Battery-operated electric mower

Abstract

A battery-operated electric mower having a chassis that supports at least an operator support and a first and second drive wheel, each drive wheel respectively connected to one of a first and a second drive wheel motor. The first drive wheel motor may be connected to the first drive wheel by a first gear mechanism, which may include a first system of planetary gears, and the second drive wheel motor may be connected the second drive wheel by a second gear mechanism, which may include a second system of planetary gears. The chassis also supports a battery pack positioned, at least in part, within the same horizontal plane as at least one of the drive wheel motors. The battery may be positioned, at least in part, between the first drive wheel motor and the second drive wheel motor, significantly lowering the mower's center of gravity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery-operated mower comprising:
 a first drive wheel;   a second drive wheel;   a chassis connected to the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel;   an operator support connected to the chassis for supporting an operator;   a first drive wheel motor connected to the first drive wheel;   a second drive wheel motor connected to the second drive wheel; and   a battery pack supported by the chassis and positioned at least in part between the first drive wheel motor and the second drive wheel motor.   
     
     
         2 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the first drive wheel motor is positioned at least in part within the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel motor is positioned at least in part within the second drive wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The mower of  claim 2 , wherein the first drive wheel has a first drive wheel width, the second drive wheel has a second drive wheel width, the first drive wheel motor has a first drive wheel motor width, and the second drive wheel motor has a second drive wheel motor width, and wherein the first drive wheel motor width is positioned at least 90 percent within the first drive wheel width and the second drive wheel motor width is positioned at least 90 percent within the second drive wheel width. 
     
     
         4 . The mower of  claim 3 , wherein the battery pack comprises a first battery pack, and further comprising a second battery pack supported by the chassis and positioned at least in part underneath the operator support. 
     
     
         5 . The mower of  claim 4 , further comprising a first planetary gear reduction box positioned at least in part within the first drive wheel and a second planetary gear reduction box positioned at least in part within the second drive wheel, the first planetary gear reduction box mechanically coupled to the first drive wheel motor and secured to the first drive wheel and the second planetary gear reduction box mechanically coupled to the second drive wheel motor and secured to the second drive wheel. 
     
     
         6 . The mower of  claim 5 , wherein the first drive wheel comprises a first rim and the second drive wheel comprises a second rim, and wherein the first planetary gear reduction box is secured to the first rim and the second planetary gear reduction box is secured to the second rim. 
     
     
         7 . The mower of  claim 6 , wherein the first planetary gear reduction box has a first planetary gear reduction box width and the second planetary gear reduction box has a second planetary gear reduction box width, and wherein the first planetary gear reduction box width is positioned completely within the first drive wheel width and the second planetary gear reduction box width is positioned completely within the second drive wheel width. 
     
     
         8 . The mower of  claim 7 , wherein the first drive wheel motor is selectively engageable by a first control actuator and the second drive wheel motor is selectively engageable by a second control actuator. 
     
     
         9 . A battery-operated mower comprising:
 a chassis;   a drive wheel motor connected to an exterior portion of the chassis;   a gear mechanism mechanically coupled to the drive wheel motor;   a drive wheel connected to the gear mechanism; and   a battery pack electrically connected to the drive wheel motor and positioned at least in part within the same horizontal plane as the drive wheel motor.   
     
     
         10 . The mower of  claim 9 , wherein the gear mechanism comprises a gear reduction box including a plurality of gears arranged in a planetary configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The mower of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the gear reduction box is positioned within the drive wheel. 
     
     
         12 . The mower of  claim 11 , wherein the drive wheel motor is connected to the exterior portion of the chassis by a drive mount tube. 
     
     
         13 . The mower of  claim 12 , wherein the gear reduction box further comprises a disengaging mechanism actuatable from an externally accessible face of the gear reduction box, the disengaging mechanism configured to disengage the gear reduction box from the drive wheel motor when actuated by the operator. 
     
     
         14 . The mower of  claim 13 , wherein the drive wheel motor further comprises a shaft that axially traverses the gear reduction box, and wherein the disengagement mechanism comprises a reversible plate having a first face facing the exterior of the chassis when the gear reduction box is engaged with the drive wheel motor and a second face facing the interior of the chassis when the gear reduction box is engaged with the drive wheel motor, the first face having a protruding portion positioned such that when the plate is reversed, the protruding portion pushes on the shaft with sufficient force to disengaging the gear reduction box from the drive wheel motor. 
     
     
         15 . A battery-operated mower comprising:
 a chassis;   an operator support connected to the chassis for supporting an operator;   a first electric drive wheel motor secured to a first exterior surface of the chassis;   a first planetary gear reduction box mechanically coupled to the first electric drive wheel motor, the first planetary gear reduction box including a first system of planetary gears;   a first drive wheel secured to the first planetary gear reduction box, the first drive wheel surrounding at least a portion of the first electric drive wheel motor and at least a portion of the first planetary gear reduction box;   a second electric drive wheel motor secured to a second exterior surface of the chassis;   a second planetary gear reduction box mechanically coupled to the second electric drive wheel motor, the second planetary gear reduction box including a second system of planetary gears;   a second drive wheel secured to the second planetary gear reduction box, the second drive wheel surrounding at least a portion of the second electric drive wheel motor and at least a portion of the second planetary gear reduction box; and   a first battery pack supported by the chassis, electrically connected to the first electric drive wheel motor and the second electric drive wheel motor, the first battery pack positioned at least in part between the first electric drive wheel motor and the second electric drive wheel motor.   
     
     
         16 . The mower of  claim 15 , further comprising a second battery pack, and wherein the chassis further includes a first battery floor supporting the first battery pack, the first battery floor positioned at a first height relative to a ground surface, and a second battery floor supporting the second battery pack, the second battery floor positioned at a second height relative to the ground surface. 
     
     
         17 . The mower of  claim 16 , wherein the second battery pack is positioned at least in part underneath the operator support. 
     
     
         18 . The mower of  claim 17 , wherein the first planetary gear reduction box further includes a first exterior face and a first disengaging mechanism actuatable from the first exterior face, and the second planetary gear reduction box further includes a second exterior face and a second disengaging mechanism actuatable from the second exterior face, the first disengaging mechanism configured to disengage the first planetary gear reduction box from the first electric drive wheel motor when actuated by the operator and the second disengaging mechanism configured to disengage the second planetary gear reduction box from the second electric drive wheel motor when actuated by the operator.