Plant Extracting Assembly with Fulcrum Leverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for removing undesirable vegetation with extensive roots, such as woody plants, are labor-intensive and often require excessive force, or they can be damaging to sensitive areas when using heavy machinery, and may spread invasive plant species.

Innovation Solution

A plant extracting assembly that utilizes leverage through a fulcrum, lifting arm subassembly, kinetic arm subassembly, and pivoting lever to selectively displace jaws and uproot plants by pivoting on the ground, allowing for efficient removal of woody plants and other vegetation with extensive roots.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If heavy machinery is used to remove undesirable vegetation with extensive roots, then the removal capability is improved, but damage to sensitive areas increases and beneficial species are removed as well

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveremoval capabilityVSAvoiddamage to sensitive areas

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The plant extracting assembly divides the force application into two separate jaws (first jaw and second jaw) that work in opposition to each other. The first jaw provides a fixed surface while the second jaw applies the extraction force, segmenting the mechanical action to achieve high removal capability with controlled, localized force application that minimizes damage to surrounding areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using heavy machinery that applies force from above or through broad contact, the assembly inverts the approach by using a fulcrum system where force is applied through lever arms that pivot on a fulcrum point. This inversion allows mechanical advantage to be achieved through the ground contact point rather than through direct downward force, reducing damage to sensitive areas while maintaining effective plant removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If hand tools are used to remove undesirable vegetation, then damage to sensitive areas is minimized, but the labor intensity and time required increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedamage to sensitive areasVSAvoidremoval efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly transitions from the traditional vertical hand-pulling motion to a rotational dimension by incorporating a fulcrum and lever arms that pivot on a ground contact point. This dimensional change allows the operator to apply force through a larger arc, utilizing body weight and leverage rather than purely hand strength, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining minimal damage to sensitive areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The fulcrum acts as an intermediary between the operator's applied force and the plant extraction action. By introducing this pivot point on the ground, the system converts small manual forces applied to the lever arms into amplified extraction forces on the plant, significantly improving removal efficiency without requiring heavy machinery or excessive manual effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Force

If excessive force is applied to uproot plants with extensive roots, then the removal capability is improved, but the possibility of spreading invasive plant seeds increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuprooting capabilityVSAvoidseed spread

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly concentrates the extraction force locally at the plant's root system through the opposing jaws that clamp directly onto the stem or base. The first jaw provides a fixed surface and the second jaw applies localized clamping force, ensuring that excessive force is directed precisely at the plant structure rather than being dispersed, which prevents seed spread while maintaining effective uprooting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables efficient and effective removal of woody plants and other vegetation with extensive roots without excessive manual force, minimizing damage to sensitive areas and reducing the spread of invasive species.

Implementation Method 1

a plant extracting assembly which utilizes leverage to extract woody plants and other vegetation having extensive roots from the ground

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLeverage: Lever

Implementation Method 2

the lever operable to selectively displace the kinetic arm jaw toward and away from the lifting arm jaw by pivotal actuation of the kinetic arm subassembly responsive to pivoting of the lever relative to the fulcrum

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS9468137B1Plant extracting assembly having detent

Publication Date: 2016.10.18 PEARCE CURTIS ARTHUR

AI summary

A plant extracting assembly includes a fulcrum; a lifting arm subassembly carried by the fulcrum in fixed relation thereto, the lifting arm subassembly having a lifting arm jaw; a kinetic arm subassembly having a kinetic arm jaw disposed in facing relation to the lifting arm jaw of the lifting arm subassembly; and a pivoting lever carried by the lifting arm subassembly and pivotally engaging the kinetic arm subassembly, the lever operable to selectively displace the kinetic arm jaw toward and away from the lifting arm jaw by pivotal actuation of the kinetic arm subassembly responsive to pivoting of the lever relative to the fulcrum.