Angle Grinder Drive Layout for Deeper Safe Cutting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held power tools, such as angle grinders, face challenges in achieving a balance between compact design, safety, and maximum cutting depth, with existing solutions often compromising on handling safety or cutting depth due to the arrangement of the drive unit and accessory device.
Innovation Solution
The hand-held power tool is designed with a unique configuration where the output shaft is arranged eccentrically, allowing for a larger cutting depth without compromising safety, by optimizing the ratio of the drive unit's diameter to the handle's diameter and incorporating a gear unit with a specific gear ratio, and a bearing housing that allows for a compact and robust construction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the drive unit diameter is increased to maximize cutting depth, then the cutting depth is improved, but the tool size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by arranging the output shaft eccentrically relative to the input shaft, creating an asymmetric drive unit configuration. This allows the cutting disk to extend further on one side (maximizing cutting depth) while maintaining a compact overall tool housing, resolving the contradiction between cutting depth and tool size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional transverse arrangement (input shaft perpendicular to output shaft) to a parallel arrangement where both shafts are aligned along the same axis. This dimensional change allows the cutting disk to project further axially while keeping the drive unit diameter compact, effectively increasing cutting depth without proportionally increasing tool volume.
2Length of moving object
If the accessory device projects further from the tool housing to increase cutting depth, then the cutting depth is improved, but the handling safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric positioning of the output shaft allows the cutting disk to project further on the working side while maintaining adequate clearance on the operator side. This asymmetric configuration maximizes cutting depth while preserving handling safety by preventing the cutting disk from contacting the operator's hand.
3Ease of operation
If the tool housing is made compact for better handling, then the ease of operation is improved, but the cutting depth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimensional arrangement from transverse (perpendicular shafts) to parallel (coaxial shafts), allowing the cutting disk to extend axially from a compact drive unit. This enables a compact tool housing that is easy to handle while achieving maximum cutting depth through axial projection rather than radial extension.
4Power
If the drive unit is designed for maximum power transmission, then the power is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the gear unit from the traditional transverse arrangement and repositions it within the parallel shaft configuration. This extraction and repositioning simplifies the overall drive unit structure by eliminating complex angle gear mechanisms while maintaining effective power transmission from the input shaft to the output shaft through a streamlined parallel gear arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held power tool, in particular an angle grinder, includes a tool housing that includes a handle casing for holding the power tool as well as a drive casing, in particular arranged on the handle casing, for accommodating a drive unit operable in particular by means of a rechargeable battery unit. The drive unit has an input shaft, which is in particular mounted to be rotatable about an input axis, and an output shaft, which is in particular mounted to be rotatable about an output axis.