US 11,807,093 B2
Drive assembly for lawn care vehicle
Mark Wagner, Harrisburg, NC (US); Jake Bagwell, Huntersville, NC (US); Scott Andermann, Charlotte, NC (US); and Hope Guzewicz, Charlotte, NC (US)
Assigned to HUSQVARNA AB, Huskvarna (SE)
Appl. No. 17/613,887
Filed by Husqvarna AB, Huskvarna (SE)
PCT Filed Oct. 19, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/056308
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 23, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/194553, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 30, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/994,082, filed on Mar. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0219529 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B60K 17/02 (2006.01); B60K 7/00 (2006.01); A01D 34/69 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 17/02 (2013.01) [B60K 7/0007 (2013.01); A01D 34/69 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01); B60K 2007/0038 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/223 (2013.01); B60Y 2400/421 (2013.01); B60Y 2400/702 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A drive assembly for a vehicle, the drive assembly selectively coupling a motor of the vehicle to a mobility assembly of the vehicle to provide mobility to the vehicle responsive at least in part to operation of the motor, the drive assembly comprising:
a worm gear assembly comprising a worm engaged with a worm gear, the worm being operably coupled to the motor of the vehicle and the worm gear being selectively coupled to a shaft of the mobility assembly; and
an engagement assembly comprising a dog clutch configured to selectively engage and disengage the worm gear;
wherein the drive assembly is configured to move between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein in response to the drive assembly being in the first configuration, the dog clutch is engaged with the worm gear, and wherein the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly are operably coupled via the dog clutch and the worm gear assembly is configured to selectively transfer power from the motor to the mobility assembly to provide mobility to the vehicle,
wherein in response to the drive assembly being in a second configuration, the dog clutch is disengaged from the worm gear, and wherein the worm gear assembly and the shaft of the mobility assembly are decoupled and the worm gear assembly is prevented from transferring the power from the motor to the mobility assembly.