Mower Blower Funnel for Bee Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Honeybees are often killed during lawn mowing due to their reluctance to leave vegetation, as they are not effectively displaced by existing methods, leading to significant losses and safety hazards for operators.
Innovation Solution
A detachable or integrated blowing assembly with a funnel attachment is used on motorized mowing machines, which includes a blower powered by its own motor or a pulley-belt system, and a rake to agitate vegetation, directing a concentrated air stream to displace bees from the mowing path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blower assembly with funnel attachment is added to the mowing machine, then bee displacement effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel attachment is nested within the blower assembly, with the funnel positioned to receive and concentrate the air stream from the blower. This nested configuration allows the bee displacement function to be integrated into the existing mowing machine structure without requiring completely separate components, thereby improving effectiveness while limiting complexity growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel acts as an intermediary component that takes the diffuse air stream from the blower and concentrates it into a directed beam. This intermediary structure amplifies the displacement effect of the air stream, making the overall system more effective at moving bees away from the cutting path.
2Power
If the blower is powered by a separate motor, then displacement power is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The blower motor is integrated into the mowing machine's existing electrical system, allowing it to be powered automatically when the machine operates. The system self-regulates through the existing on/off switch and electrical connections, eliminating the need for separate manual controls or complex power management mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower motor is merged with the mowing machine's existing motor and electrical system. By sharing the power source and control mechanisms, the system achieves sufficient displacement power without duplicating components or creating separate control systems, thereby maintaining operational simplicity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the funnel attachment is permanently affixed, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and ease of repair worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The bee displacement system is segmented into distinct modular components: the blower assembly, the funnel attachment, and the support structure. This segmentation allows each component to be independently attached or removed, providing both stability when assembled and flexibility for adaptation or repair. The modular design enables users to detach the funnel for cleaning, replacement, or storage while leaving the blower and other components in place.
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
Effectively displaces bees and other animals from the mowing area without harming them, ensuring safer operation and reducing bee fatalities during lawn maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a blower assembly having a blower and having the funnel attachment affixed to the blower assembly
Implementation Method 2
a rake to agitate vegetation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for displacing bees from vegetation subject to cutting by a mowing machine having a cutting deck and using a blower assembly affixed to the mowing machine. The assembly is provided as a fan or motorized blower affixed to a funnel. In operation, the fan or motorized blower creates then forces a concentrated air stream into the funnel that then directs the concentrated air stream to an area of vegetation immediately in front of the cutting deck, displacing bees in the area of vegetation prior to cutting. A funnel mouth is oriented so that the emitted air stream is at least as wide as the cutting deck, and multiple blower assemblies or larger funnel attachments may be used to accommodate larger cutting decks. The method includes selective actuation of the blower while operating the mowing machine.