US 11,859,644 B2
Piston assemblies and methods of using same
James T. Kull, Denver, NC (US); and Patrick A. Hartman, Belmont, NC (US)
Assigned to Stabilus GmbH, Koblenz (DE)
Appl. No. 17/913,957
Filed by Stabilus GmbH, Koblenz (DE)
PCT Filed Mar. 24, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/023917
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 23, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/195232, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,092, filed on Mar. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0137900 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. F15B 15/28 (2006.01); A01D 34/00 (2006.01); A01D 69/02 (2006.01)
CPC F15B 15/2861 (2013.01) [A01D 34/006 (2013.01); A01D 69/02 (2013.01)] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric motor driven zero-turn riding lawn mower comprising:
(a) at least one steering lever operatively connected to at least one drive wheel operatively connected to a drive motor;
(b) at least one damping apparatus operatively connected to the at least one steering lever and comprising:
(i) a piston rod partially positioned within a rod housing and adapted for sliding movement within the housing; and
(ii) a linear position sensing apparatus comprising a position sensor connected to the piston rod whereby the sensor moves with the piston rod, the linear position sensing apparatus further comprising a beacon contained within the rod housing and a computing device operatively connected to the position sensor and the drive motor, wherein the position sensor collects data regarding a position of the beacon relative to the sensor, and the computing device uses the data to determine an optimum speed and direction to rotate the at least one drive wheel and transmits instructions to the drive motor to rotate the at least one drive wheel at the optimum speed and direction.