Riding Mower Rear-Discharge Grass Restricting Unit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Riding type grass mowers with rear-discharge mower units often suffer from cut grass and dust being blown onto the driver and adhering to the engine hood, leading to a poor working environment and potential engine cooling issues due to clogging.

Innovation Solution

A riding type grass mower design featuring a rear-discharge type mower unit positioned forwardly of the wheels, with a driver's seat between and upwardly of the wheels, an engine mounted rearwardly of the seat, and a restricting unit with a mesh face or plate members positioned rearwardly of the seat and engine hood to prevent cut grass and soil from rising and adhering to the hood.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the driver's seat is disposed rearwardly of the rear-discharge type mower unit, then the driver has a better view and operational control, but cut grass and dust are blown up to fall onto the driver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver's view and controlVSAvoidcut grass and dust falling onto driver

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A restricting unit with a restricting face is introduced as an intermediary component between the mower unit and the driver's seat. This restricting face blocks the harmful flow of cut grass and dust while allowing the driver to maintain the optimal rearward seat position for visibility and control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The restricting unit extends laterally from the mower unit to create a three-dimensional barrier structure. By adding this lateral dimension to the protection, the system effectively blocks grass and dust trajectories without interfering with the driver's rearward seat position or operational control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the engine hood is provided immediately behind the driver's seat, then the engine is protected and accessible, but cut grass and soil adhere to the engine hood

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine protection and accessibilityVSAvoidcut grass and soil adhering to engine hood

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting unit acts as a protective intermediary between the mower unit and the engine hood. It intercepts cut grass and soil before they can reach the engine hood, while the engine hood remains in its optimal position for engine protection and accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The restricting unit performs preliminary action by blocking cut grass and soil trajectories before they can reach the engine hood. This preventive measure stops the harmful flow in advance, keeping the engine hood clean without requiring it to be repositioned

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If cut grass is discharged rearward through the rear end opening, then grass collection efficiency is improved, but grass pieces bounce back and soar up to the engine hood and driver

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrass collection efficiencyVSAvoidgrass pieces bouncing back and soaring up

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The restricting unit converts the harmful bouncing-back behavior of cut grass into a beneficial flow pattern. By blocking the rearward discharge path, it redirects grass pieces along the restricting face toward lateral discharge, maintaining collection efficiency while eliminating the bouncing and soaring problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS8117813B2Riding type grass mower having a rear-discharge type mower unit

Publication Date: 2012.02.21 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

A riding type grass mower includes a right wheel and a left wheel, a rear-discharge type mower unit disposed forwardly of the right/left wheels, a driver's seat disposed between and upwardly of the right/left wheels, an engine mounted rearwardly of the driver's seat, an engine hood for covering the engine, and a restricting unit disposed rearwardly of the driver's seat and at an area downwardly of the engine hood, the restricting unit having a restricting face (including a mesh face) configured to restrict upward rising of cut grass discharged from the mower unit.