Mower Cover and Blower Assembly for Grass Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mowing devices face issues with undesirable crop components like stones or earth blocking the collection area, complicating the ejection of cut crops and requiring complex maintenance, especially in difficult terrain with heavy or moist vegetation.

Innovation Solution

A mowing device design featuring a cutter bar with rotating mowing discs, a cover that extends above and to the side to support suction, and a throwing fan with an axial inlet impeller housing, where unwanted components fall through a drop opening while lighter crops are ejected, simplifying maintenance and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a collection area is provided for grass clippings to be ejected, then ejection of cut crops is enabled, but unwanted components like stones or earth can block the collection area and impair discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection of cut cropsVSAvoiddischarge of grass clippings
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collection area is segmented into an upper collection space for grass clippings and a lower discharge area. The cover divides the collection space, and the discharge opening is positioned at the lower end, allowing separation of grass clippings from unwanted components through gravitational settling and spatial division.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful elements (stones, earth) are extracted from the collection area by providing a discharge opening at the lower end of the collection space. These unwanted components settle and fall through the discharge opening, separating them from the grass clippings that are ejected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If the cover extends above and to the side to support suction, then ejection efficiency is improved, but the device becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveejection efficiencyVSAvoidcover structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover serves multiple functions simultaneously: it closes the collection space, supports the suction effect of the blowing fan, and provides structural boundaries for the collection area. This multi-functionality improves ejection efficiency without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover structure is merged with the blowing fan assembly, where the fan is positioned in the rear boundary wall formed by the cover. This integration combines the sealing function of the cover with the ejection function of the fan, improving efficiency while minimizing additional complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a compact design is used for difficult terrain, then adaptability is improved, but the collection area becomes more constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuse on difficult terrainVSAvoidcollection area
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The collection space is optimized by utilizing the vertical dimension and the rearward direction. The cover extends above and to the side, and the discharge opening is positioned at the lower end, allowing the collection area to be compact in the forward direction while maintaining sufficient volume for efficient collection and ejection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 design allows for efficient ejection of cut crops without blocking issues, simplifies maintenance, and enables use on challenging terrain with heavy vegetation, ensuring effective crop removal without damaging the turf.

Implementation Method 1

The grass clippings are accelerated by the throwing blades of the impeller to their peripheral speed and are thus ejected through the ejection tube.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a throwing fan with an impeller and an inlet opening opening into the collection space for the cut grass cuttings to be ejected

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 3

A certain air flow has a supporting effect.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Fluid Spray

Data Source

PatentEP3942914B1Mowing device
Publication Date: 2024.12.25 STEININGER WERNER
  • EP3942914B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3942914B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3942914B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Mobile mowing device with a mowing unit for cut material, designed as a cutter bar (3) with at least two mowing discs (4) arranged along the cutter bar (3), wherein a cover (5) for the cutter bar (3) is provided, which defines a collection chamber for the cut material, and a blower with an impeller and an inlet opening (7) for the cut material opening into the collection chamber, as well as a discharge pipe (8), are provided.It is proposed that the throwing blower is arranged in a blower assembly (6) which forms a rear boundary wall (6a) of the collection chamber in which the inlet opening (7) of the throwing blower for the cut material is provided, wherein the impeller of the throwing blower is arranged in an impeller housing designed as part of the blower assembly (6) with an axial inlet direction for the cut material oriented along the impeller axis of rotation (L), and between the cutter bar (3) and the rear boundary wall (6a) a drop opening (10) opening downwards into the collection chamber for unejected cut material components is provided.