Mower Deck Suspension for Consistent Cutting Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mower decks with front and rear rollers often create high spots in grass due to uneven terrain, as they pitch and alter cutting height, especially when encountering bumps.
Innovation Solution
A mower deck design with a rear roller and suspension system that allows the rear roller to pivot, maintaining a constant cutting height by using opposing brackets and springs angled less than 90 degrees from horizontal, which pivot rearwardly and upwardly to accommodate ground irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the mower deck uses front and rear rollers to support the housing, then the mower deck can maintain structural support, but it creates high spots in grass due to pitching and altering cutting height when encountering bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the bracket movable rather than fixed. The bracket can pivot between a first position (when the roller is on level ground) and a second position (when the roller encounters a bump), allowing the system to adapt to terrain changes while maintaining consistent cutting height and preventing high spots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of bracket angle/position based on terrain conditions. The bracket transitions from a first angle (level ground) to a second angle (bump condition), dynamically adjusting the geometry to compensate for ground irregularities and maintain optimal cutting height.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the mower deck includes a front roller, then it provides ground support, but it causes the mower deck to pitch and create high spots when passing over bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the front roller from the mower deck assembly, extracting the component that causes pitching and high spots. By eliminating the front roller, the design eliminates the source of the harmful effect while retaining the rear roller for ground support, thus preventing high spots in the grass.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustment through the movable bracket that pivots in response to terrain changes. This dynamic mechanism compensates for the absence of a front roller by allowing the rear roller assembly to adapt its angle, maintaining consistent cutting height and preventing high spots.
3Device complexity
If the bracket is fixed at a specific angle, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate terrain changes and maintains incorrect cutting height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static fixed-angle bracket to a dynamic movable bracket that can pivot between multiple positions. This dynamic structure allows the bracket to adjust its angle based on terrain conditions, maintaining accurate cutting height while adding only minimal complexity through the pivot mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the bracket angle parameter to change dynamically rather than remaining fixed. The bracket can adopt different angles (first position for level ground, second position for bumps), allowing the system to adapt to terrain variations and maintain cutting height accuracy without complex adjustment mechanisms.
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 suspension system ensures consistent cutting height by allowing the rear roller to adjust to terrain changes, preventing the creation of high spots and maintaining optimal grass cutting performance.
Implementation Method 1
a spring that biases the bracket into the maximum angle and allows the bracket to pivot to a reduced angle when the rear rolling mechanism encounters a bump in the ground
Implementation Method 2
opposing springs that bias the respective brackets into the maximum angle
Data Source
AI summary
A mower deck can include a suspension that allows a rear roller to pivot rearwardly and upwardly when the rear roller encounters a bump in the ground. The suspension can include brackets having a front end that is coupled to a housing of the mower deck at a pivot point. The rear roller can be coupled between rear ends of the brackets. Springs can be used to bias the brackets into a maximum angle of less than 90 degrees to the horizontal.