Swivel Cutting Disc Layout for Boundary-Cutting Robotic Lawn Mowers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Robotic lawn mowers have limited ability to cut grass close to objects and borders, and they struggle with cutting relatively long grass due to design constraints such as limited ground clearance and positioning of the cutting unit.
Innovation Solution
The robotic lawn mower is designed with a swivelable cutting disc that can move laterally in an arcuate manner, allowing it to reach close to boundaries and objects, and features adjustable cutting height and protective walls for enhanced safety and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the cutting unit is arranged at the underside of the lawn mower body, then the structure is simple and compact, but the cutting unit cannot reach grass close to objects and borders
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting disc is made movable relative to the lawn mower body through a swivel mechanism. The cutting disc can swing laterally between a rearmost position during normal travel and a forward position near the second end portion for boundary cutting, enabling dynamic adaptation to different operational requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting disc is positioned between the swivel attachment axis and the second end portion, allowing it to move laterally in an arcuate manner when drive wheels rotate in different directions. This adds a lateral movement dimension to the cutting mechanism, enabling access to grass near boundaries that would otherwise be inaccessible
2Reliability
If the ground clearance is limited for safety reasons, then safety is improved, but the ability to cut relatively long grass is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting disc height relative to the ground is made dynamically adjustable. During normal operation, the cutting disc maintains a safe height. When cutting long grass is required, the cutting disc can be positioned closer to the ground by controlling the swivelable wheel and cutting disc mechanism, allowing flexible adaptation to different grass lengths while maintaining safety during transport
3Ease of operation
If the cutting disc is positioned between the swivel attachment axis and the second end portion, then the cutting disc can reach close to boundaries, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swivelable wheel assembly serves multiple functions: it provides steering capability for the lawn mower and simultaneously acts as the mounting mechanism for the cutting disc. The cutting disc shares the swivel mechanism with the wheel, eliminating the need for separate complex mounting structures and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting disc mounting mechanism is merged with the swivelable wheel assembly. The cutting disc is rotatably mounted on the swivelable wheel, combining the steering function and cutting disc positioning function into a single integrated mechanism, thereby simplifying the overall structure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a robotic lawn mower (100) having a first end portion (101) and a second end portion (102), and comprising a body (140), at least two drive wheels (130a, 130b), at least one swivelable wheel (131a, 131b), a rotatable grass cutting disc (160) having a rotation axis (152), and at least two electric motor arrangements (150, 165). At least two drive wheels (130a, 130b) have a drive wheel axis (145) with a center (146) and are drivably connected to a first electric motor arrangement (150), where at least one swivelable wheel (131a, 131b) has a corresponding swivel axis (153,154). A swivel attachment axis (151), running through at least one swivel axis (153,154) and being parallel to the drive wheel axis (145), is positioned between the second end portion (102) and the drive wheel axis (145). The cutting disc (160) is drivably connected to a second electric motor arrangement (165), wherein the cutting disc (160) at least partly is positioned between the swivel attachment axis (151) and the second end portion (102).