REAR DRIVE RIDE-ON TRACTOR UNIT FOR PROPELLING STEERABLE UTILITY VEHICLES SUCH AS WALK-BEHIND PAINT STRIPERS

摘要

Improved paint striper control, speed and quality is achieved by articulating a motor driven push tractor unit (15) to a steerable walk-behind paint striping unit (40). In a preferred embodiment, a two-wheeled rear push tractor unit (50) supporting a drive motor (58) and driver's seat (26) is coupled through a quick release ball-socket pivot joint behind a three-wheeled handlebar steered push-to-paint manual striping unit (40). The articulation joint with help of a hydrostatic trans-axle transmission in the tractor unit produces a sharp turning eighty degree radius. Also the transmission unit functions to drive the assembly in straight lines. The user controls steering to deviate from a straight line at the handlebar grips in substantially the same manner as if walking behind the paint striper. Thus the user rides quickly along the striping path with a good view at the paint spray jets to monitor performance and achieve higher output volume and quality.