one or more motor pins to conduct power to an electric motor, one or more brake pins to conduct power to an electric brake coil, and one or more sensor pins electrically connected to a sensor board for control of the electric motor.

Abstract: A drive includes an electric motor disposed in a housing and driving a motor shaft, a Hall effect sensor adjacent to the motor, a power and control assembly, and a pinion gear driven by the motor shaft. A planetary gear reduction assembly is driven by the pinion gear, and an output axle has an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to the motor shaft axis of rotation. The reduction drive is substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane passing through the motor shaft axis of rotation and the output axle axis of rotation. The power and control assembly comprises a control board oriented perpendicular to a power board and includes a heat dissipation apparatus that applies multi-point, localized, indirect pressure to a plurality of field effect transistors mounted on the power board.

Abstract: An electric motor and related components, such as a motor controller assembly, are disclosed having a coolant circuit where the related components are cooled by the same fluid flow that cools the electric motor. The compact coolant circuit minimizes the need for external lines between the electric motor and related components, while providing separate heat sinks for the electric motor and, for example, a motor controller assembly. The liquid-cooled electric motor and related components may engage and power a variety of reduction output assemblies to form drive assemblies. The coolant circuit of the electric motor and its related components cooperates with an external coolant circuit to form a cooling system. The external circuit may include a radiator (e.g., heat exchanger or oil cooler) and an electric pump for the coolant which may cool one or more drive assemblies of a vehicle drive system.

Abstract: A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.

Abstract: A vehicle control assembly having a control lever for controlling output of a traction drive. An operator control mechanism of the control assembly has an arm pivotable about a first pivot axis between a neutral position and a range of both forward and reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the arm can pivot about a second pivot axis between an operative and stopped position, and a switch is engaged when the arm is in the stopped position. A linkage connects the operator control mechanism to a return to neutral (RTN) module that provides a return force to the arm when it is pivoted away from the neutral position. The RTN module includes a shaft pivotable about a third pivot axis parallel to the first pivot axis and placing a magnet proximate to a magnetic field sensor chip mounted on a circuit board comprising CAN Bus and switch terminals.

Abstract: A drive includes an electric motor disposed in a housing and driving a motor shaft, a Hall effect sensor adjacent to the motor, a power and control assembly, and a pinion gear driven by the motor shaft. A planetary gear reduction assembly is driven by the pinion gear, and an output axle has an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to the motor shaft axis of rotation. The reduction drive is substantially bilaterally symmetrical about a plane passing through the motor shaft axis of rotation and the output axle axis of rotation. The power and control assembly comprises a control board oriented perpendicular to a power board and includes a heat dissipation apparatus that applies multi-point, localized, indirect pressure to a plurality of field effect transistors mounted on the power board.

Abstract: A utility vehicle with regenerative braking is disclosed. The utility vehicle includes a power bus, a battery coupled to the system power bus, and at least one electric drive motor to generate power through regenerative braking and supply the generated power onto the power bus. The utility vehicle includes a power regulation controller configured to direct the generated power to the battery to recharge the battery when the battery is not fully charged, direct the generated power to at least one power sink to consume the generated power when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is less than or equal to a power consumption limit, and reduce a maximum travel speed to reduce an amount of power generated by the at least one electric drive motor through regenerative braking when the battery is fully charged and the generated power is greater than the power consumption limit.

Abstract: An electric actuator for use with a variable drive apparatus is disclosed herein. The electric actuator has a rotary design incorporating a magnetic field sensor chip disposed on a circuit board to sense the rotational orientation of the magnetic field of a cylindrical diametric magnet positioned on the end of a control shaft of a hydrostatic drive unit. The circuit board includes a microprocessor, electric motor power control and CAN Bus communication capability. The gear housing of the electric actuator features an integral end cap to accommodate mounting of the electric motor to enable a compact design. A vibration damping apparatus may be utilized to improve integrity of signals generated by the magnetic field sensor chip.

Abstract: A vehicle transmission housing has first and second axle housings pivotably connected to opposite ends of the transmission housing and a stand-on platform may be connected to the assembly. A first gear train in the first axle housing drives a first axle having a first axis of rotation. A second gear train is disposed in the second axle housing drives a second axle having a second axis of rotation collinear with the first axis of rotation. The axle housings are both capable of pivoting about the transmission housing about a third axis that is parallel to the first and second axes. The first and second axle housings may also be separately rigidly or flexibly connected to one another. This assembly permits adjustment of the ground heights of the platform with respect to a vehicle frame.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a pair of electric motors configured to drive respective driven wheels and a control assembly. The control assembly includes a controller configured to control operation of the pair of electric motors, a bracket, a pivot bar, and rotation assembly. The rotation assembly is configured to rotatably mount the pivot bar to the bracket such that the pivot bar is configured to rotate between a forward position, a neutral position, and a rear position about a first axis and between an operative position and a stopped position about a second axis. The control assembly also includes a magnet and a position sensor spaced apart from the magnet. The position sensor is configured to detect rotation of the pivot bar about the first axis. The lawn mower also includes a return-to-neutral assembly configured to bias the pivot bar toward the neutral position about the first axis.

