Riding Mower Cutting Deck Height Adjustment With Rotary Selector
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing riding lawn care vehicles require significant time and effort to adjust the cutting deck height, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A deck height adjustment assembly comprising a carriage assembly and a rotary assembly, operable by the operator, allows for quick and easy adjustment of the cutting deck height using a foot pedal and rotary selector, with tactile feedback for precise height selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a traditional cutting deck height adjustment system is used, then the structure is simple, but the time and effort required to adjust the height is significant
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting deck height adjustment system transitions from static fixed positions to dynamic adjustable positions. The carriage assembly moves along the support structure to different height positions, and the rotary assembly rotates to select specific height settings, enabling dynamic adjustment rather than fixed configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a carriage assembly as an intermediary component between the support structure and the cutting deck. This carriage acts as a mediator that carries the cutting deck to various height positions along the support structure, simplifying the overall adjustment mechanism while enabling multiple height settings
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the effort required to adjust the height is high
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is divided into two independent functional segments: the carriage assembly responsible for vertical movement along the support structure, and the rotary assembly responsible for selecting specific height positions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently, reducing the effort required for operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a rotational dimension to the height adjustment process. While the carriage assembly provides vertical positioning, the rotary assembly adds a rotational degree of freedom that allows the operator to select among multiple predetermined height settings through simple rotation, significantly easing operation
3Productivity
If a quick adjustment system is implemented, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes multiple predetermined height positions along the support structure before operation. The carriage assembly is positioned at these predetermined locations, and the rotary assembly is configured with corresponding selection positions. This preliminary arrangement allows for rapid height changes during operation without requiring complex real-time calculations or adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage assembly is designed to maintain its position along the support structure through its own gravitational and mechanical properties, and the rotary assembly maintains selected height positions through its rotational mechanism. This self-maintaining capability reduces the need for continuous active control, simplifying the overall system while enabling quick adjustments
Data Source
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AI summary
A riding lawn care vehicle (10) includes a frame (60, 120) to which wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle are attached, a seat (20) in which an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle is positioned when operating the riding lawn care vehicle, a cutting deck (140) that comprises a cutting blade and a housing frame, wherein the housing frame is configured to support a housing inside which the cutting blade is housed, and a deck height adjustment assembly (150) that comprises a carriage assembly (154) and a rotary assembly (152), wherein the carriage assembly and the rotary assembly are operable by the operator positioned in the seat. The carriage assembly couples the frame of the riding lawn care vehicle to the cutting deck of the riding lawn care vehicle, and the rotary assembly is configured to set a height for the cutting deck.