Barbed Chain Shrub Removal Apparatus for Root Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing shrubs, bushes, and small trees are labor-intensive, require significant physical strength, disturb surrounding vegetation, and often involve the use of chemicals, which pose environmental and health risks.

Innovation Solution

A shrub removal apparatus featuring a chain segment with barbed links and circular rings, allowing for easy grasping and uprooting of plants without chemicals, using a vehicle to pull the shrub, ensuring minimal disturbance and effective root extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual uprooting with picks and shovels is used, then complete plant removal is achieved, but labor intensity and physical strength requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete plant removalVSAvoidlabor intensity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a mechanical intermediary device (the shrub remover tool with chain and barbed end) that mediates between the operator and the shrub root system. The barbed end embeds into the roots while the chain provides mechanical advantage, allowing complete removal with minimal manual labor and no chemical use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If blade tools are used to cut plants at soil line, then surrounding vegetation disturbance is minimized, but plant regrowth from roots occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurrounding vegetation disturbanceVSAvoidplant removal effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the root system completely from the ground using the barbed chain mechanism. By extracting the roots rather than leaving them in place, the device prevents regrowth while minimizing disturbance to surrounding vegetation through controlled extraction rather than aggressive cutting or chemical application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If herbicides are used to kill unwanted shrubs, then chemical effectiveness is achieved, but environmental and health risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplant killing effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental and health risks

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical herbicide system with a mechanical removal system. The barbed chain and vehicle pull mechanism physically extracts and removes the entire shrub including roots, eliminating the need for chemical herbicides and their associated environmental and health risks while maintaining effective plant removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Force

If tractor and winch methods are used, then uprooting capability is improved, but purchase and maintenance costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuprooting capabilityVSAvoidpurchase and maintenance costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the uprooting system into a handheld tool component (barbed chain segment) that can be attached to various vehicle types. This modular design allows operators to use existing vehicles with minimal modification, reducing purchase and maintenance costs compared to dedicated tractor-and-winch systems while maintaining effective uprooting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7887026B2Shrub remover

Publication Date: 2011.02.15 BAC IND INC

AI summary

In some embodiments, a shrub removing apparatus may include one or more of the following features: (a) a chain segment having a chain link, (b) a barb coupled to the chain link, (c) a first circular ring coupled to the chain segment at a proximal end, and (d) a second circular ring coupled to the chain segment at a distal end.