Ultimate Lawnmower

THE ULTIMATE LAWN MOWER

Some things to consider

This is but one of several schemes which may be considered. Other considerations would be to use solar (photovoltaic or PV) cells to disassociate water, storing the hydrogen and water in small pressure tanks on board the lawnmower, then using a hydrogen fuel cell to produce the power for the electric motor. With this system, one could use the hydrogen and oxygen to drive an internal combustion engine as well, however, IC engines are far less efficient than electric motors.

The schema which will be used here is as follows:

  1. Obtain an old lawnmower frame, 24" to 32" size will do fine. You may wish to replace the wheels if they are too warn. Wheels can generally be obtained from a hardware store or from any good lawn mower repair or sales shop.
  2. Remove the gas engine.
  3. Obtain a flat or pancake type 12 or 24 volt DC electric motor, about 700 to 1,000 watts and mount in place of the gas engine.
    • Let us look at an electric motor developed for the automobile. Please consider http://www.fraunhofer.de/en/press/research-news/2010/04/Electric_drive_concepts.jsp. note that this motor would be designed for an automobile. I doubt that for a lawn mower we would need quite the same power. I suggest we look for a motor that would produce about 2 to 4 HP. Who knows how to design such a motor? Who is willing to produce the figures? Who is willing to consider organizing a manufacturing Company for such a motor?
  4. Obtain a square solar cell panel the size of the mower frame to be mounted over the top of the electric motor and other equipment. The output should be matching to the storage batteries used.
  5. Obtain some sort of energy storage system.
    • Lead acid Battery
    • Nickle-Cadmium battery
    • Third generation Li Ion battery
  6. Obtain misc. equipment, gauges, tubing, wiring, control valves, etc.

The mower will be self charging via the solar (PV) cells. The fuel cell scheme, the electric power is used to disassociate water in a closed system, storing hydrogen and oxygen for use in the hydrogen/oxygen or solid oxide full cell to operate the mower, with the lead acid, Ni Cad, or Lithium Ion battery for back-up power. In all cases the mower is designed to remain outdoors in the sun for charging.

One can also use this scheme, other than the electric motor, to make a portable power supply to be used to charge batter powered hand tools and lawn and garden tools. The power supply should be ± 30" (75cm) by 30" by 30". The PV cells could be somewhat longer but should not be so wide that the unit would not pass through a standard 32" (80cm) doorway. One can make provisions for the hand tool and lawn tool batteries could be plugged in to the charger. There should be places for 6, 12, 18 and 24 volt hand tool/garden tool batteries. Circular saws, screw drivers, drills and portable work lights are all readily available with plug-in rechargeable batteries. This portable "charging system would not need any sort of household or power line connection as it would be design to be out of door in the sunshine (rain or shine) all the time. It should be designed with wheels and a pulling or pushing handle. By using Lithium Ion batteries, this type unit could be a "stand by" household power supply. One would, however, need to add a inverter to produce 110/220 volt AC current.

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