Thermal Weed Control Harness for Unrestricted Lance Sweeping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing harness systems for thermal weeding systems restrict user movement and area coverage due to design limitations, such as reduced lateral movement and increased pelvic movement requirements, making them unsatisfactory for efficient operation.

Innovation Solution

A harness system with a bottle holder, waist belt, and adjustable bracket with a hanger mechanism that allows for upright attachment of the thermal lance, providing enhanced freedom of movement and weight distribution, enabling 180-degree sweeping and comfortable use by both right- and left-handed individuals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an elephant trunk arm is used to support the thermal lance from the back of the harness, then the user's effort is reduced, but lateral movement quality deteriorates and ground work becomes impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser effortVSAvoidlateral movement capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the restrictive elephant trunk arm from the harness design and extracts only the essential support functions. The thermal lance is suspended using a combination of shoulder straps and waist belt that provides support without constraining lateral movement or ground work capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of supporting the thermal lance from the back with an arm structure that restricts movement, the invention inverts the approach by suspending the lance from the front using shoulder straps and waist belt, allowing natural body movement while maintaining support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a harness design requiring pelvic movement is used for brush cutters or rotary trimmers, then the tool can be operated, but the ability to cover a large area per sweep is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool operation capabilityVSAvoidarea coverage per sweep
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the pelvic movement requirement from the harness design by eliminating restrictive structural elements. The simplified suspension system using shoulder straps and waist belt allows full pelvic freedom while maintaining tool support, enabling larger sweeping motions for increased productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid back plate structure is used in the harness, then structural stability is improved, but user comfort and freedom of movement are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveharness structural stabilityVSAvoiduser freedom of movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the harness into flexible components (shoulder straps, waist belt) rather than using a single rigid back plate structure. This segmentation allows each component to independently adapt to body movement while collectively providing structural support and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces static rigid structures with dynamic flexible elements that can adapt their configuration during movement. The shoulder straps and waist belt dynamically adjust to body position changes, maintaining support while enabling full range of motion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3897127B1Harness and individual harness system for thermal weed control
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 SEFMAT
  • EP3897127B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3897127B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a harness (3) for a user (2) of a thermal weed control system including a gas cylinder (6) and a thermal lance (7) supplied by this cylinder, the harness comprising at least: - a support (11) for the cylinder; - a strap (22); - a belt (21); and, - at least on the strap, attachment means (31, 32) for a bracket (4) enabling the lance to be supported using a suspension element (5).