Lawn Mower Robot Cover Support for Impact and Lift Loads

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing lawn mower robots face durability issues due to excessive tensile forces on the rubber support portions during transportation and collisions, leading to potential damage and increased impact transmission, which compromises the robot's ability to absorb impacts effectively.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a movement restricting cover that guides the rubber support portions to move only within a predetermined range, preventing upward movement and distributing tensile forces through ribs, coupled with a metal engaging portion and a handle design that attenuates tensile loads, enhances the durability and impact absorption capabilities of the robot.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rubber support portion is made movable to absorb impact during collision, then the impact absorption capability is improved, but the support portion is subjected to excessive tensile force during transportation which causes sagging or damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact absorption capabilityVSAvoidsupport portion durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The support portion is divided into multiple segments: the rubber support portion (170b) and the movement restricting cover (193). This segmentation allows the rubber support portion to maintain movability for impact absorption while the movement restricting cover provides structural support to prevent excessive deformation during transportation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The movement restricting cover (193) acts as an intermediary component between the rubber support portion (170b) and the handle (120). It transmits and distributes the tensile force generated during transportation through its ribs (1932) to multiple contact points, preventing excessive force concentration on the rubber support portion while allowing controlled movement for impact absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the outer cover is made movable with respect to the inner body to absorb collision impact, then the impact absorption function is improved, but the support portion is damaged due to opposite forces from the inner body and outer body

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision impact absorptionVSAvoidsupport portion damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movement restricting cover (193) provides beforehand cushioning by distributing tensile forces through its ribs (1932) before excessive force can damage the rubber support portion (170b). This protective structure is in place before transportation or collision occurs, preventing damage in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the support system by introducing the movement restricting cover with ribs that have specific contact areas. This modifies the force distribution parameters, allowing the rubber support portion to withstand both compression during collision and tension during transportation without damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the handle is designed to be held and lifted by the user for transportation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the support portion is subjected to excessive tensile force which may break or damage it

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransportation convenienceVSAvoidsupport portion integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The movement restricting cover (193) introduces a new dimensional aspect to the force transmission path. The ribs (1932) extend in multiple directions, distributing the vertical tensile force from handle lifting across horizontal and diagonal dimensions, thereby reducing the stress concentration on the rubber support portion.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the force distribution parameters by introducing the ribbed structure of the movement restricting cover. The contact area and orientation of the ribs change how tensile forces are transmitted during handle lifting, converting a concentrated load into a distributed load that the rubber support portion can withstand.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively prevents support portion damage, maintains impact absorption functionality, and improves the overall durability of the lawn mower robot by managing tensile forces and guiding movement to reduce strain on the support structures.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of support portions (170b) extending upwards from the upper portion of the inner body (160) to support the outer cover (100) to be movable with respect to the inner body (160), and formed of a rubber material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

The movement restricting cover may have a structure of accommodating the engaging portion therein and confining the engaging portion such that the engaging portion is movable by a predetermined distance in a front-rear direction and in a left-right direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3549424B1Lawn mower robot
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3549424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3549424B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3549424B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A lawn mower robot includes an inner body (160) including a plurality of wheels (1092) for traveling on both sides thereof, an outer cover (100) mounted at an upper portion of the inner body and surrounding an outer side of the inner body, a handle (120) mounted at an upper portion of the outer cover, a plurality of support portions (170) disposed to be spaced apart from each other at an upper portion of the inner body in a front-rear direction and in a left-right direction and elastically supporting the outer cover in the front-rear direction and in the left-right direction with respect to the inner body, and a plurality of movement range restricting portions (190) respectively restricting movement ranges of the plurality of support portions. Each movement range restricting portion includes an engaging portion (191) formed at an upper portion of each support portion and a movement restricting cover (193) installed at an upper portion of the inner body.