Snow Thrower Electronic Chute Control System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing snow throwers require significant human effort and complexity to operate, making it time-consuming for users to complete snow throwing tasks due to the manual control of chute direction and angle.

Innovation Solution

An electronic control system for snow throwers that includes a body with a rotatable chute, a chute motor, and a user interface allowing for controlled chute rotation using inputs from a joystick and rocker switch, enabling operation without releasing hand grips, reducing effort and complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual control of chute direction and angle is used, then the snow thrower can be operated without electronic controls, but significant human effort and time are required to complete snow throwing tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidtime required for tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control of the chute with an electronic control system. A motor is electrically controlled to rotate the chute in response to user inputs from a user interface, substituting the mechanical manual adjustment mechanism with an electromechanical system that reduces human effort and time requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual control of chute direction and angle is used, then the snow thrower structure remains simple, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveefficiencyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an electronic control system with a motor and user interface to replace manual chute control. This substitution increases device complexity by adding electronic components but significantly improves productivity by reducing the time and effort required to adjust chute direction and angle during snow throwing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 system simplifies snow thrower operation by reducing human effort and time required for tasks, allowing users to control chute direction and angle electronically, enhancing efficiency and ease of use.

Implementation Method 1

a chute motor for rotating the chute, where the chute motor is electrically controlled to rotate the chute

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10711418B2Snow thrower with electronic controls

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP

AI summary

A snow thrower includes a body, a chute rotatable relative to the body about a vertical axis, wherein the chute is configured to discharge snow from the snowthrower, a chute motor for rotating the chute, and a chute position user interface. The chute motor is electrically controlled to rotate the chute in response to a first input duration to the chute position user interface and to rotate the chute in response to a second input duration to the chute position user interface. The chute motor ceases operation after the first input duration and the chute motor continues operation after the second input duration.