Grass Collector Support Cart With Adjustable Link Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of attaching and detaching the grass collecting apparatus to and from the vehicle body of a riding type mower is labor-intensive due to the need for precise positioning and support of the lifting-lowering link mechanism, which requires significant effort and adjustment.

Innovation Solution

A support cart with strut poles and an extension and contraction adjusting mechanism facilitates the attachment and detachment of the grass collecting apparatus by allowing the lifting-lowering link mechanism to be propped and adjusted to match the vehicle body's connection section, eliminating the need for precise positioning and support during attachment and detachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the connection section is manually positioned and the link mechanism is manually supported during attachment/detachment, then the grass collecting apparatus can be connected to or disconnected from the vehicle body, but the process requires significant effort and labor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachment and detachmentVSAvoidcomplexity of positioning and support mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support cart allows the connection section to be preliminarily positioned at the correct height and orientation before actual attachment to the vehicle body. The adjustable support members pre-align the connection section, so that when the cart is moved away, the connection section is already in the correct position for easy coupling, eliminating the need for manual positioning effort during the actual attachment operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support cart acts as an intermediary device between the operator and the grass collecting apparatus during attachment and detachment operations. It provides mechanical support and positioning assistance, transferring the alignment function from manual operator effort to the cart's adjustable support mechanism, thereby reducing the labor required for the actual connection operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the connection section is manually positioned during attachment, then proper alignment with the support section can be achieved, but the process takes a lot of effort and labor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precision of connection sectionVSAvoideffort required for positioning
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support members are designed to be adjustable in length and position, allowing dynamic adaptation to different heights and angles. This dynamic adjustability enables precise positioning of the connection section without requiring excessive manual effort, as the support structure can be configured to match the required alignment parameters for various operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The support cart preliminarily positions the connection section at the correct alignment with the vehicle body's support section before the actual attachment occurs. This preliminary alignment action ensures precise positioning is achieved through the cart's adjustable support mechanism rather than through difficult manual positioning during the critical attachment moment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3884763B1Support cart
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3884763B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3884763B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3884763B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided a support section (13) at a back portion of a vehicle body. A grass collecting apparatus (10) includes a connection section (18) configured to be detachably connected to the support section (13) and a lifting-lowering link mechanism (12) extending backward from the connection section (18) in such a manner as to be capable of being swung in the up-down direction and supporting a grass collecting container (11) in such a manner as to be capable of lifting and lowering the grass collecting container (11) and changing the orientation of the grass collecting container 1(1 between a grass collecting orientation and a discharge orientation. A support cart (C) includes a base section (42), a placement section (49) configured to receive the grass collecting apparatus (10), and a strut pole (60) extending upward from the base section (42) and configured to prop the lifting-lowering link mechanism (12) of the grass collecting apparatus 10 on the placement section (49). The strut pole (60) includes an extension and contraction adjusting portion (61).