Angle Grinder Guard Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held angle grinders face challenges in securely retaining the guard surrounding the abrasive disc, as it is often removable, potentially exposing users to debris during operation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flange with radially outward-extending slots and a keyway, along with a guard featuring radially inward-extending projections, which align and lock into the slots to prevent removal of the guard from the housing, ensuring it remains securely in place while allowing rotational adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the guard is made removable to allow unshrouding of the abrasive disc, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to potential removal and exposure to debris
Solution Approach 1:
The guard retention mechanism is segmented into multiple independent features: a keyway in the housing, radially outward-extending slots in the flange, and radially inward-extending projections on the guard. These segmented elements work together to provide controlled retention while maintaining operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially inward-extending projections on the guard serve as intermediaries that engage with the radially outward-extending slots in the flange. This intermediary engagement mechanism provides reliable retention without requiring permanent attachment, allowing the guard to be securely held while still enabling intentional removal when needed.
2Reliability
If the guard is made non-removable to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to inability to unshroud the abrasive disc
Solution Approach 1:
The guard retention system transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable attachment. The keyway and slot-projection mechanism allows the guard to be securely retained during operation but can be intentionally removed when unshrouding is required, providing dynamic adaptability to different operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism changes the parameter of attachment strength from permanent to controlled. The keyway配合with radially outward-extending slots and radially inward-extending projections creates a connection that is strong enough for safe operation but can be deliberately changed to allow removal when needed, adjusting the retention parameter based on operational requirements.
3Reliability
If a keyway and slots mechanism is used to secure the guard, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention features are merged into an integrated system: the keyway in the housing, the radially outward-extending slots in the flange, and the radially inward-extending projections on the guard work together as a unified mechanism. This merging of features provides reliable retention while minimizing the number of separate components needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The radially outward-extending slots and radially inward-extending projections serve multiple functions: they provide the primary retention mechanism, guide the guard into proper alignment, and distribute the retention force around the circumference of the guard. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate retention components.
Data Source
AI summary
An angle grinder includes an output shaft defining a rotational axis, a housing from which the output shaft extends, and a flange coupled to the housing and surrounding the output shaft. The angle grinder further includes a first circumferential groove defined between the flange and the housing, a first array of radially outward-extending slots in the flange and in communication with the first circumferential groove, and a keyway defined in the housing. The keyway is positioned inline with a first of the radially outward-extending slots in the first array. The angle grinder further includes a guard with a second array of radially inward-extending projections and a key positionable within the keyway. The radially inward-extending projections are received in the radially outward-extending slots. The key is able to close the first radially outward-extending slot in the first array to prevent removal of the guard from the housing.