Mower Deck Bee Diverter Guard for Pollinator Warning and Deflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The decline in bee populations due to zero-turn mowers, which pose a significant threat to honeybees and other endangered insects during mowing operations, has not been adequately addressed by existing technologies.
Innovation Solution
A small, mower deck-mounted mechanical diverter or accessory warning device, such as the Zee Farmer bee guard, which includes a long plate diverter guard with a vertical and horizontal face and kick-up angle feature, alerts bees to the oncoming mower by deflecting them away from the blades, along with alternative warning methods like sound, light, smoke, and electromagnetic forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If zero-turn mowers are used for efficient lawn mowing, then productivity is improved, but harmful factors to bees increase due to high speed and lack of warning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by implementing warning devices (visual flags, auditory alarms, electromagnetic sensors) that alert bees to the approaching mower before contact occurs. This advance warning allows bees to escape the hazard zone, reducing mortality while maintaining high-speed zero-turn mower operation for productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements between the mower and bees, including physical barriers (skirts, deflectors), warning signals (flags, lights, sounds), and electromagnetic fields that create a buffer zone. These intermediaries warn or physically guide bees away from the blade path, reducing harmful effects while preserving mowing efficiency.
2Productivity
If mower speed is increased for better productivity, then productivity is improved, but the ability to divert bees in time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The warning devices are positioned to activate before the mower reaches bee locations, providing advance notice that allows bees to escape even at high speeds. The preliminary warning signal gives bees sufficient time to react and move away from the hazard zone before the high-speed mower arrives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical diversion methods with enhanced sensing and warning systems including electromagnetic sensors, auditory alarms, and visual signals. These substitutions provide more reliable and timely bee diversion capability that can keep pace with increased mower speeds for maintained productivity.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If mechanical diverters are added to mower decks, then bee protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the bee protection system into separate, modular components including visual warning flags, auditory alarm devices, electromagnetic sensors, and physical deflectors. Each component can be independently installed, adjusted, or removed from the mower deck, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining effective bee protection through coordinated operation of individual segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs universal mower deck accessories that can serve multiple functions: physical deflectors that also act as mounting surfaces for warning devices, electromagnetic sensors that detect both bees and obstacles, and integrated control systems that coordinate multiple warning modalities. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall device complexity while improving bee protection.
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 device effectively diverts bees, reducing their mortality during mowing and contributing to the preservation of bee populations, thereby helping to mitigate colony collapse disorder.
Implementation Method 1
the warning device alerts the pollinating bees of the oncoming mower by spreading the grass and deflecting a body of the pollinating bee
Implementation Method 2
Alternative devices for warning are sound, light, smoke, spray, and Electro Magnetic force/pulse generators placed with the mowers
Implementation Method 3
Alternative devices for warning are sound, light, smoke, spray, and Electro Magnetic force/pulse generators placed with the mowers
Implementation Method 4
Alternative devices for warning are sound, light, smoke, spray, and Electro Magnetic force/pulse generators placed with the mowers
Implementation Method 5
Alternative devices for warning are sound, light, smoke, spray, and Electro Magnetic force/pulse generators placed with the mowers
Data Source
AI summary
A Lawn mower Diverter/Bee Guard or accessory warning device for diverting and saving honeybees and other endangered insects. The device components include a plate for removably securing the warning device to the mower deck; a manner for removably connecting and securing the plate to the deck; a warning emitter; and a way for securing a warning emitter to the plate. Alternative mechanical designs and light, sound, electro-magnetic force, and spray devices are shown as other embodiments. The warning device alerts the pollinating bees of the oncoming mower so the bees can survive by flying away and averting their demise by the mower. Alternative devices for warning are sound, light, smoke, spray, and Electro Magnetic force/pulse generators placed with the mowers.