Rotating Disc Mower Lightened Side Bar with Dynamic Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rotary disc mowers face a conflict between minimizing ground pressure to prevent turf damage and maintaining contact with uneven terrain, as lighter mowing bars tend to 'take-off' when encountering bumps, disrupting grass cutting.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a dynamic lightening system that supplements the existing static lightening by using a release rod, balancer transmission element, and hydraulic cylinders to transform friction forces into additional lightening, allowing the mowing bar to adapt to ground irregularities while preventing detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the mowing bar weight on the ground is reduced to minimize turf damage, then the turf damage is reduced, but the mowing bar tends to take-off when encountering bumps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the mowing bar weight adjustable and variable during operation. The static weight is reduced to minimize turf damage, while a dynamic counterweight system allows the operator to increase the effective weight when encountering bumps or uneven terrain, preventing the mowing bar from taking off. This transforms a static weight system into a dynamic one that can adapt to different working conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the weight parameter of the mowing bar from a fixed value to a variable value. By using a counterweight system with adjustable mass, the effective weight on the ground can be modified according to terrain conditions. This allows optimization of the weight parameter for different scenarios: lighter for smooth terrain to protect turf, heavier for rough terrain to maintain contact.
2Stress or pressure
If the mowing bar is made lighter to reduce ground pressure, then ground pressure is reduced, but cutting continuity is disrupted due to take-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a dynamic counterweight system that can adjust the mowing bar weight in real-time. This allows the system to maintain optimal ground pressure for minimizing turf damage while ensuring sufficient weight to maintain ground contact and cutting continuity when encountering terrain variations, thus resolving the conflict between ground pressure reduction and cutting continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight system is designed to be self-adjusting through hydraulic or mechanical means, allowing the operator to set the appropriate weight range once, and the system automatically maintains the mowing bar in contact with the ground across varying terrain conditions without continuous manual intervention, thereby ensuring cutting continuity.
3Weight of stationary object
If static lightening is used to reduce mowing bar weight, then the mowing bar weight on ground is reduced, but the ability to adapt to ground irregularities is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static lightening system into a dynamic one by introducing an adjustable counterweight mechanism. This allows the mowing bar to have a base reduced weight for minimizing turf damage on smooth terrain, while enabling the operator to increase the effective weight when encountering bumps or irregularities, thus maintaining adaptability to ground profile variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterweight system serves multiple functions: it reduces the base weight to protect turf on smooth terrain, maintains ground contact on moderate irregularities, and can be increased to handle severe bumps and uneven terrain. This multi-functional system replaces the need for multiple fixed-weight mowing bars with a single adjustable system.
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
This solution ensures a lighter mowing bar that effectively follows ground contours without lifting off, maintaining consistent cutting performance and reducing turf damage.
Implementation Method 1
using a release rod, balancer transmission element, and hydraulic cylinders to transform friction forces into additional lightening
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotating disc mower (10) with a lightened side mowing bar (12) comprising a fixed frame (13), a movable frame (14,14b) and a lightening device of the mowing bar (12), wherein the mowing bar (12) is positioned on a supporting arm (19) articulated with respect to the movable frame (14,14b), wherein a cylinder (28) is positioned between the supporting arm (19) and the movable frame (14,14b), which keeps the supporting arm (19) of the mowing bar (12) raised, as it is uploaded according to a pre-established force, a release rod (17) also being positioned between the fixed frame (13) and the mowing bar (12) and two cylinders (27) respectively positioned between the movable frame (14,14b) and the supporting arm (19), wherein a first hydraulic cylinder (25) is also provided, positioned between the fixed frame (13) and the release rod (17), and a second hydraulic cylinder (35), positioned between the movable frame (14,14b) and the supporting arm (19) of the mowing bar (12), wherein the first and second hydraulic cylinders (25,35) are hydraulically connected and activated by the release rod (17) which intervenes in the presence of a resistant force on the mowing bar, wherein said two cylinders (27) are constrained at a first end to a pin (31), passing into the supporting arm (19), and at the other opposite end to a pin (32) rotatingly arranged with respect to the movable frame (14) and positioned inside slots (33) of ears (34) that extend from the movable frame (14).