A lift assist system for lifting a tow bar and setting a tow bar-actuated brake system. The lift assist system includes a cam that may proportionally counter the moments imposed on the tow bar for a reduced and more uniform exertion force on the tow bar throughout the rotation of the tow bar. A brake actuation system can help provide retention of the tow bar in the upright configuration, eliminating the need for or providing redundancy to conventional latch and hook mechanisms.

A planetary gear assembly, in particular for an electromechanical service or parking brake for a motor vehicle. The planetary gear assembly can include a central sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on a planetary carrier, and a ring gear enclosing the planetary gears. The planetary gears can be mounted by the planetary carrier, such that the planetary gears roll off both the sun gear and the ring gear, whereby the sun gear, the planetary carrier or the ring gear is non-rotatably held by a holding unit with a holding torque. A force-sensing device can be arranged between the holding unit and the non-rotatably held element, or between the holding unit and an intermediate component non-rotatably connected to the held component. The force-sensing device can measure the force acting between the held component and the holding unit as a result of the holding torque.

A planetary gear assembly, in particular for an electromechanical service or parking brake for a motor vehicle. The planetary gear assembly can include a central sun gear, a plurality of planetary gears rotatably mounted on a planetary carrier, and a ring gear enclosing the planetary gears. The planetary gears can be mounted by the planetary carrier, such that the planetary gears roll off both the sun gear and the ring gear, whereby the sun gear, the planetary carrier or the ring gear is non-rotatably held by a holding unit with a holding torque. A force-sensing device can be arranged between the holding unit and the non-rotatably held element, or between the holding unit and an intermediate component non-rotatably connected to the held component. The force-sensing device can measure the force acting between the held component and the holding unit as a result of the holding torque.

An emergency stop brake operation assembly necessary for a work vehicle when travelling autonomously in an unmanned state is provided in this brake system without introducing problems to manual driving of the work vehicle by an occupant. This brake system for work vehicles comprises: a brake pedal that is disposed in a driving section; a brake that brakes left and right rear wheels; a linkage mechanism that links the brake pedal and the brake in such a manner as to allow the brake pedal and the brake to operate in conjunction with each other; and an electric brake operating device that actuates the brake in response to an emergency stop command. The brake operating device has: an operation-receiving body that is coupled to the brake pedal; an electric actuator that operates the operation-receiving body; and a clearance-provided section which is located between the brake pedal and the electric actuator and allows displacement of the brake pedal and the linkage mechanism with respect to the electric actuator when the brake pedal is depressed.

An emergency stop brake operation assembly necessary for a work vehicle when travelling autonomously in an unmanned state is provided in this brake system without introducing problems to manual driving of the work vehicle by an occupant. This brake system for work vehicles comprises: a brake pedal that is disposed in a driving section; a brake that brakes left and right rear wheels; a linkage mechanism that links the brake pedal and the brake in such a manner as to allow the brake pedal and the brake to operate in conjunction with each other; and an electric brake operating device that actuates the brake in response to an emergency stop command. The brake operating device has: an operation-receiving body that is coupled to the brake pedal; an electric actuator that operates the operation-receiving body; and a clearance-provided section which is located between the brake pedal and the electric actuator and allows displacement of the brake pedal and the linkage mechanism with respect to the electric actuator when the brake pedal is depressed.

A riding lawn mower includes a chassis having longitudinal support beam, a drive wheel, an electric motor coupled to the drive wheel, a suspended subframe having a longitudinal subframe beam pivotally coupled to the longitudinal support beam about a pivot axis, and a suspension device coupled between the longitudinal subframe beam and the longitudinal support beam. The longitudinal subframe beam at least partially supports the electric motor. The drive wheel and the electric motor are configured to translate relative to the chassis via the pivotal coupling between the longitudinal support beam and the longitudinal subframe beam.

When a drawbar is inserted into a coupling hole, which is a necessary task to couple a towbar to a tractor, a brake device switches from a braking state in which a braking force is applied to each front wheel to a non-braking state in which the front wheel is released from the braking force. When the drawbar is removed from the coupling hole, which is a necessary task to uncouple the tractor from the towbar, the brake device switches from the non-braking state to the braking state.

When a drawbar is inserted into a coupling hole, which is a necessary task to couple a towbar to a tractor, a brake device switches from a braking state in which a braking force is applied to each front wheel to a non-braking state in which the front wheel is released from the braking force. When the drawbar is removed from the coupling hole, which is a necessary task to uncouple the tractor from the towbar, the brake device switches from the non-braking state to the braking state.

Methods and apparatus for a lawn maintenance vehicle park brake and traction drive interlock are provided. A park brake mechanism is selectively operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. A traction drive is also mounted to the lawn maintenance vehicle, the traction drive having a disable mode which prohibits transmission of a driving force from the traction drive to a drive wheel. A first operable connection between the park brake mechanism and a wheel brake activates the wheel brake. A second operable connection between the park brake mechanism and the traction drive activates the disable mode of the traction drive. A method of controlling a lawn maintenance vehicle with a park brake and traction drive interlock include the steps of providing a lawn maintenance vehicle, providing an operable park brake mechanism, providing a first operable connection, and providing a second operable connection.

There is provided a patient transport apparatus. The apparatus includes a height-adjustable assembly having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a brake cable. The brake cable includes an elongate portion extending along the height-adjustable assembly and includes a slack portion. The apparatus includes a brake cable housing coupled to and axially offset from the height-adjustable assembly. The slack portion of the brake cable is enclosed within a hollow interior of the brake cable housing.