Helical Stump Excavation Blade with Segmented Teeth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tree stump removal methods are labor-intensive, expensive, and often incomplete, as stump grinders are costly and can contaminate hydraulic systems, while leaving behind decomposing roots that create sinkholes and inhibit new growth.
Innovation Solution
A tree stump excavation tool with a unitary blade featuring staggered, angularly advanced pointed teeth mounted on an excavator arm, allowing for complete stump removal by sequentially engaging each tooth to maximize cutting force and minimize root disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If stump grinding is used to remove tree stumps, then the exposed portion can be ground to ground level, but the process is slow, expensive, and leaves buried roots that decompose and create sinkholes
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting device is divided into multiple separate cutting elements (ripper shanks with cutting edges) arranged in a sequence along the arm. Each cutting element engages the substrate separately in sequence during rotation, allowing complete removal of stump and roots through systematic cutting action rather than grinding
Solution Approach 2:
Replaces the hydraulic grinding system with a mechanical cutting system. Instead of using hydraulic power to grind the stump, the invention uses mechanically driven rotatable arms with cutting edges that physically cut and remove the stump and roots through mechanical force
2Productivity
If stump grinding equipment is used, then stump removal can be achieved, but the equipment is expensive and requires tapping into hydraulics which can contaminate the hydraulic system
Solution Approach 1:
Extracts the cutting function from the hydraulic system. The cutting device is mounted directly to the excavator arm without requiring hydraulic power transmission, eliminating the need to tap into or contaminate the hydraulic system while maintaining stump removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
Uses simple, inexpensive cutting elements (ripper shanks with cutting edges) that can be easily replaced if worn, rather than relying on expensive hydraulic grinding equipment. The cutting elements are mounted on a simple rotatable arm mechanism that is cheaper and simpler than hydraulic stump grinders
3Reliability
If traditional excavation tools are used for stump removal, then complete removal can be attempted, but the process is highly labor intensive and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
Transforms the static, labor-intensive manual excavation process into a dynamic mechanical cutting process. The rotatable arm with cutting elements automatically performs the cutting action through rotation, dramatically reducing the time and labor required while maintaining complete removal capability
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting elements engage the substrate continuously during rotation, providing uninterrupted cutting action as the arm rotates and each cutting element sequentially removes material. This continuous action eliminates the stop-start nature of manual excavation, reducing overall time while maintaining complete removal
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
Enables efficient, complete stump removal without hydraulic contamination, reducing debris and root remnants, thus reducing maintenance and operational costs while ensuring safe and effective soil smoothing.
Implementation Method 1
each pointed tooth being disposed at a predetermined angle to a tangent to an arc of rotation extending generally through a tooth point, with an arc center at an axis of rotation of the tooth point
Data Source
AI summary
A tree stump excavation tool for use mounted for rotation from an excavation machine arm has first and second side plates extending from a body and a unitary plate mounted to lower ends of the side plates. The unitary plate has a generally helical profile and defines a blade with multiple, pointed teeth integrally formed along its forward edge. The teeth, disposed for cutting engagement with a substrate of soil and stump roots, are laterally spaced apart along the axis of rotation of the tool and angularly spaced in a direction of substrate ripping motion, wherein the teeth are engaged separately and in sequence for cutting the substrate. An excavation machine with a tree stump excavation tool is also described.