Grass Treatment Comb and Brush Debris Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for maintaining sports turf, such as using rotary mowers as vacuum cleaners, cause damage to the grass and are not effective in removing debris without compacting the soil, leading to disease ingress and impaired soil health.
Innovation Solution
A grass treatment system comprising a comb with spaced teeth and a rotating cylindrical brush that lifts debris from the turf surface without damaging the grass, allowing for efficient debris removal and redistribution while minimizing soil compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional rotary mowers are used to gather debris, then debris removal capability is improved, but grass damage increases due to ripping by rotary blades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the rotary blade mechanical cutting system with a vacuum-based debris collection system. Instead of using high-speed rotating blades that rip grass, the invention uses a vacuum cleaner with a suction head that gently lifts and removes debris through air currents, eliminating mechanical grass damage while maintaining effective debris removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces air currents as an intermediary medium between the vacuum and the grass surface. The vacuum creates controlled air flows that lift debris away from the grass without requiring direct mechanical contact between cutting blades and grass, thus removing debris effectively while preventing grass ripping and damage
2Productivity
If conventional lawn vacuums with powerful engines are used, then debris collection capability is improved, but soil compaction increases due to heavy machine weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the weight parameter of the vacuum machine by using lightweight construction materials and a compact design. This allows the machine to maintain sufficient suction power for effective debris collection while reducing ground contact pressure to prevent soil compaction, directly addressing the contradiction between collection capability and soil health
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes the machine's weight through wide, low-pressure contact surfaces or floating wheels that increase the contact area with the ground. This local quality change reduces the pressure intensity at any single point, allowing the lightweight vacuum to move across soft turf without causing soil compaction while maintaining adequate suction force for debris collection
3Speed
If high speed spinning rotary mower blades are used, then debris lifting capability is improved, but debris pickup becomes more difficult due to air currents and pressures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the high-speed rotary blade system with a controlled vacuum suction system. Instead of relying on high-speed blade rotation to lift debris, the invention uses precisely controlled air currents generated by the vacuum to gently lift and transport debris into the collection area, achieving effective debris pickup without the counterproductive air turbulence created by high-speed blades
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 effectively removes debris from sports turf without harming the grass and reduces soil compaction, maintaining the health and integrity of the turf while being lightweight and energy-efficient.
Implementation Method 1
a substantially cylindrical brush positioned above the comb and configured to engage at least a portion of a top surface of the comb, wherein the brush rotates relative to the comb to propel debris lifted from an area of turf grass by the comb
Data Source
AI summary
A method of removing debris from an area of turf grass can include providing a grass treatment system including a comb having a leading edge comprising a plurality of comb teeth, wherein the comb is mounted transversely to a direction of travel, and a substantially cylindrical brush positioned above the comb and configured to engage at least a portion of a top surface of the comb, wherein the brush rotates relative to the comb. The method can include positioning the grass treatment system closely adjacent to the turf grass such that the comb engages debris on and around the turf grass surface, and moving the grass treatment so that (i) the comb engages the debris, (ii) the rotating brush removes at least a portion of the debris from the surface of the comb, and (iii) the rotating brush does not come into contact with the turf grass.