The autonomous travel working machine includes a working body unit, a cover unit, and a connecting structure unit connecting the working body unit and the cover unit. The connecting structure unit includes a body connecting section attached to the working body unit and a cover connecting section attached to the cover unit. When the cover unit is lifted, a shaft portion of the cover unit is slid upwardly with respect to a head portion of the working body unit so that the cover unit is moved upwardly or lifted with respect to the working body unit. When the working machine hits against an obstacle, an intermediate portion of the body connecting section is resiliently deformed in a lateral direction so that the cover unit is moved with respect to the working body unit substantially only in the lateral direction.

A work vehicle includes: a body; a travel device supporting the body; a travel driver configured to drive the travel device; a brake configured to lock and unlock the travel device; a deactivation operation tool manually movable to a first position, at which the brake is operable to be activated and deactivated, and a second position, at which the brake is kept deactivated; a position detector configured to detect that the deactivation operation tool is at the second position; and a notifier configured to provide, based on a result of the detection by the position detector, a notification that the deactivation operation tool is at the second position.

A riding lawn mower includes a frame, a mowing device mounted to the bottom of the frame, a functional unit attached to the front of the frame, and a motor group together with a power supply mounted to the frame. The riding lawn mower also comprises a connecting device connecting the frame and the functional unit. The connecting device comprises a first connector attached on the front of the frame, a second connector attached to the functional unit, and a third connector adapted for fixedly connecting the first connector and the second connector, the first connector and the second connector respectively defining through-holes thereon, the third connector extending through the through-holes of the first and the second connectors to fixedly connect the first and the second connectors.

An apparatus for mechanically controlling the opening and closing of a gate hingedly mounted at the upper margin of a portal, leveraging the gate from a closed position to either a fully open position or a partially-open resting position. The gate opening function is controlled by a lever-handle actuated gate lifting assembly including a lift leverage bracket carrying a lift actuating rod engageable with a fulcrumatic gate pickup bracket lifting a lifting element of a gate attachment arm providing a hinged connection for the chute gate. The gate closing-catch function is controlled by a pivoting gate stop bracket carried on a second gate attachment arm; the gate stop bracket is biased to have a catch end ridable along an edge of a second riser mount for the second hinged connection for the gate, until the catch end seats or lodges in a closing-catch notch of the second riser mount.

A high-efficiency cutting system for an autonomous mower provides a multiple blade tip cutting radius for a cleaner cut, and more complete mow. The system includes a spinning blade disk provided within a housing including a vertical standoff. The blade disk includes a first pair of cutting blades located between the center of the blade disk and the circumference of the blade disk, and a second pair of cutting blades located radially inward from the first pair of cutting blades. The cutting blades extend downward and away from the blade disk at an angle.

A rod mechanism for a garden tool having a main body includes a first rod pivotally connected to the main body and movable between an in-use position and a storage position. A locking component engages the main body to lock the first rod in one of the in-use position and the storage position. An actuator moves between a released position and a triggered position, the actuator when in the triggered position unlocking the locking component from the main body, the actuator when in the released position orienting the locking component so as to be lockable to the main body. A second rod connected to the first rod moves to a preset position allowing the actuator to move to one of the triggered position or the released position. A position sensor on the main body generates a sensing signal when the first rod pivots to at least one of the in-use position and the storage position.

A riding lawn mower has an internal combustion engine and a muffler with a first housing. The internal combustion engine is connected to the muffler to supply exhaust gases originating from the internal combustion engine to the first housing of the muffler for noise damping of the exhaust gases. A second housing is provided that thermally insulates the first housing of the muffler. The second housing at least partially encloses the first housing of the muffler. The second housing has an exterior side with an emissivity of greater than 0.8.

Suspension systems and grounds maintenance vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. The suspension system may include biasing elements or springs that may be adjusted to vary the preload and thus change the spring and dampening characteristics of the suspension system. In some embodiments, the system may include an adjustment mechanism that permits simultaneous adjustment of two springs via a single action. In other embodiments, features adapted to assist an operator with mounting/dismounting the vehicle are disclosed.

Suspension systems and grounds maintenance vehicles incorporating the same are disclosed. The suspension system may include biasing elements or springs that may be adjusted to vary the preload and thus change the spring and dampening characteristics of the suspension system. In some embodiments, the system may include an adjustment mechanism that permits simultaneous adjustment of two springs via a single action. In other embodiments, features adapted to assist an operator with mounting/dismounting the vehicle are disclosed.