Battery-Powered Roll Groover With Automated Groove Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current roll groovers require skilled users and take a significant amount of time to operate, necessitating the development of automated systems that are simpler and more efficient.
Innovation Solution
A roll groover equipped with motors controlled by an electronic processor to automate the groove formation process, featuring a housing with an inner roller and groove roll, and sensors for precise operation, including LiDAR for obstacle detection and inertial measurement for positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual crank mechanism is used to operate roll groover, then device complexity is reduced, but operation time increases and requires skilled users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual crank mechanism with an automated motor-driven system. Motors are coupled to the groove roll and inner roller through gear mechanisms, eliminating the need for manual cranking. This substitution reduces operation time while the overall system complexity increases due to the addition of motors and control systems.
2Loss of time
If automated motor-driven system is implemented, then operation time is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple functions into a single automated platform. The motor-driven mechanism performs both rotation of the groove roll and advancement of the inner roller, while the control system manages positioning, groove depth control, and operation sequencing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate manual operations despite increasing device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If skilled users operate manual roll groover, then operation precision is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The automated system performs self-positioning and self-control functions. Sensors detect the positioning of the groove roll relative to the pipe, and the control system automatically adjusts motor speeds and positions to achieve precise groove formation. This eliminates the need for skilled manual operation while maintaining precision through automated feedback control.
Data Source
AI summary
Battery pack powered roll groover described herein includes a housing, an inner roller provided on the housing and configured to be received in an inner circumference of a workpiece, a groove roll provided on the housing and configured to produce a groove on the workpiece, one or more motors provided within the housing and configured to drive the groove roll, and an electronic processor electrically connected to the one or more motors. The electronic processor is configured to operate the one or more motors to perform a first operation of moving the groove roll in a radial direction, and operate the one or more motors to perform a second operation of moving the groove roll around a track in a circumferential direction. The first operation is performed to adjust a groove depth on the workpiece. The second operation is performed to produce the groove on the workpiece.