Mower Unit Flywheel Energy Storage for Motor Stability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grass mower machines experience rotational speed reduction and increased heat generation in the mower motor due to temporary load increases from grass resistance, necessitating costly motor capacity upgrades to prevent damage.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a flywheel that stores inertial energy and is rotated with the mower motor, along with fan blades for air cooling, to maintain motor speed and reduce heat generation without increasing motor capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the mower motor capacity is increased to prevent rotational speed reduction and heat generation under load, then the motor can handle temporary load increases from grass resistance, but the costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor operational stabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into two functional components: the mower motor for power generation and the flywheel for energy storage. This segmentation allows the motor to operate at a lower, more cost-effective capacity while the flywheel handles the temporary load increases, resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flywheel acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the motor and the cutter blades. It absorbs temporary load increases from grass resistance and releases stored energy when the motor load is light, maintaining motor speed stability without requiring a larger motor capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Temperature

If the mower motor capacity is increased to avoid heat damage under temporary load, then the motor can withstand higher loads, but the motor size and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor heat generationVSAvoidmotor capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel performs preliminary action by storing rotational energy during periods of low load before the motor experiences temporary high loads. This pre-stored energy compensates for load fluctuations, preventing motor overheating without requiring increased motor capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters of the motor by maintaining more stable rotational speed through the flywheel's energy buffering. This parameter stabilization prevents excessive heat generation during temporary load increases, avoiding the need for higher motor capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the mower motor capacity is increased to maintain preset rotational speed under load, then the motor can sustain speed during grass resistance, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor rotational speedVSAvoidmotor capacity cost

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The flywheel ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining rotational momentum and providing continuous energy supplementation to the motor. This keeps the motor running at preset speeds smoothly even when cutting through resistant grass, without requiring a more powerful motor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 flywheel maintains motor speed and reduces heat generation by dispersing load and enhancing air cooling, preventing rotational speed reduction and heat issues while avoiding costly motor upgrades.

Implementation Method 1

a flywheel rotatable in association with the rotational driving of the mower motor... the inertial energy of the rotation is stored in the flywheel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInertial energy: Inertia

Implementation Method 2

heat generated by the mower motor is transmitted to the mower deck via the mounting deck

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS11582909B2Mower unit

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

The mower unit includes a mower deck having a top wall and side walls extending downwards from an outer circumferential edge of the top wall, a rotational shaft extending upwards through the top wall from an inside space formed by the top wall and the side walls, a cutter blade attached to a lower portion of the rotational shaft within the inside space and rotatable together with the rotational shaft, an electric mower motor having an output shaft that can rotatably drive the rotational shaft, and a flywheel rotatable in association with the rotational driving of the mower motor.