Riding Mower Magnetic Joystick Switching Against Dirt Intrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing riding devices, such as mowers or tractors, face challenges with mechanical switches that are vulnerable to external environments like rain, dirt, and grass clippings, leading to reduced reliability and performance.
Innovation Solution
A riding mower with a non-contact switch system using Hall effect sensors to detect changes in a magnetic field generated by a joystick or button, allowing for control of the walking and cutting motors without physical contact, enhancing resistance to environmental interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a trigger-type mechanical switch is used to control the walking motor, then the device structure is simple, but the switch reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to rain, dirt, and grass clippings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical trigger-type switch with a non-contact sensor system that detects magnetic field changes. The sensor detects the position of a magnetic body on the joystick without physical contact, eliminating mechanical wear and susceptibility to environmental contaminants like rain, dirt, and grass clippings, thereby significantly improving switch reliability in outdoor conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic body and sensor system as an intermediary between the user's joystick operation and the motor control. This magnetic field-based intermediary enables non-contact signal transmission, protecting the switching mechanism from direct exposure to harmful environmental factors while maintaining control functionality
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-contact sensor system is used to detect joystick position, then the resistance to environmental interference improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While replacing mechanical switches with sensors increases electronic system complexity, it eliminates the need for complex mechanical linkages, contact points, and protective enclosures required for mechanical switch durability. The overall system complexity is reduced by substituting a simple magnetic field detection mechanism for complex mechanical switching structures
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system serves multiple functions: it detects joystick position, determines motor direction, and provides fail-safe operation without requiring separate mechanical components for each function. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components and simplifies the overall control system architecture
3Measurement precision
If mechanical switches are used for control, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the control accuracy deteriorates due to contact wear and environmental degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based switching with non-contact magnetic field sensing, eliminating contact wear that degrades control accuracy over time. The sensor provides consistent, repeatable detection of magnetic field changes without degradation from repeated use, maintaining high control accuracy throughout the device's operational life
Solution Approach 2:
While individual sensors may have higher initial cost than mechanical switches, the sensor system eliminates the need for periodic replacement due to wear. The non-contact nature of the sensor means it doesn't degrade from use, effectively providing indefinite service life and reducing long-term maintenance costs
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 non-contact switch system provides improved durability and control accuracy by using magnetic field changes to determine motor direction and speed, offering more flexible and reliable operation in various conditions.
Implementation Method 1
each of the at least one sensor is a Hall effect sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a riding mower. The riding mower includes a steering wheel, a carrier, a body, a cutting assembly, a walking wheel assembly, a walking motor, a joystick, at least one sensor, and a controller, where a magnetic body is provided on the joystick, a position of the magnetic body changes according to an operation of a user, the at least one sensor is disposed in proximity to the magnetic body and configured to sense a change in a magnetic field of the magnetic body, the controller is connected to the walking motor and the at least one sensor, and the controller is configured to receive, from the at least one sensor, a value related to the change in the magnetic field of the magnetic body and control a rotational direction of the walking motor according to the value related to the change in the magnetic field.