Dynamic Skid Shoe Linkage for Uneven Snow Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing snow blower devices are ineffective at clearing snow from uneven surfaces as their cutting edges are set above the ground to avoid damage, resulting in incomplete snow removal and potential damage to the device or surface when encountering obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic skid shoe system connected to a vehicle via a linkage assembly, allowing the cutting edge to contact the ground and adjust vertically to clear uneven surfaces and obstacles, with a hydraulic fluid circuit providing the necessary movement and support to elevate the edge over immovable objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cutting edge is set above the ground to avoid damage, then the safety of the device is improved, but the snow removal efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The skid shoe is transformed from a fixed static component to a dynamic component that can automatically adjust its position. The dynamic skid shoe moves vertically in response to surface conditions and obstacles, allowing the cutting edge to maintain optimal contact with the ground for snow removal while automatically elevating to avoid damage from obstacles.
2Productivity
If the cutting edge contacts the ground to clear snow from uneven surfaces, then the snow removal efficiency is improved, but the risk of damage from obstacles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic skid shoe continuously monitors surface conditions and automatically adjusts the height of the cutting edge. When the surface is uneven or obstacles are detected, the skid shoe dynamically elevates the cutting edge to prevent damage, while maintaining ground contact for effective snow removal on flat surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic skid shoe system incorporates feedback mechanisms that sense surface conditions and obstacle presence. This feedback information is used to automatically adjust the cutting edge position, creating a closed-loop control system that balances snow removal efficiency with damage prevention based on real-time environmental conditions.
3Device complexity
If fixed skid shoes are used to support the cutting edge, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the adaptability to uneven surfaces deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The skid shoe incorporates dynamic elements that allow it to move and adapt to uneven surfaces while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The dynamic components enable the skid shoe to follow ground contours and adjust to varying terrain conditions without requiring complex mechanical systems.
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
Enables more efficient snow clearance on uneven surfaces by allowing the cutting edge to follow ground contours and automatically elevate over obstacles, reducing damage and improving snow removal efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a hydraulic fluid circuit including a pressure providing component fluidily connected to the dynamic component
Data Source
AI summary
An implement including a work assembly for clearing materials on a ground, the work assembly including an edge and at least one dynamic skid shoe. The implement may have a pair of dynamic skid shoes. The dynamic skid shoe includes a surface contact component for contacting a street surface, a dynamic component operably connected to the surface contact component for providing vertical movement of the surface contact component, and a hydraulic fluid circuit including a pressure providing component fluidily connected to the dynamic component. The implement includes a linkage assembly, wherein the linkage assembly and the dynamic skid shoe operate to provide the edge to be elevated above the ground surface in order to pass over an obstruction encountered by the edge even on uneven surfaces.