Abstract: A reduction drive assembly includes a planetary gear assembly. The planetary gear assembly includes a first gear carrier that includes a first plate and projections extending therefrom. The first plate defines first support openings. The planetary gear assembly includes a second gear carrier that defines second support openings and joint openings. The joint openings receive the projections to couple the first and second gear carriers. The planetary gear assembly includes a sun gear coupled to an output shaft and disposed between the first and second gear carriers. The planetary gear assembly includes planet gears disposed around the sun gear between the first and second gear carriers. Each of the planet gears has a carrier pin. Each carrier pin is received by one of the first support openings and one of the second support openings to retain the planet gears between the first and second gear carriers.

Abstract: A reduction drive assembly includes a housing and a flange. Outer surfaces of the spindle and the flange form at least one fillet corner. A motor output shaft extends through an aperture of the spindle. The reduction drive assembly includes a planetary gear assembly that includes a sun gear driven by the motor output shaft and gears. The reduction drive assembly includes a fixed ring gear that is meshed with a second stage gear of each of the planet gears, an output hub, a rotating ring gear coupled to the output hub and meshed with a first stage gear of each of the planet gears, a set of bearings positioned radially between the spindle and the output hub and axially between the fixed ring gear and the flange of the housing, and a spacer ring positioned between the set of bearings and adjacent the at least one fillet corner.

Abstract: An electric brake assembly for a planetary reduction drive includes a first housing defining a brake housing compartment, first and second stators disposed within the brake housing compartment, and a rotor disposed within the brake housing compartment between the first and second stators. The rotor has a spline engaging an output shaft of a motor. The electric brake assembly also includes a brake end cap coupled to the first housing and defining a cylindrical volume, a plug movably disposed in the cylindrical volume of the brake end cap, a spring disposed within the cylindrical volume of the brake end cap and compressed by the plug to apply a spring biasing force for pressing the second stator against the rotor, and an electric brake coil positioned adjacent to the second stator to electromagnetically pull the second stator away from the rotor when energized.

Abstract: A reduction drive including an electric motor disposed in a housing and driving a motor shaft, a Hall Effect sensor adjacent to the motor, a power and control module, and a pinion gear in the housing and driven by the motor shaft. A planetary gear reduction assembly includes a first ring gear rotatably disposed in the housing and driven by the pinion gear, a sun gear engaged to and driven by the first ring gear, a second ring gear non-rotatably fixed to a housing surface, and a plurality of planet gears mounted on a carrier assembly, each planet gear rotating with the sun gear, and on the second ring gear. An output axle is driven by the carrier assembly and has an axis of rotation that is offset from and parallel to the motor shaft axis of rotation.

Abstract: A performance learning system and method is provided for a utility vehicle. The performance learning system includes a propulsion system, a plurality of sensors disposed on the vehicle and capable of acquiring operational data associated with the vehicle, a processor, and a memory configured to store historical operational data. The processor can be configured to receive the operational data from the sensors, generate and transmit a command to control the propulsion system based on the operational data and the historical operational data, and update the historical operational data based on the operational data. The operational data may include characteristics associated with one or more of an operator of the vehicle or an operating environment of the vehicle. The systems and methods may optimize the performance of the utility vehicle for particular environments and conditions in which the utility vehicle is being operated and increase operator satisfaction.

Abstract: An electric actuator assembly for controlling the output of a variable output drive device such as a hydraulic transaxle or pump having an output shaft connected to a swash plate for rotation thereof to control the output of the drive device. The output shaft is engaged to and driven by a control shaft of an electric actuator. The assembly includes a clamping coupler to connect and align the output shaft and the control shaft, thereby permitting use of the electric actuator with multiple drive device designs without the need to modify the control shaft of the drive device.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle using an engine driving a generator to supply power to electric drive motors through a system power bus, and a method for controlling power regeneration in a hybrid vehicle are disclosed. Ground drive controllers associated with the drive motors are configured to determine a slope of a surface on which the vehicle is driving and set a maximum downhill speed of the vehicle based thereon. A generator controller, in response to the drive motors generating power through regenerative braking, regulates power on the bus by directing the generated power to recharge the battery when the battery has capacity, reducing an output of the generator to the bus when the battery is fully charged, and driving a driveshaft to drive the engine with the generator to consume excess power on the bus when the generator output is reduced to zero.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor apparatus includes a motor housing engaged to an end cap having a first porting system and an adapter connected to an external surface of the end cap and having a second porting system. A filter may be attached to the adapter and connected to the second porting system and a pressure reducing valve in the adapter is connected to the second porting system. The assembly may also include a controller operatively connected to the pressure reducing valve and system sensors measuring parameters affected by the output of the hydraulic motor apparatus, whereby the pressure reducing valve is operatively controlled by the controller in response to input from the system sensors.

Abstract: A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.