US 12,358,549 B2
Drive control system for utility vehicle
Jerrod Neal Winter, Faribault, MN (US); and Alan Joseph Kummet, Champlin, MN (US)
Assigned to THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed by THE TORO COMPANY, Bloomington, MN (US)
Filed on May 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/751,859.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/193,176, filed on May 26, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0379947 A1, Dec. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 1/12 (2006.01); A01D 69/03 (2006.01); B62D 11/00 (2006.01); B62D 11/04 (2006.01); A01D 34/64 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/12 (2013.01) [A01D 69/03 (2013.01); B62D 11/006 (2013.01); B62D 11/04 (2013.01); A01D 34/64 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A utility vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
first and second drive members attached to the chassis and supporting the chassis upon a ground surface;
first and second transmissions attached to the chassis, the first and second transmissions operatively coupled to the first and second drive members, respectively;
independent first and second drive control levers movably attached to the chassis, the first and second drive control levers each comprising: a shaft portion rotatably supported by the chassis, the shaft portion defining an axis; and an operator handle portion spaced-apart from the shaft portion, wherein the first and second drive control levers are operatively connected to the first and second transmissions, respectively, and wherein each drive control lever is configured to move between a neutral position corresponding to zero velocity of its respective drive member, and a first position corresponding to a forward velocity of its respective drive member; and
a coupler positioned between each shaft portion and rotatable about the axis, the coupler engaged with a surface of the shaft portions of each of the first and second drive control levers, wherein the coupler comprises a biasing element configured to provide a synchronizing force between the first and second drive control levers whereby the coupler:
upon application of a first force to the first drive control lever that results in movement of the first drive control lever to a position between the neutral position and the first position, causes movement of the second drive control lever to a corresponding position; and
upon application of a second force to the second drive control lever that is in a direction opposite that of the first force, and in which a sum of the first and second forces exceeds the synchronizing force, causes the second drive control lever to move to a different position that lacks correspondence with the position of the first drive control lever.