Grass Collector Mounting System with Spring-Loaded Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grass collectors for riding mowers are difficult to mount and dismount due to the need for precise alignment and the use of pins, which can be lost or hard to find, making it cumbersome to switch between collecting grass clippings and discharging them onto the turf.
Innovation Solution
A mounting system featuring a pivotal hook and pivot arrangement with a quick connect fastening system using spring-loaded retaining pins that automatically engage with a vertical stop surface, eliminating the need for precise alignment and allowing easy installation and removal of the grass collector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional pin-based mounting system is used to secure the grass collector to the mower frame, then the grass collector can be firmly attached, but the mounting and dismounting process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome due to the need for precise alignment and manual pin insertion/removal
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system employs spring-loaded retaining pins that automatically engage with complementary receptacles on the mower frame when the grass collector is positioned. The spring mechanism provides automatic locking without requiring manual pin insertion, and the design allows for easy disengagement by simply releasing the locking mechanism, enabling quick one-person installation and removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces retaining pins as intermediary elements that mediate between the grass collector frame and the mower frame. These pins serve as automatic locking intermediaries that bridge the two structures, providing secure attachment without requiring direct alignment of complex mating features, thus simplifying the mounting process
2Reliability
If multiple pins and alignment features are used to ensure secure mounting, then the connection reliability improves, but the device complexity and difficulty of operation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into discrete, modular components: retaining pins with spring mechanisms, complementary receptacles on the mower frame, and distinct mounting locations. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function independently, simplifying the overall system while maintaining reliability through distributed attachment points
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the alignment function from the locking function by providing pre-positioned receptacles that guide the retaining pins into place. The alignment features are separated as distinct structural elements rather than requiring complex integrated alignment mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable attachment
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 system allows for quick and secure mounting and dismounting of the grass collector, reducing installation time and eliminating the need for pins, while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and sagging, thus improving operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
spring-loaded retaining pins that automatically engage with a vertical stop surface
Data Source
AI summary
A riding mower carries a grass collector at the rear of the mower frame. A mounting system for the grass collector comprises a mount that pivotally couples the lower portion of the grass collector to the mower frame. The pivotal mount comprises a pair of hooks each of which is inserted onto a pivot rod. In addition, the mounting system comprises a quick connect fastening system that includes a pair of spring biased retaining pins that can be latched in a retracted, non-operative position or unlatched so that the spring bias on the pins is able to move the pins into an extended, operative position. In the extended, operative position of the retaining pins, the pins fasten or secure the grass collector to the mower frame in a substantially upright, operative position of the grass collector.