Flexible Debris Chute for Tree Pruning

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for removing vegetation debris from elevated areas often result in debris landing unintentionally, posing risks to people, vehicles, and property, and require significant time for cleanup due to the debris being scattered over various locations.

Innovation Solution

A flexible debris removal chute with a mouth, body, and exit, made from materials like rip-stop nylon, which can be collapsible and reinforced with elliptical rings, allowing for secure attachment to a tree and deployment to direct debris to a targeted area, either for collection or disposal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If debris is simply aimed and released from elevated vegetation, then the trimming operation is quick and simple, but the debris lands unintentionally in scattered locations causing safety risks and requiring significant cleanup time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrimming operation speedVSAvoidcleanup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible chute serves as an intermediary device between the trimming operation at elevated vegetation and the ground-level collection area. The chute captures debris at the mouth, transports it through the body, and directs it to a controlled exit location, preventing scattered landing while maintaining efficient trimming operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chute extracts debris from the natural scattering pattern and redirects it to a specific target area. By capturing debris at the mouth and channeling it through the body to a controlled exit, the system removes debris from unpredictable trajectories and concentrates it in a manageable location for efficient cleanup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If debris is simply aimed and released from elevated vegetation, then the trimming operation is quick and simple, but debris may unintentionally hit people, vehicles, property or other vegetation causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetrimming operation speedVSAvoidsafety risks to people and property

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible chute acts as a protective intermediary that intercepts debris before it can scatter harmfully. By capturing debris at the mouth and directing it through a controlled path to a specific exit location, the chute prevents debris from unintentionally hitting people, vehicles, property, or other vegetation in the surrounding area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The chute converts the potentially harmful scattering of debris into a beneficial controlled delivery system. What would otherwise be a safety hazard (debris sailing unpredictably) is transformed into a controlled flow that delivers debris safely to a designated area, protecting surrounding objects and people.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a flexible chute is used to direct debris to a target area, then debris is contained and directed to one location improving safety and cleanup efficiency, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety and debris controlVSAvoidchute structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The chute is constructed from flexible material that forms a continuous shell from the mouth through the body to the exit. This flexible construction provides the necessary containment and directional control for debris while remaining simple in form and easy to deploy, avoiding complex rigid structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The chute is divided into distinct functional segments: the mouth for capturing debris, the body for transporting it, and the exit for controlled delivery. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity and ease of deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 chute effectively collects and directs debris to a specific location, reducing the risk of damage and streamlining cleanup by containing debris in one area, making the process safer and more efficient.

Implementation Method 1

Gravity allows the body and exit portions to fall to towards the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9475641B1Debris chute

Publication Date: 2016.10.25 BRANDON NIGEL

AI summary

Devices, systems and methods for debris removal are provided comprising a flexible chute having a mouth, a body, and an exit. The flexible material can be collapsible. The flexible material is rip-stop nylon. When the chute is used, a user can take the chute in a collapsed configuration and scale a tree for pruning. Upon reaching a top area of the tree, the user secures the chute to the tree and allows the body and exit portions to deploy by releasing those sections. Gravity allows the body and exit portions to fall to towards the ground. As debris is removed from the tree, it is placed into the mouth and passes through the body and out exit. If desired the exit can be placed in other desired locations such as proximate to a wood chipping device for shredding debris or proximate to a truck bed, dump box or trailer for catching the debris as it exits the chute. Thus, the chute can safely collect, control and direct debris generated from pruning vegetation.