Adjustable Handle Clamp Mechanism for Tool Versatility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing auxiliary handles for hand-held tools, such as hammer drills, have limited versatility and require cumbersome mounting and removal processes due to insufficient tolerance in the opening and closing movement of clamp halves, restricting the range of tool sizes that can be accommodated.
Innovation Solution
A handle design featuring a pair of clamp halves that can move independently of the support arms, enabled by an operation device with a threaded shank and actuation members, allowing for adjustable clamping and easy mounting/removal without flexing the support arms, thereby expanding the range of tool sizes that can be fitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp halves are made to open and close by flexing the support arms, then the structure remains simple, but the tolerance of opening and closing movement is insufficient and the range of tool sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is segmented into independent components: clamp halves that can open and close independently of the support arms, enabled by separate actuation members that move along the threaded shank. This segmentation allows the clamp halves to achieve sufficient opening tolerance without requiring support arm flexing, thereby expanding the range of accommodatable tool sizes while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The clamp halves are designed with dynamic movement capability along the axis of the threaded shank, allowing them to open and close through the operation of actuation members. This dynamic mechanism provides sufficient opening and closing tolerance without requiring the support arms to flex, thus improving adaptability to different tool sizes while keeping the overall structure simple
2Productivity
If the support arms are flexed to enable clamp halves to open and close, then mounting and removal can be achieved, but the process becomes troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp mechanism is divided into independent functional elements where clamp halves can be actuated separately from the support arms. The actuation members move along the threaded shank to open and close the clamp halves without requiring support arm flexing, enabling quick and easy mounting and removal operations that do not involve complex deformation of structural components
Solution Approach 2:
The threaded shank and actuation members serve as intermediary elements that transmit the operator's input force to the clamp halves. This intermediary mechanism allows the clamp halves to be opened and closed through simple rotational operation of the knob, eliminating the need to flex support arms and significantly improving the ease and speed of mounting and removal operations
3Adaptability or versatility
If the clamp halves have limited opening movement, then the structure remains compact, but the versatility across different tool sizes is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp halves are designed with dynamic actuation through the threaded shank mechanism, allowing them to achieve sufficient opening distance by moving along the axis of the shank. This dynamic movement capability enables the clamp halves to accommodate various tool sizes while maintaining a compact overall structure, as the opening movement is achieved through linear displacement rather than structural expansion
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 handle can be easily mounted and removed from hand-held tools without disassembly, accommodating a broader range of tool sizes and improving durability by preventing support arm flexing, thus enhancing versatility and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The operation device has a threaded shank and actuation members, allowing for adjustable clamping and easy mounting/removal
Data Source
AI summary
A handle for a tool includes a handle body, an operation device and a pair of clamp halves. The operation device has an operation member operable by an operator. At least one of the clamp halves can move relative to the handle body along an axis. As the operation member is operated, the one of the handle halves moves along the axis, so that the distance between the handle halves can be changed for clamping or releasing a portion of the tool.