Snow Thrower Link-Mounted Light Projector for Dropped Position Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional snow removal machines fail to effectively illuminate the dropped position of snow due to the mismatch between the chute guide's direction and the light projector's illumination area, especially when snow is thrown far from the chute, resulting in inadequate lighting of the snow's actual landing position.
Innovation Solution
A snow removal machine design where a light projector is mounted on a link connected to the chute guide, allowing a smaller pivoting angle than the chute guide, ensuring that the illumination area coincides with the snow's dropped position, which follows a parabolic path, and is arranged to provide comprehensive lighting including forward areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light projector is mounted on the chute guide, then the illumination area coincides with the chute guide direction, but the dropped position of snow thrown far from the chute cannot be illuminated
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is segmented into two independent light sources: a headlight mounted on the machine body for illuminating forward areas, and a light projector mounted on the link for illuminating the dropped position of snow. This segmentation allows each light source to be optimized for its specific function and positioned independently to cover different areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The link serves as an intermediary carrier for the light projector, connecting it to the chute guide mechanism while allowing independent positioning. By mounting the light projector on the link rather than directly on the chute guide, the system achieves both coordination with the chute guide's pivoting motion and independent adjustability to illuminate the actual dropped position of snow.
2Device complexity
If the light projector is mounted on the machine body, then the structure is simplified, but the illumination area cannot follow the pivoting chute guide to illuminate the dropped position
Solution Approach 1:
The light projector is mounted on the link, which is a dynamic component that moves with the chute guide's pivoting action. This dynamic mounting allows the light projector to automatically track and illuminate the dropped position of snow as the chute guide pivots, without requiring complex active control systems or multiple adjustment mechanisms.
3Illumination intensity
If the headlight is positioned centrally, then the forward illumination is maximized, but the dropped position of snow may be blocked by the chute
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination system is divided into two separate light sources with distinct functions: the headlight on the machine body handles forward area illumination, while the light projector on the link handles dropped position illumination. This segmentation eliminates the blocking problem by assigning different illumination zones to different light sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The light projector is positioned on the link, which extends laterally from the chute guide mechanism. This lateral positioning in another dimension allows the light projector to illuminate the dropped position of snow without being blocked by the chute, while the headlight provides forward illumination from its central position on the machine body.
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 solution enables accurate illumination of the snow's dropped position and surrounding areas, allowing operators to confirm the snow's landing spot and accumulation before and during snow throwing, enhancing operational efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the link is provided with a light projector so as to be capable of illuminating a dropped position of the snow to be thrown
Data Source
AI summary
A snow removal machine capable of illuminating, with a light projector, a dropped position of snow that varies depending on a direction of a chute guide. A working machine as a snow removal machine includes a machine body, and a chute that is provided on the machine body, and throws away snow. The chute includes a chute main body extending upwardly from the machine body, and a chute guide that is pivotably provided on a distal end portion of the chute main body, and adjusts a snow throwing direction that is an up-down direction of the snow to be thrown, the chute guide is connected to the chute main body side through a link, and the link is provided with a light projector so as to be capable of illuminating a dropped position of the snow to be thrown.