Abstract: A work machine (lawnmower) comprises: a main body unit having a work unit that performs a prescribed operation; and a travel motor that generates a rotational drive force that causes at least the main body unit to travel. The work machine also comprises: a travel operation unit that issues command information relating to the rotation speed of the travel motor; and a control unit that varies the rotation speed of the travel motor commanded by the travel operation unit on the basis of variation in the load on the work unit.

Abstract: A power supply device, provided with: a battery; a capacitor connected in parallel to a load; and a main switching unit capable of switching between a state of connection and a state of disconnection between the battery and the capacitor. The power supply device is provided with a precharge circuit for reducing the current from the battery and supplying the current to the capacitor. A control unit of the power supply device first supplies electric power from the precharge circuit to the capacitor, then sets the main switching unit from a state of disconnection to a state of connection, and stops the supply of electric power from the precharge circuit while the state of connection is established.

Abstract: A work machine (lawnmower) comprises: a main body unit having a work unit that performs a prescribed operation; and a travel motor that generates a rotational drive force that causes at least the main body unit to travel. The work machine also comprises: a travel operation unit that issues command information relating to the rotation speed of the travel motor; and a control unit that varies the rotation speed of the travel motor commanded by the travel operation unit on the basis of variation in the load on the work unit.

Abstract: A power supply device, provided with: a battery; a capacitor connected in parallel to a load; and a main switching unit capable of switching between a state of connection and a state of disconnection between the battery and the capacitor. The power supply device is provided with a precharge circuit for reducing the current from the battery and supplying the current to the capacitor. A control unit of the power supply device first supplies electric power from the precharge circuit to the capacitor, then sets the main switching unit from a state of disconnection to a state of connection, and stops the supply of electric power from the precharge circuit while the state of connection is established.

Abstract: In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor and a rechargeable battery mounted connected to the electric motor and a motor driver circuit. In the apparatus, when an instruction to stop the electric motor is inputted, the operation of the motor driver circuit is controlled to output regenerative electric current from three-phase coils of the electric motor. At that time, it is determined whether a rotational speed of the electric motor is equal to or less than a switching rotational speed and when it is, the motor driver circuit is controlled to switch from the regenerative braking to short-circuit braking that short-circuits the three-phase coils of the electric motor.

Abstract: In a control apparatus of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor, a rechargeable battery connected to the electric motor, a motor driver circuit to adjust supply of operating electric power to the electric motor, ON/OFF of a first switching element disposed in a current path connecting the battery and the electric motor and a second switching element interposed in the current path in series with a braking resistor to allow charge current from the electric motor to the braking resistor, wherein operation of the first and second switching elements are controlled based on detected battery temperature and internal voltage of the motor driver circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling operation of a walk-behind electric lawn mower equipped with an electric motor, a blade cutter connected to the electric motor and a rechargeable battery mounted connected to the electric motor and a motor driver circuit. In the apparatus, when an instruction to stop the electric motor is inputted, the operation of the motor driver circuit is controlled to output regenerative electric current from three-phase coils of the electric motor. At that time, it is determined whether a rotational speed of the electric motor is equal to or less than a switching rotational speed and when it is, the motor driver circuit is controlled to switch from the regenerative braking to short-circuit braking that short-circuits the three-phase coils of the electric motor.

Abstract: In a rotary electric device for a power working machine capable of being braked by a brake mechanism, a cover having a bottomed cylindrical shape and covering a yoke of the device, includes: a cover cylindrical portion concentrically surrounding an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of the yoke with an annular clearance therebetween, and having an outer peripheral surface with which a brake shoe is capable of being placed in pressure contact; and a cover bottom wall portion continuous to one end of the cover cylindrical portion, and connected to a bottom wall portion of the yoke. A ventilation clearance communicating with the annular clearance is formed between the bottom wall portion and the cover bottom wall portion. Vent holes communicating the ventilation clearance with an outside of the yoke are provided through the bottom wall portion and the cover bottom wall portion.

Abstract: In a rotary electric device for a power working machine capable of being braked by a brake mechanism, a cover having a bottomed cylindrical shape and covering a yoke of the device, includes: a cover cylindrical portion concentrically surrounding an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical portion of the yoke with an annular clearance therebetween, and having an outer peripheral surface with which a brake shoe is capable of being placed in pressure contact; and a cover bottom wall portion continuous to one end of the cover cylindrical portion, and connected to a bottom wall portion of the yoke. A ventilation clearance communicating with the annular clearance is formed between the bottom wall portion and the cover bottom wall portion. Vent holes communicating the ventilation clearance with an outside of the yoke are provided through the bottom wall portion and the cover bottom wall portion.

