Battery Adapter Plate for Cordless Lawn Mower Runtime Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered outdoor power equipment, such as lawn mowers, face limitations in operating time due to limited onboard battery capacity, often requiring external batteries carried by the operator, which results in tethering issues when connecting these external batteries.
Innovation Solution
A battery adapter that allows external backpack batteries to be directly connected to the equipment without a cord, enabling power augmentation to the onboard batteries, thus eliminating the need for operator tethering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If external batteries are carried on the operator's back in a backpack harness and connected via a cord, then the operating time is extended, but the operator is tethered to the lawn mower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the battery from the backpack harness configuration and relocates it to the lawn mower itself through a battery adapter. This removes the cord connection that tethers the operator, allowing the battery to be carried on the mower rather than on the operator's back, thus extending operating time without compromising operator mobility
Solution Approach 2:
The battery adapter serves as an intermediary component that enables connection between the external battery and the lawn mower's power system. This adapter provides the necessary electrical interface and mounting mechanism, allowing the battery to be securely attached to the mower and connected without requiring the operator to carry the battery or be tethered by a cord
2Duration of action of moving object
If the onboard battery capacity is increased, then the operating time is extended, but the device weight and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the battery system into separate modular units that can be independently attached to the lawn mower. Instead of integrating a large heavy battery into the mower's structure, the system uses detachable battery adapters that can be configured with different battery capacities, allowing operating time to be extended without permanently increasing the mower's base weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables parameter changes in battery capacity by allowing different battery configurations through the adapter system. Users can select batteries with varying capacities and attach them as needed, rather than being constrained to a fixed battery size built into the mower, thus extending operating time while maintaining flexibility in weight management
Data Source
AI summary
A lawn mower may include a blade housing configured to house a blade assembly, a powerhead configured to selectively operate the blade assembly responsive to application of power from one or more batteries, a battery receptacle operably coupled to the powerhead and configured to receive the one or more batteries, and a battery adapter configured to be operably coupled to the lawn mower and to a backpack battery to enable the powerhead to receive power from the backpack battery in addition to or as an alternative to one of the one or more batteries when the backpack battery is removed from a backpack harness and mated with the battery adapter.