Auto configuration of electrically powered reel cutting units on a reel mower

摘要

A gang reel mower comprises a frame that carries a plurality of variable speed, electrically powered reel cutting units. Cutting units having different reel diameters may be installed on the frame. Upon system power up, a mower controller on the frame automatically acquires information identifying the reel size of the cutting units then installed on the frame and uses the acquired reel size information to properly set the speed of the electric motors driving the cutting units to a desired value, such as that needed to maintain a desired clip. Thus, the cutting units can be changed in size with the mower controller automatically recognizing the change in a plug and play manner.

主权项

1. A reel mower, which comprises:
(a) a frame supported for rolling over a turf surface having grass; (b) a plurality of reel cutting units carried on the frame, wherein each reel cutting unit comprises a cutting reel rotatable about a horizontal axis for pushing blades of grass against a cooperating bedknife to sever blades of grass on the turf surface in a shearing action between the cutting reel and the bedknife, wherein the cutting reels of the plurality of reel cutting units are individually powered by separate variable speed electric motors with each reel cutting unit being powered by one electric motor that is separate and distinct from other electric motors that power individually and separately other reel cutting units of the plurality of reel cutting units, wherein the plurality of reel cutting units that are carried on the frame are selected from a group of reel cutting units consisting of:
(i) reel cutting units having cutting reels of a first diameter; and(ii) reel cutting units having cutting reels of a second diameter that is different than the first diameter, wherein each separate and distinct electric motor that drives a cutting reel of a reel cutting unit includes an electronic motor controller; and (c) an electronic, microprocessor based, mower controller carried on the frame, the mower controller being operatively connected with electronic motor controllers of the electric motors of all the reel cutting units that are currently being carried on the frame, the mower controller being configured to:
(i) automatically acquire, prior to a mowing operation, reel size information that identifies whether the currently carried cutting reels being driven have the first or the second diameter; and(ii) automatically use the acquired reel size information to properly set speeds of the cutting reels of all the currently carried reel cutting units during the mowing operation.