Abstract: A electric motor is disclosed in which torque ripple is reduced. The electric motor includes a single motor shaft. Rotors are disposed so as to be mutually offset in phase, and the rotors are secured to the motor shaft. Stators are arranged so as to individually correspond to the rotors, and the stators are disposed so as to be matched in phase. The phases of torque ripple generated in each motor unit, which is comprised of a combination of a single rotor and a single stator, are offset.

Abstract: In a system for controlling outboard motors each mounted on a boat and each having an engine, a steering mechanism, a shift mechanism, an actuator driving at least one of the steering mechanism, the shift mechanism and a throttle valve of the engine, and a controller controlling operation of the actuator, comprising: a steering wheel operable by an operator; a shift/throttle lever operable by the operator; and a manipulated variable detector producing an output indicative of manipulated variable of at least one of the steering wheel and the shift/throttle lever; the manipulated variable detector being separately connected to each of the controllers in the outboard motors through an electric signal line to send the output to the controllers. With this, it becomes possible to control the operation of the actuators in the outboard motors separately for the individual outboard motors with simple structure without identifying the respective outboard motors.

Abstract: A electric motor is disclosed in which torque ripple is reduced. The electric motor includes a single motor shaft. Rotors are disposed so as to be mutually offset in phase, and the rotors are secured to the motor shaft. Stators are arranged so as to individually correspond to the rotors, and the stators are disposed so as to be matched in phase. The phases of torque ripple generated in each motor unit, which is comprised of a combination of a single rotor and a single stator, are offset.

Abstract: In a system for controlling outboard motors each mounted on a boat and each having an engine, a steering mechanism, a shift mechanism, an actuator driving at least one of the steering mechanism, the shift mechanism and a throttle valve of the engine, and a controller controlling operation of the actuator, comprising: a steering wheel operable by an operator; a shift/throttle lever operable by the operator; and a manipulated variable detector producing an output indicative of manipulated variable of at least one of the steering wheel and the shift/throttle lever; the manipulated variable detector being separately connected to each of the controllers in the outboard motors through an electric signal line to send the output to the controllers. With this, it becomes possible to control the operation of the actuators in the outboard motors separately for the individual outboard motors with simple structure without identifying the respective outboard motors.

Abstract: A working machine has a machine body, a working unit attached to the machine body, an internal combustion engine for driving the working unit, a traveling unit mounted on the machine body 11 for displacing the working unit over a ground surface to perform a work operation on the ground surface, and an electric motor for driving the traveling unit. A battery supplies electric power to the electric motor in a battery mode of the working machine to thereby drive the electric motor. A battery mode switch switches between an ON position in which the working machine is in the battery mode and an OFF position in which the working machine is not in the battery mode. A power generator is driven by the internal combustion engine to supply electric power to the battery and to the electric motor.

Abstract: An electric motor including a stator with a plurality of coils wound around a ring-shaped iron core, and a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator is provided. The rotor includes a rotor shaft and a yoke. The yoke is provided near its periphery with a plurality of plate-like permanent magnets arranged at equal pitches. Heat generated from the rotor is released through a plurality of air holes formed in the yoke between the rotor shaft and the permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric vehicle in which left and right electric motors respectively driving left and right transporting parts are controlled by a control part and particular turning control of the electric motors is carried out when the electric vehicle turns. The electric vehicle has a left and right pair of push-button turn switches. When one of the turn switches is operated, the control part selects a pattern from multiple preset deceleration patterns and decelerates the motor on the inside of the turn, which corresponds to the turn switch being operated, on the basis of this deceleration pattern. The electric vehicle makes turns and returns to straight-line travel optimally and smoothly and can be operated easily by an operator with no skill or experience.

Abstract: An electric motor including a stator with a plurality of coils wound around a ring-shaped iron core, and a rotor rotatably disposed inside the stator is provided. The rotor includes a rotor shaft and a yoke. The yoke is provided near its periphery with a plurality of plate-like permanent magnets arranged at equal pitches. Heat generated from the rotor is released through a plurality of air holes formed in the yoke between the rotor shaft and the permanent magnets.

Abstract: An electric vehicle in which left and right electric motors respectively driving left and right transporting parts are controlled by a control part and particular turning control of the electric motors is carried out when the electric vehicle turns. The electric vehicle has a left and right pair of push-button turn switches. When one of the turn switches is operated, the control part selects a pattern from multiple preset deceleration patterns and decelerates the motor on the inside of the turn, which corresponds to the turn switch being operated, on the basis of this deceleration pattern. The electric vehicle makes turns and returns to straight-line travel optimally and smoothly and can be operated easily by an operator with no skill or experience.

Abstract: Working machine is provided which employs both an internal combustion engine and left and right electric motors. The working machine also includes a control unit for controlling rotation of the motors. The control unit shifts the machine to a battery mode so that the electric motors are rotated by only electric power supplied by a battery with the internal combustion engine kept deactivated.