Adaptive Electric Snowthrower Control for Clog and Stall Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snowthrowers often experience overload and clogging due to excessive snow mass collection exceeding their ejection capacity, leading to stalling issues, particularly in deep and dense snow conditions.
Innovation Solution
A snowthrower design incorporating an auger housing, an impeller housing, and electric motors for both components, along with sensors and an electronic controller that monitors data and adjusts motor parameters to manage snow collection and ejection efficiently, including adjustable traction wheel positions and motor speeds to prevent overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the snowthrower operates at high propulsion speed to increase productivity, then the snow collection rate increases, but the snow mass may overload the auger and impeller causing clogging and stalling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed control of the auger and impeller motors based on real-time operational conditions. The controller adjusts motor speeds dynamically to match snow density and depth variations, preventing overload while maintaining high productivity. This is achieved through sensors that monitor auger load and impeller motor current, feeding back to the controller which then modulates motor speeds accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control mechanisms where sensors monitor operational parameters (auger load, impeller motor current) and the controller adjusts motor speeds based on this feedback. This closed-loop control prevents overload conditions by reducing speeds when sensors detect excessive load, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing high productivity during favorable conditions.
2Productivity
If the auger and impeller operate at high speeds to increase snow ejection capacity, then productivity improves, but energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed control where the controller adjusts auger and impeller motor speeds based on real-time snow conditions and operational needs. Rather than operating at constant high speeds, the system modulates speeds to match actual workload requirements, reducing energy consumption during light conditions while maintaining high ejection capacity when needed, thereby optimizing battery utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (motor speeds) dynamically based on sensor feedback and control logic. The controller adjusts speed parameters to match snow density, depth, and volume variations, ensuring high productivity when conditions require it while consuming less energy during lighter conditions, thus extending battery life without sacrificing peak performance capability.
3Device complexity
If the snowthrower uses a single high-speed rotor for both collection and ejection, then device complexity is reduced, but the rotor becomes prone to overload and clogging in deep snow conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the snow handling function into two separate stages: an auger for collection and transport, and an impeller for ejection. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the auger operates at lower speeds for gentle snow gathering while the impeller provides high-speed ejection capability, together preventing overload and clogging that would occur in a single-stage system.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric snowthrower including: an auger and an impeller driven by one or more electric motors; one or more sensors; and an electronic controller coupled to each of the motor(s) and the sensor(s). The electronic controller is configured to monitor data provided by the sensor(s) and, in response to the sensor data, automatically adjust operation of the motor(s) or other feature of the snowthrower. Controls for operating such a snowthrower are also included.