Lawn Mower Control Lever Vibration Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motorized lawn mowers experience vibrations that cause undesired variations in the control lever position, leading to changes in controlled parameters such as speed, which affects the operator's preset settings.

Innovation Solution

A motorized lawn mower with a control apparatus featuring a manually operable lever that includes a circular portion pivotally coupled to a casing with elastic matching parts engaging toothed sectors, ensuring the lever moves in a single plane along a linear trajectory, maintaining preset settings despite vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a control lever is pivotally engaged on a pin with a circular portion, then the lever can be maneuvered to vary operational parameters, but vibrations during operation cause undesired variations in the lever position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelever maneuverabilityVSAvoidlever position stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control lever incorporates an elastic element that allows dynamic adaptation to vibrations while maintaining stable positioning. The elastic component absorbs vibrational energy and enables the lever to return to its set position, transforming the rigid pivot connection into a dynamically stable system that accommodates operational vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The control lever is divided into distinct functional segments: a maneuverable portion for operator input, a circular portion with elastic elements for vibration compensation, and a pivotal connection point. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the maneuverable portion responds to operator input while the elastic segments absorb vibrations independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If the lever moves in a single plane along a linear trajectory, then the control mechanism remains simple, but vibrations can still cause position drift

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism simplicityVSAvoidpreset setting maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An elastic element is introduced as an intermediary component between the lever and the pivot point. This intermediary absorbs vibrational forces and prevents them from directly affecting the lever's positioned setting, while still allowing the lever to move smoothly along its linear trajectory in the single plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the physical state of the connection between the lever and pivot point by introducing elasticity. This parameter change allows the connection to be both flexible (absorbing vibrations) and functional (maintaining linear motion in a single plane), resolving the contradiction between simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution stabilizes the control lever's position and maintains the preset operational parameters, preventing unwanted changes due to vibrations, ensuring consistent performance.

Implementation Method 1

circular portion which is pivotally coupled to the casing and provided with elastic matching parts suitable to engage at least one toothed sector inside the casing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3064051B1Motorized lawn mower provided with a control lever
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 STIGA S P A IN BREVE ANCHE ST SPA
  • EP3064051B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3064051B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3064051B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A motorized lawn mower (100) is described, comprising a cutting plate (101), provided with wheels (102), to which a handlebar (103) is connected, and a control apparatus (1) configured to vary at least one parameter related to the operation of the lawn mower (100). The control apparatus (1) comprises a manually operable lever (2) which is movable with respect to a casing (3) between a first and a second limit position, corresponding to a maximum value and a minimum value of said parameter, respectively. The lever (2) comprises a circular portion (5) which is pivotally coupled to the casing (3) and provided with elastic matching parts (17) suitable to engage at least one toothed sector (11) inside the casing (3).