Lawn Mower Reel Control for Consistent Cutting Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lawn mowing vehicles face challenges in maintaining uniform mowing quality due to variations in traveling speed and reel unit elevation, leading to uneven cutting and reduced mowing efficiency, especially on uneven terrain and when navigating boundaries between treated and untreated areas.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a lawn mowing vehicle with electric reel units and speed detection systems that control rotational speeds and elevations based on real-time speed data, ensuring consistent elevations of front and rear reel units and providing automatic elevation control to maintain high mowing quality across varying terrain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional lawn mowing vehicles operate without speed detection and automatic control systems, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mowing quality becomes uneven due to speed variations on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a speed detection unit continuously monitors the vehicle's traveling speed and transmits this information to a control unit. The control unit automatically adjusts the rotational speed of the reel unit and the elevation position based on the detected speed, ensuring consistent mowing quality despite variations in traveling speed caused by uneven terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated electronic control system. Instead of relying on mechanical linkages and manual adjustment mechanisms, the system uses electronic sensors to detect speed and electronic actuators to control the reel unit's rotation and elevation, thereby improving precision while managing complexity through automation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the reel unit elevation is not automatically controlled, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mowing quality deteriorates due to inconsistent elevation between front and rear reel units
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives speed information from the speed detection unit and automatically adjusts the elevation position of the reel unit using an actuator. This feedback mechanism ensures that both front and rear reel units maintain consistent elevation relative to the ground, compensating for body roll and terrain variations without requiring complex mechanical elevation control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment of reel unit elevation based on detected vehicle speed and position. The control unit automatically commands actuators to elevate or lower reel units as needed, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex mechanical self-leveling mechanisms while maintaining elevation consistency.
3Manufacturing precision
If the rotational speed of the rotating blade is not controlled based on traveling speed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mowing quality becomes uneven due to speed variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously receives traveling speed information from the speed detection unit and automatically adjusts the rotational speed of the rotating blade using a motor controller. This ensures that the cutting action remains synchronized with the vehicle's forward motion, maintaining uniform cutting quality even when traveling speed varies due to terrain changes or operational conditions.
4Productivity
If all reel units are elevated simultaneously without speed-based control, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity is reduced due to delayed downward movement on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of reel unit elevation timing based on real-time speed detection. Instead of using fixed timing or simultaneous elevation for all reel units, the control unit adjusts the elevation and downward movement timing of each reel unit according to the detected traveling speed and position, allowing the system to adapt to uneven terrain and maintain continuous mowing operation without delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A lawn mowing vehicle (1) mows a lawn along the travel path of the vehicle. The lawn mowing vehicle (1) includes: at least one electric reel unit having an electric reel (22) raised and lowered by an electric cylinder (26a-26c); sensors (34a-34c) for detecting the travel speed of the vehicle; sensors for detecting the state of the lawn; and a control device (37) for controlling the electric cylinder (26a-26c) according to the result of the detection by the sensors (34a-34c) to thereby control the elevation position of the electric reel (22) and for controlling whether or not to rotate the electric reel (22) on the basis of the detected results of the sensors for detecting the state of the lawn.