Garden Machine Cable Routing Inside Hollow Handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Cutting machines for gardening and land maintenance often have exposed cables that can be damaged in hostile environments such as reeds or areas with branches, leading to cuts or cable failure, which complicates operation and reduces maintenance efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A cutting machine design where cables are routed entirely inside a hollow handle and main body, with a control unit and electronic board positioned to minimize exposure and enhance protection, allowing for safer operation in challenging environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If cables are exposed outside the machine for control operations, then the machine can be operated with simple cable routing, but the cables can be damaged by branches, shrubs, or weeds in hostile environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable routing simplicityVSAvoidcable damage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cables are nested inside the hollow handle structure, which provides physical protection while maintaining control functionality. The handle acts as a protective container for the cables, preventing damage from external objects like branches and shrubs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow handle structure serves as a flexible protective shell that encloses and protects the cables running through it, allowing the cables to be shielded from mechanical damage while still enabling control signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If cables are routed inside the hollow handle, then cable protection is improved, but the handle structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable protectionVSAvoidhandle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow handle structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the machine, acts as a protective enclosure for the cables, and enables ergonomic gripping. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate protective cable conduits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cables are nested within the existing hollow handle structure rather than requiring an additional outer protective layer, thus providing cable protection without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Device complexity

If the electronic board is located in the main body connected by external cables, then the connection is simple, but the cables are vulnerable to damage in hostile environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection simplicityVSAvoidcable exposure to damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cables connecting the electronic board to the control portion are nested inside the hollow handle structure, protecting them from external damage while maintaining the electrical connection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The hollow handle acts as a protective shell enclosing the cables that connect the electronic board to the control portion, shielding them from mechanical damage by branches, shrubs, and weeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP4477052A1Machine for maintenance of external areas
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 STIGA S P A IN BREVE ANCHE ST SPA
  • EP4477052A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4477052A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4477052A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a machine for the maintenance of a land or garden, which comprises a main body (2), a work head (3) carried by the main body (2) and configured to operate on the land to be maintained, a battery (33) carried by the main body (2) on the side opposite the work head (3), a control unit (10) connected to the work head (3) and to the battery (33). Wherein the control unit (10) comprises an electronic board (14) carried by an intermediate section (2c) of the main body (2) between the work head (3) and the battery (33).