Angled Battery Receptacle for Orbital Sander Balance and Dust Clearance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery-powered random orbit sanders lack ergonomic design and efficient battery placement, leading to imbalance and reduced clearance for dust collection systems.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a battery receptacle with a battery axis forming an acute angle relative to the work plane, allowing for tilted battery placement that enhances ergonomics, balance, and dust collection clearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the battery is placed in a conventional horizontal position, then the structure is simple, but the tool becomes unbalanced and dust collection clearance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool balanceVSAvoidbattery receptacle configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery receptacle is configured with an asymmetric angled orientation (e.g., 45 degrees) relative to the tool housing, deviating from conventional horizontal placement. This asymmetric positioning shifts the center of gravity to achieve better balance while providing improved clearance for dust collection components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of operation

If the battery receptacle is angled, then dust collection clearance is improved, but the battery installation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedust collection clearanceVSAvoidbattery receptacle structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The battery receptacle extends in an angled dimension rather than purely horizontally or vertically. This multi-dimensional configuration optimizes the spatial arrangement to provide adequate clearance for dust collection ports and channels while maintaining a compact overall tool structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This configuration improves the tool's balance and provides additional clearance for dust collection, resulting in enhanced user experience and performance.

Implementation Method 1

an eccentric drive unit coupled to the drive shaft and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft to an orbit motion around the motor axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEccentric motion conversion: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentUS20250041984A1Random orbit sander with angled battery orientation

Publication Date: 2025.02.06 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP

AI summary

An orbital sander includes a housing, a motor within the housing and having a drive shaft defining a motor axis, an eccentric drive unit coupled to the drive shaft and configured to convert rotation of the drive shaft to an orbit motion around the motor axis, a sanding pad defining a horizontal work plane and coupled to the eccentric drive unit for orbital motion about the motor axis, and a battery receptacle extending along the housing. The battery receptacle is operable to receive a removable battery pack for providing electrical current to the motor. The battery receptacle defines a battery axis along which the battery pack is installed and the battery axis forms an acute battery angle relative to the work plane.