Mobile Mower Cutter Bar with Throwing Fan Ejection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mowing devices for crops often leave cuttings on the ground, which can be washed away or act as undesired fertilizers, and are not designed to handle difficult terrain or heavy vegetation without damaging the turf, while also posing environmental concerns due to potential organisms in clippings.

Innovation Solution

A mobile mowing device with a cutter bar featuring rotatable mower discs and a throwing fan with a paddle wheel that accelerates cuttings into an ejection pipe, allowing for efficient removal of clippings from the mowing area without immediate collection, designed to be compact, lightweight, and suitable for challenging terrain.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If mowing material is left on the ground, then environmental organisms are protected, but the cuttings may be washed away or act as undesired fertilizer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental protectionVSAvoiduncontrolled fertilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the mowing material from the mowing area by ejecting it laterally through an ejection tube. The throwing fan accelerates the cuttings sideways, removing them from the ground where they would otherwise be washed away or act as fertilizer, while still allowing them to be deposited nearby in a controlled manner.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The throwing fan acts as an intermediary mechanism between the mower and the ground. It accelerates the mowing material laterally and deposits it in a controlled location, mediating between the need to remove cuttings and the desire to keep them nearby for environmental benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If mowing material is collected in an on-board container, then the area is cleared, but environmental organisms are harmed and the device becomes heavier

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemowing area clearanceVSAvoidenvironmental harm
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of collecting material in a container, the invention extracts and ejects it laterally through the ejection tube. This removes the need for an on-board collection system that would harm organisms and add weight, while still achieving area clearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The throwing fan uses pneumatic principles to accelerate and transport the mowing material laterally. This pneumatic conveying system replaces the mechanical collection approach, allowing material removal without heavy containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Weight of moving object

If the mowing device is made lightweight and compact, then it can operate on steep slopes, but it may struggle with heavy and damp vegetation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice weightVSAvoidhandling capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces heavy mechanical collection systems with a lighter pneumatic ejection system using the throwing fan. This substitution maintains handling capability for heavy vegetation while reducing overall device weight for operation on steep slopes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The throwing fan changes the physical state and motion parameters of the mowing material by accelerating it laterally. This allows the lightweight device to effectively handle and remove heavy, damp vegetation that would otherwise be difficult to manage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Weight of moving object

If a lateral ejection system is added to remove cuttings, then the device remains lightweight, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice weightVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The throwing fan serves multiple functions: it accelerates mowing material laterally, propels it through the ejection tube, and deposits it in the desired location. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, keeping the structure relatively simple despite the added capability.

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

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 removes cuttings from the mowing area, preventing clogging and misalignment of the mower, while protecting the environment and allowing for efficient operation on steep slopes and damp vegetation, ensuring the mowing device remains lightweight and compact.

Implementation Method 1

The cuttings are accelerated to their peripheral speed by the blades of the paddle wheel and thus ejected through the ejection pipe

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

A certain air flow has a supporting effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3281511B1Mobile mowing device
Publication Date: 2019.04.10 STEININGER WERNER
  • EP3281511B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A mobile mowing device with a mower unit for cutting material and a drive (7) for the mower unit, wherein it is proposed that the mower unit is designed as a cutter bar (3) with at least two mowing discs (4a, 4b, 4c) arranged along the cutter bar (3) and each rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation, wherein of the at least two mowing discs (4a, 4b, 4c) two mowing discs located directly next to each other with opposite directions of rotation are driven, which form a collection area for the cutting material in the region of their smallest spacing, and a cover (5) is provided above the cutter bar (3), on which an upwardly leading discharge pipe (9) with a throwing fan (6) for the cutting material is arranged, wherein the throwing fan (6) has a paddle wheel, the throwing blades (10) of which extend into the space between the cover (5) and the cutter bar (3) extend to the collection area formed.