Buoyant Aquatic Vegetation Removal Head with Angled Serrated Edges

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for removing aquatic vegetation from bodies of water are either overly complex and expensive or ineffective, as they tend to clog, bury in the sediment, or sink, making them difficult to use and inefficient for recreational users.

Innovation Solution

A buoyant apparatus with a length-adjustable handle and a head featuring angled serrated edges that cut and collect vegetation without clogging, with a design that prevents sinking and allows for easy placement and use, including a secondary removal edge for enhanced cutting and collection capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If hand-operated rakes are used to uproot vegetation, then vegetation removal capability is improved, but the tines clog with vegetation reducing effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevegetation removal capabilityVSAvoidvegetation-gripping effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful function of vegetation accumulation by designing a head structure where vegetation is cut and immediately separated from the cutting edges. The vegetation is pushed forward onto the water surface rather than accumulating on the raking surfaces, preventing clogging and maintaining continuous operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a mechanism where cut vegetation is immediately discarded onto the water surface through the forward-pushing action of the head. This prevents the vegetation from being recovered or accumulated on the tool surfaces, eliminating the clogging problem that plagues traditional hand-operated rakes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If cutting tools are used to sever vegetation, then vegetation cutting capability is improved, but the tools do not adequately collect the cut vegetation for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevegetation cutting capabilityVSAvoidvegetation collection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the cutting function and collection function into a single integrated head structure. The same head that cuts the vegetation also pushes and directs it forward onto the water surface, eliminating the need for separate collection mechanisms and simplifying the overall operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The head structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a cutting edge for severing vegetation, a pushing surface for directing vegetation forward, and a separation mechanism for depositing vegetation onto the water surface. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between cutting capability and collection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the rake or cutting tool is placed at a desired location within the body of water, then positioning capability is improved, but the tool's weight causes it to rapidly sink

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidtool weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the buoyancy principle to counteract the weight of the head structure. By designing the head to float or be buoyant, the tool can be easily positioned and held at the desired water depth without rapidly sinking, allowing the user to maintain control and adjust positioning as needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

4Productivity

If the head moves in forward direction to cut vegetation, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but the removal edge may interfere with water body's bottom surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting effectivenessVSAvoidinterference with bottom surface

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing the removal edge to cut downward into the bottom surface, the patent inverts the approach by angling the removal edge upward. This upward angle allows the edge to effectively cut and sever vegetation roots while naturally preventing contact with and damage to the water body's bottom surface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The apparatus effectively cuts and collects aquatic vegetation without clogging or sinking, facilitating easy removal and reducing user effort, while maintaining stability on the water bottom and preventing interference with sediment.

Implementation Method 1

the head (25) possesses a buoyant property for countering a sinking motion of the head within the water to facilitate an easier handling of the apparatus when placing and locating the head in the water

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11202407B2Apparatus and method for removing aquatic vegetation

Publication Date: 2021.12.21 LANDGRAF SCOTT

AI summary

This invention relates generally to the removal of aquatic vegetation from bodies of water. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for the removal of such vegetation, the apparatus and method facilitating a cutting or uprooting of the vegetation within the water and the optional collection of it there-from.