Movable Hose Guide Assembly for Robotic Mower Hose Boxes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underground hose boxes are not compatible with autonomous lawn mowers, requiring inconvenient hose unwinding and winding, and involve high maintenance efforts.
Innovation Solution
A hose box assembly with a removably mounted hose reel, a hinged cover, and a hose guidance device that moves between operational and storage positions, allowing ergonomic and efficient hose retrieval, and featuring toolless assembly and disassembly for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hose box is designed with a fixed lid and angular outlet opening for manual hose retrieval, then the structure is simple and stable, but it is not compatible with autonomous lawn mowers and requires high maintenance effort
Solution Approach 1:
The hose guidance device is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adapt between operational and storage positions. The device can be moved to a first position for manual hose retrieval and a second position for autonomous mower operation, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hose box system is divided into separable functional components: a fixed housing, a movable hose guidance device, and a hose reel. This segmentation allows the hose guidance device to be independently positioned for different operational modes, enabling compatibility with both manual and autonomous systems without complicating the overall structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the hose guidance device is made movable to enable autonomous mower compatibility, then adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hose guidance device combines multiple functions into a single movable unit: it serves as both a guide for manual hose retrieval and a guide for autonomous mower hose access. By merging these functions into one device that can be positioned differently, the system achieves operational flexibility without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the hose always has to be pulled over an upper edge of the housing, then the housing structure remains simple, but hose winding and unwinding becomes inconvenient and involves a lot of work
Solution Approach 1:
A movable hose guidance device acts as an intermediary between the hose reel and the external environment. This device provides a guided path for hose retrieval, reducing the effort required to pull the hose over the housing edge. The guidance device can be positioned to optimize hose access while maintaining structural simplicity.
4Ease of operation
If the hose is exposed during use, then hose accessibility improves, but the hose becomes vulnerable to external influences such as weather
Solution Approach 1:
The hose guidance device dynamically changes position between operational and storage configurations. During autonomous operation, it allows hose exposure for accessibility. During storage, it moves to a position that enables the lid to close and protect the hose from weather, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A hose box assembly comprises a housing, a hose reel, and a cover. The cover is rotatable between an operational position and a storage position. In the storage position, the cover inhibits an access to an inside of the housing. In the operational position, the inside of the housing is accessible. The hose box assembly is characterized by a frame is movably mounted to the housing such that a hose guidance device is movable relative to the housing during a movement of the cover between the operational position and the storage position. The frame is coupled to the cover such that when the cover is in the operational position, a hose guide is positioned above an upper edge of the housing such that the hose guide is accessible. In the storage position and in the operational position, the hose reel is positioned in the inside of the housing.