Vertical Tine Tiller Inversion for Jerk Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional yard tillers experience continuous jerking and jolting when encountering compacted soil, requiring significant physical exertion from the operator to maintain control and stability.

Innovation Solution

A vertical tine tiller design where tine assemblies rotate about vertical axes, with rotational power transferred from a horizontal drive shaft through a series of gears to power rods, allowing tines to engage the ground in an overlapping 'egg beater' motion, reducing vibration and the need for excessive operator strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If conventional tillers use horizontally-aligned drive shafts with tines rotating forwardly, then the tines can dig into hardened ground, but the entire tiller jolts or jerks continuously requiring substantial operator physical exertion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetine digging forceVSAvoidoperator physical exertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional horizontal tine rotation to vertical axis rotation. The power rods rotate about vertical axes rather than horizontal axes, causing tines to rotate in an egg-beater motion that maintains continuous ground contact without the forward jolting motion of conventional tillers. This inversion eliminates the harmful forward lurching while preserving soil engagement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the rotational dimension from horizontal (conventional) to vertical. By rotating power rods about vertical axes instead of horizontal axes, the tines engage soil in a different dimensional pattern that creates continuous contact without the periodic impact and release cycle of conventional horizontal rotation, thereby reducing operator fatigue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If tines rotate about a horizontal axis continuously contacting ground, then soil can be loosened, but the tiller requires operator to maintain extremely firm grasp to prevent lurching forward

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil loosening capabilityVSAvoidoperator control stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the rotational axis from horizontal to vertical, changing the motion pattern from forward-digging to egg-beater rotation. This inversion maintains soil loosening productivity while eliminating the forward lurching motion that compromises operator control stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Power

If conventional tiller design is used with horizontal drive shafts, then power can be transferred to tines, but the continuous jolting requires operator arms to become tired quickly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer to tinesVSAvoidoperator endurance

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the rotational axis to vertical, maintaining effective power transfer to tines while eliminating the continuous jolting motion. This allows the tiller to operate for extended periods without operator fatigue, significantly improving duration of action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 vertical tine tiller minimizes jerking and jolting, reducing operator fatigue by maintaining continuous contact with the ground and distributing soil engagement evenly, thus reducing physical exertion required for operation.

Implementation Method 1

a transfer gear that is operatively connected to the drive shaft for transferring the rotational power

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Implementation Method 2

Each of the power rods is rotatable about a separate vertical axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotational motion:

Implementation Method 3

the tine assemblies are rotatable about separate substantially vertical axes... allowing tines to engage the ground in an overlapping 'egg beater' motion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical grinding: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentUS9480196B2Vertical tine tiller

Publication Date: 2016.11.01 MTD PRODUCTS INC

AI summary

A vertical tine tiller that includes a chassis, an engine attached to the chassis, a handle assembly extending from the chassis to allow an operator to control the tiller, and at least two vertically oriented tine assemblies. Each of the tine assemblies include a plurality of tines attached to a plate, wherein the tine assemblies are rotatable about a vertical axis such that the tines of each tine assembly provide a grinding path and adjacent tine assemblies have at least partially overlapping grinding paths. The tines are removably connected to the plate.