Electric Lawn Mower Motor Control Panel for Compact Power Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric lawn mowers face challenges in providing a robust and efficient mechanism to control and mount motors, ensuring compactness, and maximizing runtime and cutting area, while effectively managing power distribution and regenerative energy in battery-operated systems.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a frame with an upper body, side plates, and a lower support body, featuring drive motors, deck motors, a battery system, and a motor control panel with thermally-conductive materials, power switches, and regenerative energy control modules to manage power distribution and energy absorption, ensuring efficient operation and compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a motor control panel is integrated into the lower support body of the frame, then power distribution control and regenerative energy management are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor control panel is integrated directly into the lower support body of the frame, combining the control functionality with the structural support element. This eliminates the need for a separate control panel housing and reduces the number of components, thereby improving reliability through reduced connection points while managing complexity through functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower support body serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the frame, acts as a mounting surface for the motor control panel, and facilitates power distribution control and regenerative energy management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components and simplifies the overall device architecture.
2Loss of energy
If thermally-conductive materials are used in control modules, then heat dissipation and energy management are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control modules incorporate thermally-conductive materials that change the thermal parameters of the system, enabling efficient heat dissipation from power electronic components. This parameter change addresses energy loss through improved thermal management while the modular design keeps manufacturing complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Thermally-conductive materials act as intermediaries between heat-generating components and heat sinks, facilitating efficient heat transfer. This intermediary approach improves energy management by directing heat flow without requiring fundamental changes to the manufacturing process of the control modules themselves.
3Duration of action of moving object
If regenerative energy absorbing modules are integrated into side pods, then energy recovery and runtime are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The regenerative energy absorbing modules enable the lawn apparatus to recover and store energy during deceleration and downhill operation, providing self-service energy replenishment. This extends runtime by utilizing otherwise wasted energy, while the modular integration into side pods keeps the system complexity manageable through distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers energy that would otherwise be discarded during deceleration and downhill operation. By capturing and storing this regenerative energy in the side pods, the system extends operational runtime without requiring proportionally larger battery packs, managing complexity through targeted energy recovery rather than system-wide changes.
4Volume of moving object
If control modules are mounted on the lower support body, then space utilization and compactness are improved, but accessibility for maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control modules are segmented as separate, removable units mounted on the lower support body rather than being permanently integrated. This segmentation allows them to occupy space efficiently within the frame structure while enabling easy removal and replacement for maintenance, balancing compactness with accessibility.
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
This configuration enhances the control and operation of electric lawn mowers, improving runtime, cutting efficiency, and energy management, while maintaining a compact and robust structure.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the plurality of control modules comprises a mounting frame made of thermally-conductive material fastened to the plate
Data Source
AI summary
An electric lawn apparatus is provided including a frame, an operator seat mounted on an upper body, two drive motors secured two side plates for driving two rear tires, a mow deck secured below a lower support body of the frame that supports at least one deck motor driving a mow blade, a footrest platform secured to the lower support body of the frame, and a motor control panel located between the mow deck and the footrest platform. The motor control panel includes a plate that supports multiple control modules and controls a supply of electric power to the drive motors and the deck motor.