Hand Blender Shank Coupling with Ball Lock Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coupling mechanisms between tool shanks and motor assemblies in hand-held blenders are either prone to accidental disengagement during use, posing safety hazards, or require excessive force for separation, making maintenance and hygiene challenging.
Innovation Solution
A releasable coupling device featuring a quick coupling mechanism with a retaining ball and spring system that provides a secure connection with an audible warning, allowing easy and certain engagement and safe disengagement without accidental separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a screw or bayonet connection is designed to be easy to engage/disengage, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental disengagement during use
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions through threaded engagement before the final locking action occurs. The retaining ball is pre-positioned in the motor assembly, and the bell's internal geometry is designed to guide the ball into the semispherical housing as the threading progresses, ensuring proper alignment before locking engages.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining ball acts as an intermediary element between the motor assembly and tool shank. It mediates the connection by transitioning from a projecting state (during engagement) to a recessed locked state (during operation), providing a mechanical intermediary that ensures stable coupling while allowing controlled disengagement.
2Reliability
If a screw or bayonet connection is designed to be difficult to disengage, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates requiring excessive force for separation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static difficult-to-disengage connection to a dynamic system where the retaining ball can move between projected and recessed positions. The spring provides dynamic force to maintain the ball in the locked position during operation, while allowing controlled movement during intentional disengagement when reverse torque is applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical state of the retaining ball changes between two distinct parameters: projected (during engagement) and recessed (during locked operation). The spring force parameter dynamically adjusts to maintain reliable connection during operation while permitting easy disengagement when the user applies reverse rotational force.
3Productivity
If a quick coupling mechanism is used, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to possibility of accidental separation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism incorporates audible feedback through the engagement of the retaining ball with the semispherical housing in the bell. This acoustic signal provides immediate feedback to the user that proper coupling has occurred, confirming that the quick coupling action has achieved the intended locked state and will not accidentally disengage.
4Reliability
If a secure connection is established, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates making maintenance and hygiene operations difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the threaded connection for alignment and initial engagement, the retaining ball for secure locking, the spring for maintaining locking force, and the semispherical housing for final positioning. This segmentation allows the connection to be securely established during operation while enabling easy disassembly by simply reversing the engagement sequence for maintenance and hygiene operations.
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
Ensures a stable and secure connection during use while allowing easy release without excessive force, enhancing user safety and facilitating maintenance and hygiene operations.
Implementation Method 1
a retaining ball that projects through the mouth of said formation, said ball being pushed outwards by a spring housed inside the same formation
Implementation Method 2
after giving elastically against the action of the spring, thanks to the recovery of the spring the ball is finally housed inside the housing
Implementation Method 3
the action of which makes a sound indicating to the user that the effective coupling of the two components has occurred
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a fast and reliable coupling device between a tool shank and a motor assembly of a hand-held blender, which can be released by the user. The motor assembly is of the type that has a cylindrical nozzle centrally positioned on the base by which it couples to the tool shank, the outer side of which has a threaded portion, whilst the tool shank has an internally threaded nut that is complementary to the nozzle, the base of the motor assembly also including a formation that projects outwards, with a hole through which a retaining ball projects, pushed by a spring, whilst radial partitions project from the outer wall of the coupling nut of the tool shank towards the inner face of the coupling bell, one of these partitions having on its upper edge a cup-shaped formation that is of suitable dimensions to admit and house said ball when aligned with it during the coupling operation between said tool shank and motor assembly.