Adapter Clip for Abrasive Pad Coupling on Floor Finishing Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

The lack of standardization in attaching abrasive pads to different floor finishing machines poses a challenge for manufacturers, as existing machines do not have a unified method for replacing abrasive pads, making it difficult for diamond abrasive pads to be adapted to various driver plates.

Innovation Solution

An abrasive attachment plate with a protuberance and an adapter clip that matches the shape of the driver plate's recess, allowing for secure and removable attachment of abrasive elements to a variety of floor finishing machines, using resilient materials like metal or high-temperature plastics to withstand heat and friction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different manufacturers use different attachment methods for abrasive pads, then each manufacturer can optimize their machine design, but it becomes difficult to adapt abrasive pads to various driver plates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of abrasive pads to different driver platesVSAvoidcomplexity of attachment system

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter clip serves as an intermediary component between the abrasive pad attachment plate and the driver plate. The adapter clip has a first configuration that interfaces with the attachment plate's protrusion and a second configuration that interfaces with the driver plate's recess, thereby enabling compatibility between different attachment systems without requiring redesign of the abrasive pads themselves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter clip is designed to provide universal compatibility across multiple driver plate configurations. By having a standardized interface on one side and multiple possible interfaces on the other side, a single adapter clip design can work with various manufacturer-specific driver plates, making the abrasive pad system universally adaptable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a standardized attachment method is implemented across all machines, then adaptability improves, but manufacturers lose design flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandardization of attachment methodVSAvoidmanufacturing flexibility for different machine designs

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into three independent components: the abrasive pad, the attachment plate with protrusion, and the adapter clip. This segmentation allows the abrasive pad manufacturer to produce standardized pads while machine manufacturers can choose different driver plate designs, with the adapter clip bridging the interface between these segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If resilient materials are used for the adapter clip to withstand heat and friction, then durability improves, but material selection becomes more constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedurability under heat and frictionVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter clip is made from resilient materials that can withstand the thermal and mechanical stresses of floor finishing operations. The use of resilient materials like metal or high-temperature plastics provides the necessary durability while maintaining the ability to deform slightly during attachment and detachment, ensuring reliable operation under high-temperature conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS11396085B2Adapter for coupling abrasive elements to a floor finishing machine

Publication Date: 2022.07.26 DIAMOND PRODUCTS LIMITED

AI summary

An adapter clip to be used to mate an abrasive support plate to the drive plate of a floor finishing machine used to grind and/or polish concrete and stone flooring is designed with an internal aperture shaped to conform to and clip onto a protuberance on an upper surface of an abrasive support plate and an external shape to mate with a mounting recess formed on the machine's drive plate.