Vegetation Shredder Pivoting Inlet Assembly for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vegetation shredders are bulky, making storage difficult due to their fixed dimensions and heavy components, which detract from their utility.
Innovation Solution
A vegetation shredder design featuring a pivotally mounted cutter unit with a detachable inlet assembly that stores beneath the cutter housing, incorporating a safety flap and electrical interlock to prevent accidental access and ensure safe operation, along with a collection bin that can invert to cover the cutter housing during storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shredder is designed with a fixed configuration and elevated cutter housing, then the cutter is protected from access, but the device occupies excessive storage space and becomes difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The inlet assembly is segmented from the main cutter housing, allowing it to be detached and stored separately in the collection bin. This segmentation enables the cutter housing to be stored in a compact configuration without the inlet assembly, reducing overall storage space while maintaining cutter protection when in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The inlet assembly is designed to be movable between an operational position (attached to cutter housing) and a stored position (in collection bin). This dynamic configuration allows the device to transition between compact storage and functional states, resolving the contradiction between protection and storage space.
2Area of stationary object
If the inlet assembly is made detachable for compact storage, then storage space is reduced, but user access to exposed cutters becomes a safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
A safety flap acts as an intermediary barrier between the user and the cutter. When the inlet assembly is detached, the safety flap automatically closes to cover the cutter opening, preventing accidental access while allowing the inlet assembly to be stored in the collection bin.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety flap is spring-biased to automatically close when the inlet assembly is removed, providing self-activating protection without requiring user intervention. This ensures the cutter is protected whenever the inlet assembly is not attached.
3Ease of repair
If the shredder allows operation with detached inlet assembly, then ease of maintenance is improved, but safety is compromised due to exposed cutters
Solution Approach 1:
An electrical interlock system provides feedback control by detecting whether the inlet assembly is properly attached. The system prevents the cutter from operating when the inlet assembly is detached, ensuring safety while allowing easy access for maintenance when needed. The interlock provides visual and electrical feedback to confirm proper assembly.
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 design reduces storage strain by allowing the shredder to compactly store its components, ensuring user safety through automatic protection from exposed cutters and preventing operation without proper assembly, thus enhancing usability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the flap is biased into a closed position, suitably by means of a spring bias
Implementation Method 2
the interlock comprises or further comprises a magnetic interlock arrangement comprising at least one magnet provided in or on shredder inlet assembly and a correspondingly located magnetic sensor, preferably a reed switch, mounted within the cutter housing
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to shredders of the type used for shredding branches and other vegetation, typically garden waste. We describe a vegetation shredder comprising a shredding cutter; a cutter housing (10) for said shredder cutter; the cutter housing (10) having an inlet (14) and an outlet (15); a shredder inlet assembly (20) and a frame (11, 12) supporting the cutter housing. The present invention is characterised in that the shredder inlet assembly (20) is pivotally mounted upon the cutter housing (10).