Riding Lawn Mower Motor Cooling Through Deck-Integrated Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Riding lawn mowers face challenges with motor temperature rise due to high output power and require effective cooling solutions, while also needing to reduce environmental pollution and maintenance costs associated with diesel fuel.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a riding lawn mower with a motor housing that extends into the mowing space, featuring a rotor assembly and stator assembly, and an airflow channel to facilitate cooling airflow, reducing temperature rise and environmental impact by using electric power instead of diesel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rider is positioned on the lawn mower, then the cutting height adjustment is improved, but the center of gravity becomes unbalanced causing the mower to tip
Solution Approach 1:
The rider's weight is distributed across multiple support points: footrests at the front, a central platform, and rear supports. This segmentation of the support structure prevents concentrated loading that would cause tipping, while still allowing the rider to access cutting height controls.
Solution Approach 2:
The rider interface is elevated to a third dimension above the ground plane, creating a platform at a specific height. This vertical positioning allows the rider to operate controls without being on the ground, improving ergonomics while the platform's structural design maintains horizontal stability.
2Ease of operation
If the lawn mower is designed for riding, then operator comfort is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it supports the rider's weight, provides a stable base for footrests, offers access to cutting height controls, and maintains overall mower stability. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rider interface components (platform, footrests, support structures) are integrated into the existing mower frame and deck assembly. Rather than adding completely separate systems, the design merges the riding capability with the cutting mechanism structure.
3Productivity
If the cutting height is adjusted while riding, then productivity is improved, but the precision of cutting height control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The rider themselves performs the cutting height adjustment operation while positioned on the platform. The design provides direct access to adjustment controls from the riding position, eliminating the need for separate adjustment procedures and enabling continuous operation without dismounting.
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 effectively cools the motor, reduces environmental pollution, and lowers maintenance costs by using electric power, improving the riding lawn mower's operational efficiency and sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
when the mowing element rotates, a cooling airflow that flows from an outside of the mowing space through the first motor and into the inside of the mowing space through the first throughole is generated
Implementation Method 2
the motor housing is at least partially located in the mowing space... effectively cools the motor
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
A riding lawn mower includes: a seat for a user to sit thereon; a frame for carrying the seat; a mowing element for cutting vegetation; a deck surrounding and forming a mowing space for accommodating at least part of the mowing element; and a first motor for driving the mowing element to rotate relative to the deck, wherein the first motor includes: a rotor assembly including a rotor shaft enabled to rotate about a rotation axis and a stator assembly including a stator coil and a stator core, a motor housing surrounding and forming an accommodation cavity for accommodating at least part of the stator assembly, wherein the rotor shaft passes through the motor housing in a direction of the rotation axis and is at least partially located outside the motor housing; the deck is provided with a first throughole for the first motor to pass through so that the motor housing is at least partially located in the mowing space. The first motor of the riding lawn mower has a good cooling effect.