AWD Lawn Mower Load Balancer for Wheel Slippage
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Solution Overview
Problem
All-wheel drive power equipment units, such as lawn mowers, experience wheel slippage due to uneven weight distribution, where lighter wheels may start rotating before heavier ones, leading to unintended spinning and potential damage to turf.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a mechanical load balancer and resistance element that distributes force equally between front and rear transmissions, ensuring simultaneous engagement of all wheels by applying a greater resistance force to the front transmission, thereby synchronizing their start of movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all-wheel drive is implemented to improve control on difficult terrain, then traction and control are improved, but wheel slippage occurs due to uneven weight distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a resistance element that modifies the force characteristics of the front transmission. This resistance element creates a deliberate force imbalance that compensates for the weight distribution imbalance, allowing both front and rear wheels to engage simultaneously and prevent slippage while maintaining AWD control benefits
2Manufacturing precision
If force is distributed equally between front and rear transmissions, then simultaneous wheel engagement is achieved, but additional control components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing a load balancer mechanism that mediates between the operator's input and the two transmissions. This load balancer distributes the applied force equally to both front and rear transmissions, ensuring simultaneous engagement without requiring complex electronic control systems or multiple independent actuators
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
This solution reduces or eliminates wheel slippage by ensuring all wheels begin driving at the same time, improving traction and preventing damage to turf surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
a load balancer adapted to distribute a force applied at an input equally between a first output and a second output
Implementation Method 2
A resistance element is provided and associated with the front transmission. The resistance element defines a second force resisting actuation of the front transmission, wherein the second force is greater than a first force resisting actuation of the rear transmission
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for controlling engagement of a first and second transmission of an all-wheel drive (AWD) walk-behind power equipment unit such as a lawn mower. The control system may include a mechanical load balancer to split an input drive force vector into two output force vectors. These two forces act upon associated first and second connection elements coupled to the first and second transmissions, respectively. One transmission may include a resistance element selected to sequence engagement of the first and second transmissions so that both transmissions begin driving their respective wheels at or near the same time even when the wheels associated with one transmission are more heavily-loaded than the wheels associated with the other transmission.