Abstract: A self-propelled lawn mower comprising a microprocessor and at least one cutter (10), wherein an elastic tension element (13) that is connected to the frame of the lawn mower and the at least one cutter (10) is provided. Central automatic adjustment of the height of the cutters (10) in relation to the ground is also provided. The cutters (10) consist of a rotary disk (3) with retractable blades (5) provided with a stop (4) underneath the lower surface in the form of a central extension that can come into contact with the ground.

Abstract: A modular vehicle system comprises an engine unit and an engine management controller associated with the engine unit. A throttle actuator is associated with the engine management controller to control a throttle setting of an engine unit. A mower unit is associated with mower electronics. A blade clutch actuator activates or deactivates a cutting blade of the mower unit. A transmission line supports communications between the engine management controller and the mower electronics to support remote control mowing or unmanned mowing activities.

Abstract: Control method and apparatus for a lawn mower or a lawn and garden tractor that includes a programmable controller for monitoring a mower/tractor status. The controller includes an interface for monitoring inputs relating to a status of the mower/tractor and controlling outputs that regulate operation of the mower/tractor. The controller also includes a memory for storing instructions to implement a control over operation of the mower/tractor. The instructions include instructions for determining a safety status condition based on sensed inputs and outputting a signal from the interface of the controller that inhibits operation of a lawn mower/tractor motor or engine in response to a determination of the safety status condition.

Abstract: The invention concerns a self-propelled lawn mower and a method adapted for using said machine. The machine comprises: a mobile frame (1) including at least one drive wheel (6) and at its lower surface at least two juxtaposed cutters (3), associated each with an electric motor; an electronic system for controlling the forward movement of the machine; an on-board computer; an electric power supply; means for measuring the force supplied by each cutter, said measurement being transmitted to the on-board computer; a memorized algorithm for seeking the grass surfaces to be mowed by the interaction of the machine forward movement system, said force measurements and the on-board computer; means for detecting the limits of the surface to be mowed by a magnetic field measurement or the variation of a magnetic field emitted or caused by a set or buried wire, located at said limits.

Abstract: The invention consists of an engine driving a wet clutch and hydrostatic pump and connected hydrostatic motor. The output of the motor drives the sun gear of a hydro-mechanical planetary drive and the output of the clutch drives the ring gear of the same drive. The carrier is the output and drives the rotors of an agricultural combine. The transmission is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer receives signals from an engine speed sensor and a rotor speed sensor and transmits controlling signals to the hydrostatic pump's swash plate and to a clutch valve allowing a quantity of hydraulic fluid to enter the clutch. The microcomputer can also send a signal to brake the ring gear while reversing the direction of the hydrostatic pump motor to allow act as a reverser for the rotor. The microcomputer also can receive signals from the rotor speed sensor to open the clutch valve allowing a quantity of hydraulic fluid to enter and synchronize the clutch.

Abstract: A system for controlling the header speed of a windrower to a set point includes a variable displacement pump producing a variable outflow of hydraulic fluid for driving the header via two hydraulic motors, the system being characterized in that the pump is driven by a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal having a duty cycle that is dependent on the speed and the acceleration of the header. When the header speed falls outside a window or range of speeds centered at the set point, header speed is used to modify the duty cycle of the PWM signal and bring the header speed back within the window. In addition, the duty cycle of the PWM signal is decremented if the acceleration of the header exceeds a threshold and the header includes disk type cutters.