Low Impact Turf Wheel Segmented Peg Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mower wheels cause unsightly wheel marks, damage, and traction issues on lawns, especially with robotic mowers that operate randomly and in adverse weather conditions, leading to turf compression, uneven cuts, and accumulation of cut grass.

Innovation Solution

A low impact turf wheel design featuring a wheel rim with radially extending pegs and a hub, providing a limited ground contacting tread and voids to minimize turf contact, prevent build-up, and enhance traction, while maintaining the wheel above the turf surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional solid tread wheels are used, then the mower has sufficient structural support and stability, but the wheels cause turf compression, wheel marks, and damage to the lawn

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturf integrityVSAvoidturf compression and wheel marks
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel tread is segmented into multiple discrete pegs spaced around the wheel circumference, replacing the continuous solid tread. This segmentation allows turf to pass through the spaces between pegs rather than being compressed by a continuous surface, reducing wheel marks and turf damage while maintaining structural support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wheel incorporates a porous tread structure with voids between the pegs, allowing turf and cut grass to pass through rather than accumulate on the wheel surface. This porous design prevents the formation of continuous bands of cut grass that would otherwise build up on conventional wheels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Force

If continuous tread wheels are used, then the mower has good traction, but cut grass accumulates in continuous bands around the wheel circumference

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetractionVSAvoidcut grass build-up
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous tread is divided into discrete segmented pegs with gaps between them. This segmentation prevents cut grass from forming continuous bands around the wheel, as the grass clippings can fall through the spaces between pegs, eliminating the build-up problem while the pegs still provide sufficient traction points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wheel design allows cut grass to be discarded through the voids between pegs rather than being retained on the wheel surface. This prevents accumulation and eliminates the need for manual removal of grass bands, reducing maintenance requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Adaptability or versatility

If robotic mowers operate in wet conditions, then they can maintain lawns in all weather, but conventional wheels collect cut grass that builds up and affects performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather operation capabilityVSAvoidcut grass accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The porous tread structure with voids between pegs allows wet grass and cut clippings to pass through the wheel rather than adhering to the surface. This prevents the formation of continuous bands of wet grass that would build up on conventional wheels during wet weather operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the harmful effect of wet grass sticking to wheel surfaces into a beneficial feature where the porous structure allows wet grass to pass through easily. The voids between pegs prevent moisture-related build-up issues that plague conventional wheels in wet conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the wheel rim contacts the turf directly, then the mower has stable operation, but the turf cannot regain upright posture quickly resulting in uneven cuts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemower operation stabilityVSAvoidcut evenness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wheel contact with turf is segmented into discrete point contacts via individual pegs rather than continuous surface contact. This allows turf between the pegs to spring back to upright position more quickly, enabling even cutting while the pegs provide stable operational support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11691454B2Low impact turf wheel
Publication Date: 2023.07.04 MTD PRODUCTS INC
  • US11691454B2 patent drawing
  • US11691454B2 patent drawing
  • US11691454B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A low impact turf wheel for significantly reducing the adverse effects of frequent travel over turf by a lawn mower includes a wheel rim having an inner and outer surface, a hub arranged within the wheel rim, wherein the hub includes a central portion for mounting the turf wheel, and a plurality of spaced apart stems extending perpendicularly outward from the outer surface of the wheel rim. The stem includes a stem surface extending perpendicularly to the stem and a lug extending radially outward from the stem surface. The lug includes a lug face parallel to the stem surface, wherein the combination of the stem surface and lug face provide a ground contacting tread.