Brake Assembly for Hand-Held Cutting Device Kickback Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional brake assemblies for power-driven hand-held cutting devices, such as chainsaws, often experience unintended deactivation of the brake after activation, compromising user safety due to design flaws in the kickback safety mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A brake assembly with a biased brake member and a cam-based holding mechanism that ensures quick and reliable activation of the brake, utilizing a resilient element to maintain the brake in the activated position and a switch to shut off the motor, allowing intentional deactivation only when the lever is moved to the first position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional brake band and brake drum mechanism is used, then the brake can be activated to stop the chain, but the brake may unintentionally be inactivated after activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake activation reliabilityVSAvoidbrake assembly structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the brake member from the conventional brake band-drum mechanism and creates a separate, independent brake member that can be directly actuated by the hand guard. This brake member is biased towards the activated position and can be held in either activated or deactivated position, eliminating the unintended inactivation issue while simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The brake member is designed with a bias towards the activated position, meaning it automatically maintains itself in the safe activated state without requiring additional holding mechanisms. The system serves itself by using the inherent bias to ensure reliable brake activation and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If the brake is designed to activate quickly to stop the chain, then user safety is improved, but the brake may unintentionally deactivate compromising safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrake activation speedVSAvoidbrake maintenance in activated position
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The brake member is biased towards the activated position, automatically maintaining itself in the safe activated state without requiring additional holding mechanisms. This self-servicing design ensures the brake stays activated reliably while activating quickly when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of brake member positioning by introducing a bias towards the activated position. This parameter change ensures the brake member naturally settles and remains in the activated position, providing both quick activation and reliable maintenance of the activated state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the brake assembly uses a hand guard to activate the brake during kickback, then safety protection is provided, but the brake may be unintentionally inactivated after activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvekickback protectionVSAvoidbrake activation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the brake function from the conventional brake band-drum mechanism and creates a separate brake member that is directly actuated by the hand guard. This extracted brake member with bias towards activated position ensures stable brake activation during kickback protection without unintended inactivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The brake member's inherent bias towards the activated position creates a self-servicing mechanism that automatically maintains brake engagement during kickback events, ensuring the brake stays activated reliably without requiring additional holding structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 brake assembly provides enhanced reliability and rapid stopping capabilities, ensuring user safety by maintaining the brake engaged until intentional deactivation, while also protecting the motor from overheating.

Implementation Method 1

a first resilient element arranged to bias the brake member in a direction towards the activated position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResilient element biasing: Spring

Implementation Method 2

the brake member arranged to engage with the brake element in the activated position to hinder rotation of the rotatable part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction braking: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2707183B1Brake assembly for power-driven hand-held cutting device
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 HUSQVARNA AB
  • EP2707183B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2707183B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2707183B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A brake assembly (1) for a hand-held power-driven cutting device (2) is provided comprising a movably arranged lever (14), at least being movable between a first- and a second position, a brake member (16), and a brake element (20) connected to or forming one unit with a rotatable part (22) of a transmission of the cutting device (2), wherein the brake member (16) is movable between a non-activated position and an activated position, and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to engage with the brake element (20) in the activated position to prevent rotation of the rotatable part (22). The brake assembly (1) further comprising a holding mechanism (23) arranged to hold the brake member (16) in the non-activated position when the lever (14) is in the first position, and a first resilient element (18) arranged to bias the brake member (16) towards the activated position, and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to be released from the holding mechanism (23) as a response to the lever (14) coming into the second position, and wherein when released the brake member (16) is adapted to be forced towards the activated position by means of the first resilient element (18), and wherein the brake member (16) is arranged to engage with a structure (34) of the brake element (20) in said activated position so as to prevent rotation of the brake element (20).