Lawn Vehicle Clog Cleaning Assembly Pivoting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Operators of lawn care vehicles face the challenge of removing clogs from cutting blades or augers without interrupting the mowing operation, as traditional methods require powering down the vehicle or moving the cutting deck to a service position.
Innovation Solution
A clog cleaning assembly that can be activated from the operator's position, allowing the cleaning member to pivot from a neutral to an activated position to dislodge clogs from the cutting blade or auger without shutting down the vehicle or reconfiguring the cutting deck, using an activation assembly to facilitate this process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional methods are used to remove clogs from cutting blades or augers, then the clogs can be removed, but the mowing operation must be interrupted and the vehicle powered down
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member is positioned and configured in advance to access the cutting blade and auger areas. The assembly is pre-positioned on the cutting deck housing with the cleaning member ready to be deployed into the cutting chamber, allowing immediate clog removal when needed without requiring disassembly or reconfiguration of the cutting deck
Solution Approach 2:
The operator can activate the clog cleaning assembly from the operator position without leaving the vehicle or interrupting the mowing operation. The system allows the operator to service the cutting blade and auger independently while the vehicle remains in operation, enabling self-service maintenance during continuous work
2Ease of operation
If the cutting deck is moved to a service position to remove clogs, then access to the cutting blade is improved, but the vehicle operation is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning member is extracted from the housing and deployed into the cutting chamber through an opening in the housing. This allows the cleaning member to access the cutting blade and auger areas without requiring the entire cutting deck to be moved to a service position or removed from the vehicle
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning member acts as an intermediary tool that can be inserted through an opening in the housing to reach and clean the cutting blade and auger. This intermediary approach provides access to internal components without requiring the cutting deck to be moved to a service position, maintaining vehicle operation continuity
3Ease of operation
If the operator leaves the operator position to remove clogs, then direct access to the cutting deck is achieved, but time is lost and operation is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The operator can activate the clog cleaning assembly from the operator position without leaving the vehicle or interrupting the mowing operation. The system allows the operator to service the cutting blade and auger independently while remaining seated, enabling self-service maintenance during continuous work and eliminating time loss associated with leaving the operator position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lawn care vehicle (10) is provided. The lawn care vehicle includes a frame (15) to which at least a first drive wheel (14A) and a second drive wheel (14B) of the lawn care vehicle are operably coupled, and a cutting deck (16) operably coupled to the frame (15) and including a cutting blade (20). The lawn care vehicle (10) further includes a conveyor (100) operably coupled to the cutting deck (16) and configured to convey yard clippings from the cutting deck (16) to a yard waste collection assembly (160). Furthermore, the conveyor (100) may include an auger (110). The lawn care vehicle (10) also includes a clog cleaning assembly (200) operably coupled to an outside of a housing (17) of a cutting deck (16), the clog cleaning assembly (200) being configured to pivot from a neutral position through an opening (204) in the housing (17) of the cutting deck (16) to an activated position to dislodge a clog disposed proximate or at the cutting blade (20) or the auger (110).