Lawn Mower Shutter Humidity Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lawn mowers experience uneven distribution of grass clippings in the receptacle due to fixed mowing conditions and increased humidity, leading to preferential deposition near the transport passage.
Innovation Solution
A lawn mower equipped with a humidity sensor and controller that adjusts the shutter opening degree to vary the transport air flow velocity, minimizing uneven distribution by controlling the shutter's reciprocal opening and closing based on humidity and travel speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shutter is kept at a fixed opening degree, then the structure is simple and easy to operate, but the grass clippings become unevenly distributed in the receptacle
Solution Approach 1:
The shutter opening degree is made dynamically adjustable based on humidity conditions. The controller automatically modifies the shutter opening degree in response to humidity sensor input, transforming a static system into a dynamic one that adapts to environmental changes to maintain uniform grass clippings distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The opening degree parameter of the shutter is changed in response to humidity variations. When humidity increases, the shutter opening degree is adjusted to compensate for the increased weight of moisture-containing grass clippings, thereby maintaining consistent distribution characteristics.
2Length of moving object
If the shutter opening degree is increased to compensate for heavy wet grass clippings, then the flying distance increases, but the uniformity of distribution is not guaranteed across different humidity conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A humidity sensor provides feedback about environmental humidity conditions to the controller. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts the shutter opening degree to maintain optimal grass clippings distribution, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to varying humidity conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-adjustment without manual intervention. The controller monitors humidity conditions and automatically modifies the shutter opening degree, enabling the system to self-regulate and maintain uniform distribution across different environmental conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If a humidity sensor and controller are added to automatically adjust the shutter, then the distribution uniformity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system operates autonomously using a humidity sensor and controller that automatically adjust the shutter opening degree based on environmental conditions, eliminating the need for manual adjustment and reducing operational complexity despite the added components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a single adjustable parameter (shutter opening degree) that is modified in response to humidity measurements. This simple parameter-change approach maintains distribution uniformity without requiring complex control algorithms or multiple adjustable parameters.
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 effectively prevents uneven distribution of grass clippings in the receptacle by adjusting air flow velocity in response to humidity and travel speed, ensuring even deposition and reducing clogging risks.
Implementation Method 1
when rotated, the cutter blade cuts the grass and generates a transport air flow flowing from the opening of the housing to inside
Implementation Method 2
a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity of an environment surrounding the lawn mower
Implementation Method 3
the opening degree of the shutter changes in dependence on the humidity, the flow velocity of the transport air flow in the grass clippings transport passage varies
Data Source
AI summary
A lawn mower includes: a work unit including a housing having a downward-facing opening end a cutter blade rotatably provided in the housing such that when rotated, the cutter blade cuts grass and generates a transport air flow flowing from the opening of the housing to inside; a grass clippings receptacle configured to receive mowed grass clippings; a grass clippings transport passage connecting an interior of the housing with the grass clippings receptacle; a shutter device including a shutter configured to open and close the grass clippings transport passage and an actuator configured to open/close-drive the shutter; a controller configured to control the shutter device; and a humidity sensor for detecting a humidity of an environment surrounding the lawn mower, wherein the controller is configured to open/close-control the shutter device based on the humidity.