Backing Pad Reinforcement Ribs for Warping Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional backing pads for hand-guided polishing or sanding power tools tend to warp during use due to high rotational speeds and eccentric movements, leading to uneven contact with the work surface and reduced efficiency and quality of the polishing or sanding process.

Innovation Solution

The backing pad features a support layer with reinforcement elements in the form of radial reinforcement ribs and recesses, where the damping layer material fills these recesses, enhancing the stiffness and flexural rigidity of the backing pad and ensuring a secure attachment of the damping layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the support layer is made of glass fibre reinforced plastic material to reduce warping, then the stiffness and flexural rigidity are improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestiffness and flexural rigidityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The support layer combines a plastic material base with integrated reinforcement elements (radial ribs and circumferential rings) to create a composite structure. This provides the necessary stiffness and flexural rigidity while using less expensive plastic material instead of expensive glass fibre reinforced plastic, resolving the contradiction between strength and manufacturing cost

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The support layer is segmented into functional regions through reinforcement elements: radial ribs extending from the center provide localized stiffening, while circumferential rings provide overall structural support. This segmentation allows the plastic material to achieve required mechanical properties without expensive additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Weight of moving object

If the support layer is made thinner to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the stiffness and flexural rigidity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of backing padVSAvoidstiffness and flexural rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement elements add vertical dimensionality to the support layer structure. Radial ribs and circumferential rings create a three-dimensional reinforcement pattern within the thin support layer, providing enhanced stiffness and flexural rigidity without increasing the overall thickness or weight of the backing pad

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The combination of thin plastic material with integrated reinforcement elements creates a lightweight composite structure that maintains high stiffness and flexural rigidity despite reduced thickness, resolving the contradiction between weight reduction and strength maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If the damping layer is loosely attached to the support layer to ease manufacture, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability of attachment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidattachment security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Attachment features (protrusions and recesses) are pre-formed during support layer manufacturing. The damping layer is then attached to these pre-formed features, ensuring secure attachment while simplifying the manufacturing process. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and attachment reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 design significantly reduces the warp effect, maintains even contact with the work surface, and enhances the efficiency and quality of the polishing or sanding process, while also allowing for the use of less expensive materials for the support layer without compromising stiffness and flexural rigidity.

Implementation Method 1

the bottom surface of the support layer is provided with reinforcement elements for enhancing flexural rigidity of the support layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStructural reinforcement:

Implementation Method 2

a damping layer made of a resilient material, the damping layer being fixedly attached to a bottom surface of the support layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4056316B1Backing pad for a hand-guided polishing or sanding power tool
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 VALENTINI ANDREA
  • EP4056316B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4056316B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4056316B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention refers to a backing pad (2) for a hand-guided polishing or sanding power tool, comprising - a support layer (4) made of a rigid material, the support layer (4) comprising a connection element (6) on its top surface (8) for connection of the backing pad (2) to a driving shaft (18) or an eccentric element of the polishing or sanding power tool, - a damping layer (10) made of a resilient material, the damping layer (10) being fixedly attached to a bottom surface (12) of the support layer (4), and - an adhesive layer (14) for releasable attachment of a polishing or sanding member to the backing pad (2), the adhesive layer (14) being fixedly attached to a bottom surface (16) of the damping layer (10) It is suggested that the bottom surface (12) of the support layer (4) is provided with reinforcement elements (24, 26, 28; 46; 50, 52) for enhancing flexural rigidity of the support layer (4), and the bottom surface (12) of the support layer (4) is further provided with recesses (30) formed between and at least partially limited by the reinforcement elements (24, 26, 28; 46; 50, 52), wherein during manufacture of the backing pad (2) the resilient material of the damping layer (10) enters into the recesses (30) and after curing of the resilient material entirely fills the recesses (30).