Externally Adjustable Bagging Attachment Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Achieving a good fit between lawn care vehicles and their bagging attachments is challenging due to the stack-up of parts, leading to dust and debris escape, requiring iterative adjustments that are tedious and complicated.
Innovation Solution
An externally adjustable bagging attachment with a pivot point adjustment mechanism that allows operators to adjust the fit without removing the attachment, using a carriage assembly that can be adjusted externally to improve the sealing between the bagging attachment and the vehicle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bagging attachment is designed to mate with the lawn care vehicle, then the fit should be good, but the stack-up of parts causes poor fit and debris escape
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an adjustable carriage assembly with multiple pivot point positions that allows the bagging attachment to dynamically adapt to variations in vehicle geometry. The carriage can be repositioned along the discharge chute to compensate for part stack-up issues, transforming a static fit problem into a dynamic adjustment solution.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the attachment system by providing multiple predetermined pivot point positions on the carriage assembly. This allows operators to adjust the pivot point location to achieve proper mating between the bagging attachment and vehicle, compensating for variations caused by part stack-up.
2Reliability
If operators attempt to adjust the fit by removing and repositioning internal components, then the fit may improve, but the process becomes tedious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly is pre-configured with multiple predetermined pivot point positions during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for operators to perform complex internal adjustments, as they can simply select from pre-established positions that account for potential fit issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the adjustment mechanism from the internal components and places it on the external carriage assembly. This separation allows operators to adjust the pivot point position without disassembling or removing internal bagging components, significantly reducing adjustment time and complexity.
3Device complexity
If the pivot point is fixed internally, then the structure is simple, but adjustment requires attachment removal and reinstallation
Solution Approach 1:
The carriage assembly transforms the fixed internal pivot point into a dynamic, externally adjustable component. The carriage can be easily repositioned along the discharge chute and locked at different pivot points without requiring attachment removal, maintaining structural simplicity while dramatically improving operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage assembly acts as an intermediary between the fixed vehicle discharge chute and the flexible bagging attachment. This intermediate component provides the adjustment capability externally, simplifying the overall structure while improving ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A riding lawn care vehicle may include a rear discharge and a bagging attachment. The rear discharge may be disposed at a rear of the riding lawn care vehicle. The bagging attachment may be configured to attach to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle to receive debris discharged via the rear discharge. The bagging attachment may include an adjustable member that is accessible by an operator external to the bagging attachment to enable adjustment of a pivot point of the bagging attachment relative to the rear of the riding lawn care vehicle.