Mower Deck Height Adjustment via Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf courses face challenges in maintaining multiple sections of grass at different heights due to the difficulty and cost of owning and maintaining multiple mowers, as well as the tedious process of adjusting mower decks for varying cutting heights.
Innovation Solution
A mower equipped with a control system that tracks its location and adjusts the cutting height dynamically based on predefined sections within the area, using location sensors and actuators to set the appropriate height for each mower deck as it moves across different grass sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple mowers are used to cut different sections at different heights, then cutting precision for multiple sections is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cutting functions into a single mower by equipping it with multiple independently adjustable mower decks. Each deck can be set to different cutting heights, allowing one mower to perform the work of multiple mowers while maintaining precise cutting height control for different grass sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The single mower is designed with universal capability to cut multiple types of grass sections at different heights through its multiple mower decks. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for multiple specialized mowers while maintaining the ability to precisely maintain different grass heights across various course sections.
2Device complexity
If a single mower is used to cut all sections, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to tedious height adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The mower decks are designed with dynamic height adjustment capabilities, allowing the cutting height to be changed during operation. This enables the operator to quickly adapt to different grass sections without stopping the mower, making the operation as easy as simply driving over transition lines between sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic height adjustment based on the mower's location relative to predefined section boundaries. The control system automatically determines when to adjust heights and by how much, eliminating the need for manual intervention and making the operation straightforward.
3Device complexity
If manual height adjustment is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from location sensors (such as GPS) to continuously monitor the mower's position and automatically adjust mower deck heights based on the detected grass section. This closed-loop control eliminates manual adjustment time and maintains optimal cutting height without interrupting workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical height adjustment with an automated control system that uses electronic actuators to adjust mower deck heights. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with automated electronic control significantly reduces adjustment time and increases cutting productivity.
4Ease of operation
If consistent cutting height is maintained across all sections, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision for different sections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mower is divided into multiple independent mower decks, each capable of operating at a different cutting height. This segmentation allows each deck to be optimized for specific grass sections while maintaining simple operation through automatic control, resolving the conflict between operational simplicity and cutting precision.
Solution Approach 2:
Different mower decks are configured with different cutting heights tailored to specific grass sections. Each deck has localized cutting characteristics appropriate for its designated area, allowing precise maintenance of different grass heights across various course sections while the overall system remains easy to operate through automated control.
Data Source
AI summary
A mower can dynamically adjust the cutting height of a mower deck based on a mower's location. As a mower travels over an area of grass to be cut, a control system can track the current location of each mower deck on the mower. The control system can compare the current location of a mower deck to a boundary of one or more sections defined within the area to thereby determine which section the mower deck is within. When the control system detects that a mower deck has crossed or will cross into a section, it can identify a particular cutting height assigned to the section and dynamically adjust the cutting height of the mower deck to the particular cutting height. When a mower includes more than one mower deck, the control system can be configured to independently adjust the cutting height of each mower deck based on its location.