Powered Rotary Brush for Turf Conditioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mechanical means for conditioning grass prior to cutting in reel mowers are inefficient and can introduce 'grain' and other issues, as they provide little lift and may preferentially orient grass leaves, affecting cutting and mower operation.
Innovation Solution
A powered rotary brush with radially arranged bristle tufts, adjustable in elevation and stiffness, is mounted between the front roller and cutting reel, rotating opposite to the cutting reel to provide enhanced lift and minimize grain introduction, featuring a symmetrical tuft pattern that improves penetration and reduces augering effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing mechanical conditioning means (rotating dethatching blades or helical brushes) are used to re-orient grass leaves, then some lifting action is provided, but they introduce grain by preferentially orienting leaves in one direction and provide insufficient lift
Solution Approach 1:
The brush features asymmetric bristle arrangement with tufts positioned at different radial locations and orientations, creating a lifting action that raises grass leaves vertically without preferentially orienting them in one horizontal direction, thereby avoiding grain formation while improving conditioning effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using blades or helical brushes that cut or auger the grass, the invention uses a brush that lifts and re-orients the grass leaves through direct mechanical contact with bristles, inverting the approach from cutting-based conditioning to lifting-based conditioning
2Productivity
If helical brushes are used for turf conditioning, then grass leaves are re-oriented, but the augering effect can affect mower steering and introduce grain
Solution Approach 1:
The bristle tufts are arranged asymmetrically on the brush circumference with varying radial positions and angles, eliminating the helical augering effect that causes mower steering interference while maintaining effective grass leaf lifting and re-orientation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful helical rotational component from the brush design, retaining only the beneficial lifting action through properly positioned bristle tufts that contact grass leaves without creating the augering effect
3Ease of operation
If continuously bristled surfaces are used in powered brushes, then a smooth conditioning surface is provided, but penetration of the grass canopy is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous bristled surface is segmented into discrete bristle tufts distributed around the brush circumference, allowing individual tufts to penetrate the grass canopy effectively while collectively providing smooth conditioning action across the turf surface
Data Source
AI summary
Powered turf conditioning brushes having increased efficiency, improved lift, and which minimize the introduction of grain, and their method of use with reel mower cutting units such as those used for precision mowing of golf course greens. Various embodiments are disclosed.