Adjustable Pliers Profiled Pivot Curvature Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable pliers designs suffer from trial-and-error adjustment processes, leading to premature wear due to collisions between the pivot member and notch teeth, especially when the jaws are not in the maximum open position.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable pliers feature a profiled section with convex curved locking faces and inset convex curved free faces, providing tactile feedback and smooth rotation, which reduces collisions and guides the pivot member along the slot, minimizing wear and facilitating easier adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pivot member has corners in its cross-section, then it can engage with the notches, but collisions occur between the corners and notch teeth during adjustment, causing premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies curvature by replacing the corners of the pivot member with convex curved surfaces. This allows the pivot member to smoothly engage with and disengage from the notches without sharp corners causing collisions. The curved surfaces guide the pivot member along the slot and into the notches, eliminating the harmful impact that caused premature wear while maintaining reliable engagement.
2Device complexity
If the pivot member is obscured by the pliers' arms, then the structure is compact, but the operator cannot easily see or access the pivot member for adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pivot member from the obscured position within the arms and relocates it to extend beyond the arms. This allows the operator to easily access and adjust the pivot member by sliding it along the exposed slot, while the slot remains integrated within the arm structure, maintaining structural compactness.
3Measurement precision
If multiple attempts are required to correctly locate the pivot member in a notch, then the adjustment process becomes trial and error, but correct location is eventually achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides tactile feedback through the convex curved surfaces of the pivot member engaging with the notches. As the operator slides the pivot member along the slot, the curved surfaces naturally guide it into the correct notch position through tactile sensation, eliminating the need for multiple trial-and-error attempts. This feedback mechanism ensures precise jaw opening adjustment while minimizing adjustment time.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
Adjustable pliers (2) comprising two arms (4,6) each with jaws (8,10) and handles (12, 14). One arm (4) has an elongate slot (20) with a plurality of spaced apart apertures (26a-26h, 32a-32h). The other arm (6) has a pivot member (50) with a profiled section (56) through the slot (20) to connect the arms (4,6). The profiled section (56) has a convex curved shape in cross-section having opposing convex curved locking faces (56a, 56f) and convex curved free faces (56b-56e, 56g-56j) separating the locking faces and recessed within the notional outer perimeter (56k) of the profiled section. The arms are pivotable to cause either engagement of the locking faces with one of the apertures to determine the opening of the jaws or disengagement of the locking faces to allow movement of the pivot member along the slot to vary the opening of the jaws (8,10). The profiled section (56) has a generally curved trapezoidal shape in cross-section tapering towards the locking face (56f).