Balanced Suspension Tool Head for Curved Surface Grinding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment tools for workpieces, particularly those with curved surfaces, suffer from weight imbalance leading to variable pressure and lack of self-regulation, resulting in inconsistent grinding effects.
Innovation Solution
A surface treatment tool with a rotating tool head and radially mounted cylindrical rollers, featuring a balanced suspension system with a gimbal effect, where the tool head's axis of rotation is positioned below the suspension's axis, allowing it to automatically adjust to the workpiece's shape and maintain constant pressure through a weight compensator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional suspension system is used for the tool head, then the tool can be mounted on curved surfaces, but the tool experiences weight imbalance causing variable pressure and inconsistent grinding effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies counterweight principles by positioning the tool head's axis of rotation below the suspension's axis of rotation, creating a balanced suspension system where the tool head's weight is compensated. This balancing arrangement ensures constant pressure during rotation, eliminating the variable pressure caused by weight imbalance in conventional systems while maintaining the ability to treat curved surfaces
2Device complexity
If the tool head axis is positioned at the same level as the suspension axis, then the structure is simplified, but the tool cannot maintain constant pressure against the workpiece surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric positioning of the tool head axis relative to the suspension axis. Specifically, the tool head axis is positioned below the suspension axis, creating an asymmetric configuration that generates a balancing moment during rotation. This asymmetric arrangement is essential for maintaining constant pressure against the workpiece surface, as it creates a self-regulating mechanism where the tool head naturally seeks to maintain contact pressure throughout the rotation cycle
3Stress or pressure
If additional actuators are added to control tool pressure, then pressure control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the balanced suspension system automatically maintains constant pressure through its own rotational dynamics. The asymmetric positioning of the tool head axis below the suspension axis creates a self-regulating system that naturally compensates for pressure variations during rotation, eliminating the need for external actuators or complex control systems to maintain pressure consistency
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
The tool achieves consistent and uniform surface treatment across flat and curved surfaces, with adjustable treatment pressure and radius, enabling efficient handling of substantial level differences and complex surface contours without additional adjustments, ensuring high reliability and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the tool head is fitted with opposite bearings being rotatably mounted to ends of a suspension thereby providing said tool head with an axis of rotation; wherein the suspension is rotatably mounted to a fitting bearing thereby providing the suspension with an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the tool head
Implementation Method 2
The effect is similar to gyro-devices where a flywheel, tool head, with a stable rotational movement on a perpendicular level combined with a rotation of the flywheel, the tool head around the axis. This non-intuitive movement of the axis is called precession.
Implementation Method 3
the centre of gravity is close to the tool's central point of treatment. This contributes to achieving the balanced tool which easily and effortlessly can follow the surface of the workpiece
Data Source
AI summary
By, according to the invention, designing a surface treatment tool with a grinding head (16, 17) with cylindrical rollers (18), so that the tool (16, 17, 18) is balanced by weight because the tool's centre of gravity is close to the tool's surface treatment area, the tool (18) will automatically adjust according to the surface (25) of the treated workpiece, regardless of the level of the surface. Hereby is achieved a previously unknown simple way to surface treat, be it flat and curved workpiece surfaces alike. Furthermore, the tool (16,17,18) is balanced by weight so that treatment pressure can be adjusted according to need.