Mower Edge Guide With Convoluted Channel For Upright Cutting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lawn mowers struggle to efficiently cut vegetation near structures like fences or walls due to safety regulations requiring partial enclosure of the cutting element, which limits the cutting radius and prevents effective edge cutting without compromising safety standards.
Innovation Solution
A mower design featuring a cutter housing with an edge guide that includes a convoluted channel and opening extending up to the cutting plane, allowing vegetation to be guided in an upright configuration for improved cutting while maintaining full radial enclosure and compliance with safety regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the side walls of the housing extend below the cutting plane to enclose the cutting element, then safety requirements are met, but the cutting element cannot extend far enough radially outward to cut vegetation adjacent to structures
Solution Approach 1:
The housing side wall is segmented with an opening that allows the cutting element to extend beyond the housing for edge cutting while maintaining enclosure elsewhere. This segmentation enables the cutting element to be both enclosed for safety and exposed for edge cutting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A deflector is introduced as an intermediary component that guides vegetation toward the cutting element through the opening in the side wall. The deflector mediates between the enclosed housing and the exposed cutting element, enabling vegetation to be directed to the cutting zone without compromising safety.
2Productivity
If vegetation is guided toward the opening in the side wall, then edge cutting is enabled, but the lowermost edge of the side wall flattens the vegetation preventing effective cutting
Solution Approach 1:
The problematic lowermost edge of the side wall is extracted or removed from the cutting path. The opening in the side wall allows vegetation to be guided upward through the opening rather than being pushed along the bottom edge, eliminating the flattening effect while maintaining the guiding function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vegetation guidance is changed from a horizontal path along the bottom edge to a vertical path through the opening. This dimensional change allows vegetation to be guided upward in an upright configuration, preventing flattening while maintaining guidance functionality.
3Reliability
If the cutting element is fully enclosed by the housing, then safety regulations are met, but the cutting element cannot reach vegetation at edges near structures
Solution Approach 1:
The housing enclosure is segmented with a strategic opening that allows the cutting element to extend beyond the housing perimeter. This segmentation maintains enclosure for safety while enabling extended reach for edge cutting near structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing has different qualities at different locations: enclosed in most areas for safety, and open at specific locations to allow the cutting element to extend for edge cutting. This local differentiation enables both safety compliance and extended cutting radius.
Data Source
AI summary
A mower comprising an edge guide located adjacent an outer surface of a side wall and at least partially surrounding an opening. The edge guide comprises an inlet and is arranged to guide vegetation towards the opening. The edge guide defines a channel having at least one direction change between the inlet and the opening such that there is no line of sight between the inlet and the cutter element. By providing an edge guide having a convoluted path or channel, an opening in the side wall of the cutter housing can extend vertically up to the plane of the cutter element while still providing a radially-enclosed cutter element as required by safety regulations. Therefore, edge-located vegetation can be fed to the cutter in a more upright configuration for improved cutting.