Stand-on Lawnmower Platform with Segmented Swing Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stand-on lawnmowers face challenges in maintaining operator balance and comfort while navigating sloped road surfaces, as current platform arrangements either allow excessive tilting or require postural adjustments, leading to increased physical burden and difficulty in maneuvering.
Innovation Solution
A platform assembly with a swing mechanism incorporating rolling and pitching mechanisms, along with dampers and coil springs, allows for stable posture on sloped surfaces by enabling controlled rolling and pitching, reducing operator burden and vibration-induced swaying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the platform is supported via coil springs allowing omnidirectional tilting, then vibration transmission to the operator is suppressed, but the platform sways excessively on sloped road surfaces making it difficult for the operator to keep body balance
Solution Approach 1:
The swing mechanism is divided into two independent mechanisms: a rolling mechanism with a rolling shaft for transverse rolling motion, and a pitching mechanism with a pitching shaft for longitudinal pitching motion. This segmentation allows each mechanism to handle specific vibration directions independently, suppressing unwanted swaying while maintaining necessary vibration isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform is designed to dynamically adapt its orientation through controlled rolling and pitching motions via the swing mechanism. The dampers provide dynamic damping forces that adjust to the operating conditions, allowing the platform to maintain stability on sloped surfaces while still absorbing vibrations during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the platform allows only pitching motion via a pivot shaft, then vibration damping is improved, but the operator must change posture to maintain balance on sloped road surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The swing mechanism is divided into two independent mechanisms: a rolling mechanism with a rolling shaft for transverse rolling motion, and a pitching mechanism with a pitching shaft for longitudinal pitching motion. This segmentation allows each mechanism to handle specific vibration directions independently, suppressing unwanted swaying while maintaining necessary vibration isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform's degrees of freedom are changed from either omnidirectional tilting or single-axis pitching to a specific combination of rolling and pitching motions. The dampers are configured with specific damping coefficients for each axis, changing the parameters of motion control to achieve optimal balance between vibration damping and operator stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the platform is made rigid to prevent swaying, then operator balance is improved, but vibration transmission to the operator increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform is designed to dynamically adapt its orientation through controlled rolling and pitching motions via the swing mechanism. The dampers provide dynamic damping forces that adjust to the operating conditions, allowing the platform to maintain stability on sloped surfaces while still absorbing vibrations during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing mechanism combines rigid components (shafts, platform structure) with compliant elements (dampers, coil springs) to create a composite system. The rigid parts provide structural stability and defined motion axes, while the compliant dampers and springs absorb vibrations, achieving both stability and vibration isolation.
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 platform assembly enables operators to maintain a straight posture on both transverse and longitudinal slopes, reducing physical strain and improving maneuverability by effectively managing vibrations through a balanced combination of dampers and coil springs.
Implementation Method 1
a platform suspended to a vehicle body frame via a coil spring
Implementation Method 2
a rolling damper for suppressing rolling vibration of the platform
Implementation Method 3
a pitching damper for suppressing pitching vibration of the platform
Data Source
AI summary
A stand-on lawnmower includes a vehicle body frame, a steering mechanism operable for maneuvering the lawnmower, and a platform assembly for an operator operating the steering mechanism. The platform assembly includes a stationary base mounted to the vehicle body frame, a platform supported to the stationary base and a swing mechanism provided between the stationary base and the platform. In the platform, a footrest face for the operator is formed. The swing mechanism includes a rolling mechanism for causing rolling of the footrest face and a pitching mechanism for causing pitching of the footrest face.