Variable Bridge Attachment for Agricultural Mowing Efficiency

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional agricultural machines, such as lawn mowers, are slow, operate in one direction, and require significant effort to control, making them inefficient and difficult to use, especially for large areas.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable device with a variable bridge and moveable heads that can be attached to agricultural machines, allowing for vertical and rotational movement, enabling 6 degrees of freedom and efficient mowing of large areas with adjustable width and height.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional agricultural machines are used, then the machine structure is simple, but the mowing speed is slow and productivity is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemowing speedVSAvoidmachine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge is divided into multiple segments (first bridge segment, second bridge segment, third bridge segment) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the bridge to adapt its shape and width while maintaining structural integrity, enabling faster mowing coverage without requiring a completely complex new machine design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge structure is made dynamic through the inclusion of moveable heads and segments that can adjust their positions and orientations in real-time. The first and second moveable heads can move along the second bridge segment, and the segments themselves can rotate relative to each other, allowing the system to adapt to different mowing conditions and increase productivity without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the machine operates in one direction only, then the control is simple, but the efficiency for large areas is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemowing efficiencyVSAvoidcontrol difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge structure is made dynamic through the inclusion of moveable heads and segments that can adjust their positions and orientations in real-time. The first and second moveable heads can move along the second bridge segment, and the segments themselves can rotate relative to each other, allowing the system to adapt to different mowing conditions and increase productivity without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The variable bridge structure serves multiple functions: it can widen the mowing path by extending segments, navigate confined spaces by rotating segments, and adjust to uneven terrain through vertical movement. This multi-functionality allows the machine to handle diverse mowing scenarios efficiently while maintaining relatively simple control through centralized actuation of the bridge segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional mowers are used, then the device complexity is low, but the access to confined and uneven areas is poor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bridge is divided into multiple segments (first bridge segment, second bridge segment, third bridge segment) that can move independently relative to each other. This segmentation allows the bridge to adapt its shape and width while maintaining structural integrity, enabling faster mowing coverage without requiring a completely complex new machine design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bridge segments can move not only horizontally to adjust width but also vertically to adapt to uneven terrain. The first and second moveable heads can move along the second bridge segment in multiple directions, adding dimensional flexibility that enables access to confined and uneven areas without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250031615A1Automatically adjustable agricultural machine

Publication Date: 2025.01.30 COSTA KASSIS HOSAM

AI summary

A device configured to be connected to a machine that is movable over a ground surface, the device comprising: a variable bridge, said variable bridge defining an elongated axis, wherein said variable bridge is movable, in a translation movement, in a vertical axis and is movable in a rotational movement around the vertical axis, the vertical axis is orthogonal to the elongated axis, said variable bridge comprising a core segment and two extension segments, each of said two extension segments is connected to said core segment at an end of said core segment by a joint enabling rotation movement of a corresponding extension segment; two moveable heads mounted on said variable bridge, each of which is mounted on a different extension segment. The device is configured to be permanently attached to said machine, or attachable to and detachable from said machine.