Floating Mower Deck Lift Mechanism for Obstacle Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mowers face challenges in maintaining the mower deck at a consistent cutting height while traversing uneven terrain, leading to potential damage or gaps in cutting operations when encountering obstacles.
Innovation Solution
A floating lift assembly that includes a support link and control link mechanism, coupled with a linear actuator, allows the mower deck to pivot and move upward freely over obstacles while maintaining a set cutting height, using a pivoting arrangement to prevent downward movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed mower deck height mechanism is used, then the cutting height can be maintained precisely on flat terrain, but the deck cannot freely navigate over obstacles and may suffer damage or create gaps in cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a fixed rigid connection between the mower deck and chassis to a dynamic floating lift mechanism. The control link allows the deck to pivot upward freely when encountering obstacles, while the actuator maintains the deck at the desired cutting height during normal operation. This dynamic system adapts to terrain variations, preventing deck damage while maintaining cutting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the vertical position parameter of the mower deck to vary dynamically. The floating lift mechanism enables the deck height relative to the ground to change in response to obstacles, while the actuator controls the deck's position relative to the chassis to maintain the cutting height parameter within a desired range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a floating lift mechanism is implemented, then the mower deck can navigate over obstacles freely, but the cutting height consistency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback control through the actuator system that monitors and adjusts the mower deck position. The actuator receives control signals based on the desired cutting height and actively compensates for vertical movements of the deck caused by terrain variations, maintaining consistent cutting height despite the floating mechanism's freedom of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control link serves as an intermediary element between the actuator and the mower deck. It transmits controlled forces from the actuator to the deck while allowing the deck to pivot upward freely when needed, mediating between the conflicting requirements of fixed height control and obstacle navigation freedom.
3Area of stationary object
If the control link is positioned close to the actuator, then the mechanism is compact, but the control authority over the mower deck is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by utilizing the vertical dimension and rotational degrees of freedom. The control link pivots about an axis perpendicular to the actuator's line of action, allowing the mechanism to maintain a compact horizontal footprint while the actuator exerts effective control through rotational moments. The control authority is maintained through the lever arm created by the pivot geometry rather than through horizontal distance.
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 floating lift assembly enables the mower deck to smoothly navigate over obstacles without damaging the deck or disrupting the cutting height, ensuring consistent trimming performance.
Implementation Method 1
a support link pivotally coupled to the chassis and coupled to the mower deck, a control link having a first end portion pivotally coupled to the support link and a second end portion offset from the first end portion
Implementation Method 2
The control link is configured to rotate relative to the actuator and relative to the support link to permit upward movement of the mower deck
Implementation Method 3
a linear actuator pivotable relative to the frame about a second axis... The linear actuator is configured to retract to decrease a distance between the second axis and the third axis and raise the mower deck
Implementation Method 4
a control member pivotable relative to the linear actuator about a third axis and pivotable relative to the support member about a fourth axis. The control member is configured to pivot about the fourth axis to permit raising the mower deck while the distance between the second axis and the third axis remains constant
Data Source
AI summary
A mower includes a chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a mower deck coupled to the chassis and including a cutting element, and a floating lift assembly coupling the mower deck to the chassis. The floating lift assembly includes a support link pivotally coupled to the chassis and coupled to the mower deck, a control link having a first end portion pivotally coupled to the support link and a second end portion offset from the first end portion, and an actuator coupling the second end portion of the control link to the chassis. The control link is configured to rotate relative to the actuator and relative to the support link to permit upward movement of the mower deck.