A gardening appliance has a traction drive system with a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device. The clutch is designed to, as a result of forward rotation, automatically engage for forward drive of the gardening appliance and, as a result of backward rotation, automatically disengage for freewheeling of the gardening appliance. The electric motor drive system is designed to effect the forward rotation and the backward rotation of the clutch. A method of operating the appliance includes: a) in a user-triggered manner by way of a change in a signal state of the signalling device, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode in order to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system; b) acquiring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system or a variable based on the back electromotive force satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for disengaging the clutch for freewheeling of the gardening appliance.

A work machine comprises an engine, a work unit configured to be driven by the engine, a clutch provided between an output shaft of the engine and a power shaft of the work unit, and configured to transmit or cut off power from the output shaft of the engine to the power shaft, a sensor configured to detect an engine speed of the engine; and a control unit configured to control the engine and the clutch based on the engine speed of the engine. The control unit predicts, based on the engine speed of the engine detected by the sensor, whether or not the work unit will become locked by a load, and control the clutch to switch over from a transmission state to a cut-off state upon predicting that the work unit will become locked.

A work machine comprises an engine, a work unit configured to be driven by the engine, a clutch provided between an output shaft of the engine and a power shaft of the work unit, and configured to transmit or cut off power from the output shaft of the engine to the power shaft, a sensor configured to detect an engine speed of the engine; and a control unit configured to control the engine and the clutch based on the engine speed of the engine. The control unit predicts, based on the engine speed of the engine detected by the sensor, whether or not the work unit will become locked by a load, and control the clutch to switch over from a transmission state to a cut-off state upon predicting that the work unit will become locked.

A reducer with a double-clutch structure includes a source power input shaft and a power output shaft. A speed reduction mechanism includes a driving device and a driven device installed on the output shaft. A first clutch device is arranged on the output shaft and is driven by the driven device thereby driving the output shaft. A second clutch device is arranged on the output shaft and is meshed with the driven device to drive the output shaft. A clutch control device operates the first clutch device and the second clutch device simultaneously to move between the engaging position and the disengaging position. The first clutch device engages earlier than the second clutch device and disengages later than the second clutch device. When the clutch control device operates the second clutch device to move axially to an engaging position from a disengaging position, the first clutch device is axially pushed to the engaging position from the disengaging position by the second clutch device.

A reducer with a double-clutch structure includes a source power input shaft and a power output shaft. A speed reduction mechanism includes a driving device and a driven device installed on the output shaft. A first clutch device is arranged on the output shaft and is driven by the driven device thereby driving the output shaft. A second clutch device is arranged on the output shaft and is meshed with the driven device to drive the output shaft. A clutch control device operates the first clutch device and the second clutch device simultaneously to move between the engaging position and the disengaging position. The first clutch device engages earlier than the second clutch device and disengages later than the second clutch device. When the clutch control device operates the second clutch device to move axially to an engaging position from a disengaging position, the first clutch device is axially pushed to the engaging position from the disengaging position by the second clutch device.

A gardening appliance has a traction drive system with a clutch, an electric motor drive system and a user-triggerable signalling device. The electric motor drive system effects forward rotation and backward rotation of the clutch. An operating method includes: a) in a user-triggered manner, operating the electric motor drive system in a running-down and/or braking operating mode to lower a motor rotational speed of the forward-rotating electric motor drive system; b) acquiring whether a back electromotive force caused by the electric motor drive system satisfies a standstill criterion, wherein the standstill criterion is characteristic of an attainment of a standstill state of the electric motor drive system; and c) when the standstill criterion is satisfied, operating the electric motor drive system in a backward-rotation operating mode to effect the backward rotation of the electric motor drive system for disengaging the clutch for freewheeling operation.