Grass Mowing Machine Guide Member Posture Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grass mowing machines face issues with grass clippings accumulating at the bottom of the collecting container, potentially blocking the inlet and preventing further clippings from being stored due to gravity, even when space is available elsewhere in the container.

Innovation Solution

A self-propelled grass mowing machine with a guide member and posture changing mechanism inside the collecting container, which controls the flow of clippings and adjusts to prevent blockages by varying its posture based on the condition of the clippings, and an air communication system to manage airflow and convection, ensuring efficient storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If grass clippings are charged into the container via the upper opening, then the container can store clippings, but the inlet becomes blocked by accumulation at the bottom near the conveying duct

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacity of grass clippingsVSAvoidblockage of charging inlet
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of charging clippings from the upper opening as in conventional designs, this patent inverts the charging approach by introducing clippings from the lower side through the conveying duct and guiding them upward along the container wall to the far end. This reverse charging path prevents accumulation near the inlet and eliminates blockage problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a guide member that extends vertically along the container wall, transforming the clipping flow from a horizontal path to a vertical path. Clippings are guided upward along the wall surface and discharged at the far end, utilizing the vertical dimension to achieve uniform distribution and prevent inlet blockage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If a fixed guide member is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to varying clipping conditions like wet or dry clippings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of guide member structureVSAvoidadaptability to different clipping conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The guide member is designed with rotational freedom around a vertical axis, transforming it from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable component. This allows the guide member to change its orientation and angle according to different clipping conditions (wet or dry), optimizing the guiding effect for each scenario while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows changing the orientation parameter (rotation angle) of the guide member to adapt to different clipping conditions. By adjusting this geometric parameter, the system can handle both wet and dry clippings effectively without requiring completely different structural designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution allows for sequential storage of grass clippings from the far side of the container, preventing blockages and optimizing storage capacity by adjusting the guide member's posture and airflow, ensuring efficient clipping collection even with varying conditions like wet or dry clippings.

Implementation Method 1

air which has conveyed grass clippings to the grass collecting container can be discharged to the outside of the grass collecting container via this air communication portion. With this, convection of air which has conveyed grass clippings to the grass collecting container, inside this grass collecting container can be effectively suppressed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

As a blade unit disposed inside the mower unit is rotatably driven, a grass cutting operation in a grass land or a lawn land is carried out

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a conveyer duct provided between the mower unit and the grass collecting container and configured to allow passage of the grass clippings therethrough

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3578033B1Grass mowing machine
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 KUBOTA CORP
  • EP3578033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3578033B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3578033B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a grass mowing machine capable of storing cut grass clippings in its grass collecting container in an efficient manner. The grass mowing machine includes a traveling machine body (10), a mower unit (6) supported to the traveling machine body (10), a grass collecting container (100) supported to the traveling machine body (10) and configured to store grass clippings cut by the mower unit (6), a conveyer duct (120) provided between the mower unit (6) and the grass collecting container (100) and configured to allow passage of the grass clippings therethrough, a guide member (130) for guiding the grass clippings, the guide member being provided inside the grass collecting container (100) at a position opposed to a charging inlet (102) of the grass collecting container (100) corresponding to a grass collecting container side end of the conveyer duct (120), and a posture changing mechanism (131) for changing posture of the guide member (130).