Lawn Mower Bottom Disk With Elastic Prongs for Impact Durability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatically traveling lawn mowers face durability issues with their guard members, specifically the bottom disk, when encountering hard obstructions like stones and rocks, leading to potential damage and exposure of the mowing blade, which can also harm protected objects like golf balls.
Innovation Solution
The lawn mower incorporates a bottom disk with elastically deformable prong portions made of materials like resin, which curve upward and abut the cutting disk upon external force, distributing the impact and maintaining strength without increasing weight, thus preventing deformation and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bottom disk is made with thin, long prong portions to protect golf balls, then the ability to flick and protect golf balls is improved, but the durability against hard obstructions like stones and rocks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the bottom disk from rigid metal to elastically deformable resin, allowing the prong portions to bend upon impact with hard obstructions rather than breaking, while maintaining the protective function against golf balls
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the bottom disk with inherent elastic deformation capability, so that when impacts with hard obstructions occur, the prong portions can bend and absorb the shock energy, preventing damage to both the bottom disk and the mowing blade
2Strength
If the bottom disk is made thicker and more rigid to increase durability, then the strength against obstructions is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid metal to elastically deformable resin, achieving sufficient durability through elastic deformation rather than increased thickness, thereby maintaining lightweight construction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible bottom disk made of resin that can elastically deform, replacing the need for thick rigid structures, thus achieving both durability and lightweight properties
3Area of stationary object
If the prong portions are made long and thin to extend beyond the mowing blade area, then the protection coverage is improved, but the resistance to deformation from impacts deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter to elastically deformable resin, allowing the long, thin prong portions to maintain their extended configuration for maximum protection coverage while gaining impact resistance through elastic deformation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible resin material that enables the prong portions to be both long and thin for extended protection coverage while maintaining impact resistance through elastic deformation rather than rigid structural support
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
This design enhances the durability of the bottom disk while maintaining a lightweight structure, reducing the risk of deformation and damage during encounters with obstructions, ensuring effective protection of both the mower and protected objects like golf balls.
Implementation Method 1
the prong portions are made of an elastically deformable material and curve upward toward distal ends thereof, and are adapted to abut the cutting disk when elastically deformed inward due to an external force applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A lawn mower capable of securing desired durability as well as suppressing a weight increase is provided. When prong portions on the periphery of a bottom disk are elastically deformed inward due to an external force applied thereto, the prong portions abut a cutting disk, so that the received external force is transferred to the cutting disk (that is, the external force is partially received by the cutting disk), and the displacement of the prong portions is restricted by the presence of the cutting disk.