Grass Mower Duct Deformation Prevention and Quick-Release Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing riding grass mowers face challenges in quickly and efficiently removing and attaching the grass collecting device, stabilizing the mower position during operation, preventing cut grass from being discharged outside, and simplifying the hydraulic system for the grass collecting container.

Innovation Solution

A support carriage with a positioning portion that engages with the vehicle body to facilitate easy attachment and detachment of the grass collecting device, a front axle attachment bracket with a bolt coupling mechanism for adjustable wheel bases, a deformation prevention member to maintain duct orientation, and a simplified hydraulic system with electromagnetic valves and reduced couplers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the support carriage position is manually adjusted to enable grass collecting device removal, then the grass collecting device can be placed on the support carriage, but the removal operation becomes time-consuming and troublesome

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrass collecting device removal operationVSAvoidremoval operation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The support carriage is pre-positioned at a predetermined location where the positioning portion engages with the vehicle body. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for manual adjustment during removal operations, allowing the grass collecting device to be quickly placed on the support carriage in its designed favorable state without time-consuming position changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A positioning portion is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the support carriage and the vehicle body. This positioning portion engages with the vehicle body to automatically establish the correct position of the support carriage, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for manual position adjustment and enables quick removal operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the front axle attachment bracket is welded to the main frames, then the front axle can be rollably supported, but the number of vehicle body frame types increases when accommodating different wheel bases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefront axle support stabilityVSAvoidnumber of vehicle body frame types
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front axle attachment bracket is changed from a fixed welded connection to a detachable bolt coupling mechanism. This dynamic connection allows the attachment bracket to be removed and repositioned at different locations on the main frames, enabling wheel base adjustments without requiring multiple frame types, thus maintaining reliability while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment bracket connection is segmented into separate components: the attachment bracket itself and the bolt coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows the bracket to be detached and repositioned independently from the main frames, enabling flexible wheel base configuration without welding and reducing the number of frame types needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the duct bottom portion orientation can change with mower raising/lowering, then the mower can be raised and lowered while maintaining connection, but the duct deforms and gaps form between discharge portion and duct entrance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemower raising and lowering capabilityVSAvoidduct orientation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A deformation prevention member is installed in advance within the duct to counteract the deforming force that occurs during mower raising and lowering operations. This preliminary anti-action prevents the duct bottom portion from changing orientation, maintaining the precise connection between the discharge portion and duct entrance while still allowing the mower to be raised and lowered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple couplers are provided for hydraulic oil supply to hydraulic cylinders, then the grass collecting container can be raised and lowered and tilted, but the attachment and detachment operation becomes laborious

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrass collecting container movement capabilityVSAvoidattachment and detachment operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hydraulic oil supply and discharge passages are merged into a single integrated coupler assembly. Instead of providing separate couplers for each hydraulic cylinder connection, the passages are combined into one coupler that handles all hydraulic connections, significantly reducing the number of attachment and detachment operations required while maintaining the full movement capability of the grass collecting container.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3777511B1Grass mower
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3777511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3777511B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3777511B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention provides a grass mower comprising: a vehicle body (201); a mower (204) located below the vehicle body (201), the mower (204) having a discharge portion (234) configured to discharge cut grass outward; a duct (235) configured to be in communication with and connected to the discharge portion (234) and guide cut grass conveyed from the discharge portion (234); a grass collecting portion (205) that is located at a rear portion of the vehicle body and is configured to collect cut grass that is guided by the duct (235); and a deformation prevention member (H) configured to prevent a change in orientation of a portion of the duct (235) that is connected to the discharge portion (234)..