Overlapping Cutting Blades With Staggered Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cutting blade apparatuses with rotary or reciprocating blades face issues of high cutting load, locking due to grass or debris, and increased weight, leading to inefficient mowing and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
The cutting blade apparatus features overlapping cutting blade units with synchronized movement via an eccentric cam mechanism, allowing staggered opening and closing of cutting spaces and reduced blade load, enabling efficient cutting with reduced weight and maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rotary or reciprocating cutting blades are used, then cutting operation can be performed, but high cutting load and locking due to grass or debris occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting system is divided into multiple cutting blade units (first cutting blade unit and second cutting blade unit), each with multiple cutting blades arranged in parallel. These segmented blades cut grass at different timings, distributing the cutting load that would otherwise concentrate on a single rotary or reciprocating blade, thereby reducing peak cutting forces and preventing locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blades are configured to perform cutting operations in a periodic sequence rather than simultaneously. The first cutting blade unit and second cutting blade unit are driven to cut at different timings, creating a staggered periodic cutting action. This periodic distribution of cutting events reduces the instantaneous cutting load and maintains smoother operation.
2Reliability
If conventional cutting blade apparatuses are used, then cutting operation can be performed, but weight increases leading to maintenance challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blade units are configured with movable and fixed arrangements where at least one unit can move relative to the other. This dynamic configuration allows the system to achieve effective cutting action without requiring a heavy stationary blade assembly, reducing overall apparatus weight while maintaining cutting performance through relative motion between blades.
3Productivity
If multiple cutting blades operate simultaneously, then cutting efficiency increases, but cutting load concentrates causing locking
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cutting blades are arranged to operate in periodic sequence rather than simultaneous action. The first cutting blade unit and second cutting blade unit are timed to cut at different moments, distributing the cutting workload across time. This maintains high productivity through multiple blades while preventing load concentration that would cause locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting blades are segmented into multiple independent units that operate semi-independently. Each cutting blade unit can be controlled to operate at different timings, allowing the system to maintain high productivity through multiple blades while distributing the cutting load to prevent any single blade or moment from experiencing excessive force.
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 apparatus achieves smooth mowing operations with reduced blade load, minimized risk of locking, and lighter weight, while maintaining effective cutting performance and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a drive mechanism allowing at least one of the cutting blade units to translate drawing a circular orbit with no dead center
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a cutting blade apparatus including: cutting blade units including a plurality of cutting blades arranged on a flat surface; and a base unit configured to support the plurality of cutting blade units overlapping one another, the cutting blade apparatus being configured to perform cutting operation by driving at least one of the cutting blade units. A cutting space formed for each of the cutting blades of one cutting blade unit is opened/closed by a cutting blade of the other cutting blade unit to perform the cutting operation. A timing at which one cutting space is opened/closed is different from a timing at which another cutting space is opened/closed.