Riding Mower Deck Air Intake and Shielding Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional riding grass-mowers experience grass clogging during collection, leading to inefficiencies in mowing and mulching processes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a mowed-grass guiding passage with an air intake hole and a shielding member that can be attached and detached, featuring a shielding plate and mowed-grass branching member to guide grass efficiently and prevent clogging, allowing for smooth discharge and easy conversion between mowing types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional riding grass-mower performs grass collecting work, then grass discharge is performed, but mowed-grass clogging occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrass discharge efficiencyVSAvoidclogging suppression
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the air intake function from the overall mower system by providing a dedicated air intake hole at the top of the mowed-grass guiding passage. This separate air intake path allows air to be drawn into the guiding passage, creating airflow that prevents grass clogging without interfering with the primary mowing and discharge functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The air intake hole acts as an intermediary element that introduces air into the mowed-grass guiding passage. This air flow serves as a mediator that facilitates smooth grass discharge by preventing clogging, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining discharge efficiency and preventing clogging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the mower is converted to mulching type, then grass is guided to mowing blades, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemowing type conversionVSAvoidshielding mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic shielding member that can be attached and detached based on the desired mowing type. When converted to mulching mode, the shielding member is attached to block the discharge passage and guide grass to the mowing blades. When in collection mode, the shielding member is detached to restore normal discharge. This dynamic configuration allows the mower to adapt between different mowing types without permanent structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shielding member is designed as a separate, detachable component rather than an integrated permanent structure. This segmentation allows the shielding function to be added or removed independently, simplifying the overall device structure while maintaining versatility. The shielding member includes a shielding plate and branching member that can be easily attached to and removed from the mower body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution ensures smooth grass discharge during collection, suppresses clogging, and facilitates efficient mulching by guiding grass to the mowing blades, improving work efficiency and reducing the complexity of switching between mowing types.

Implementation Method 1

an air intake hole (1210) is provided at such a portion of the mower deck top-plate member (1200) as is placed at a top of the mowed-grass guiding passage (1400)... since the air intake hole (1210) is provided, air intake can be performed, and generation of the mowed-grass clogging at the time of grass collecting work is able to be suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir intake:

Implementation Method 2

a shielding member (4000) which is configured to shield the mowed-grass guiding passage (1400)... and is configured to guide the mowed grass to respective sides of the pair of the mowing blades (1110, 1120)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical blocking and guiding:

Data Source

PatentEP2842405B1Riding grass-mower
Publication Date: 2018.02.14 ISEKI & CO LTD
  • EP2842405B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2842405B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2842405B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A riding grass-mower, including a mower unit (1000) which has a mower deck (1100) such that an upper face is constituted with a mower deck top-plate member (1200) and a lower face is opened, and is configured to mow a grass, wherein the mower unit (1000), in an interior part of the mower deck (1100), has: a pair of mowing blades (1110, 1120) which are provided side by side in a left-and-right direction, and are configured to mow the grass; and a mowed-grass guiding passage (1400) which is provided at a mower central part in the left-and-right direction, and is configured to guide the mowed grass, and an air intake hole (1210) is provided at such a portion of the mower deck top-plate member (1200) as is placed over the mowed-grass guiding passage (1400).