Conical Dust Separator Ribs Centrifugal Deflection Power Tools

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for removing dust from cooling air in electric hand-held power tools are complex, bulky, power-intensive, and inefficient, leading to damage of motor components due to dust particles, which reduces tool lifespan and performance.

Innovation Solution

A dust separator designed as a truncated hollow cone with ribs on its surface, mounted on the motor shaft, uses the motor's rotation to deflect larger dust particles away from entering the tool, allowing only smaller particles to reach the motor, thus protecting internal components while being simple to manufacture and power-efficient.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex passive fan assembly with mechanical barriers is used to remove dust, then dust particles are effectively eliminated from cooling air, but the device becomes bulky, difficult to manufacture, and consumes excessive power

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential function of dust removal from the complex passive fan assembly. By using a simple conical separator with ribs that deflects dust particles through centrifugal force, it eliminates the need for mechanical barriers and complex structures while maintaining effective dust elimination from cooling air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using mechanical barriers to block dust particles as in conventional solutions, the invention inverts the approach by using a smooth conical surface that leverages centrifugal force to naturally deflect dust particles outward. This inversion simplifies the structure while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a complex passive fan assembly with mechanical barriers is used to remove dust, then dust particles are effectively eliminated from cooling air, but manufacturing becomes difficult and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential function of dust removal from the complex passive fan assembly. By using a simple conical separator with ribs that deflects dust particles through centrifugal force, it eliminates the need for mechanical barriers and complex structures while maintaining effective dust elimination from cooling air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the separator to a simple conical shape with specific rib configurations. This allows the component to be manufactured as a single piece using standard machining or molding processes, dramatically improving ease of manufacture compared to complex assemblies with multiple mechanical barriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a complex passive fan assembly with mechanical barriers is used to remove dust, then dust particles are effectively eliminated from cooling air, but the tool dimensions and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidtool weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential function of dust removal from the complex passive fan assembly. By using a simple conical separator with ribs that deflects dust particles through centrifugal force, it eliminates the need for mechanical barriers and complex structures while maintaining effective dust elimination from cooling air.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a conical (curved) separator shape that is more compact than straight mechanical barriers. The curved surface allows dust particles to be deflected along a compact spiral path, reducing the overall space required and consequently decreasing tool dimensions and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Reliability

If a complex passive fan assembly with mechanical barriers is used to remove dust, then dust particles are effectively eliminated from cooling air, but power consumption increases reducing available power for tool operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removal efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The conical separator with ribs is driven directly by the motor shaft and uses the motor's own rotational energy to deflect dust particles through centrifugal force. This self-service mechanism requires no additional power input beyond what the motor already produces, maintaining dust removal efficiency without increasing overall power consumption.

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

Effectively filters out larger dust particles, reducing wear on motor components, minimizing tool weight and power consumption, and preventing deep dust penetration into the tool, thereby extending tool life and maintaining performance.

Implementation Method 1

uses the motor's rotation to deflect larger dust particles away from entering the tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP3638456B1Dust cleaning device for power tools cooling air cleaning
Publication Date: 2021.03.31 PETROVIC JANEZ
  • EP3638456B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3638456B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the field of working processes and transport, more precisely to the field of devices for cooling the drive motor of electric hand-held power tools. A separator (1) of the device for removing dust particles from the cooling air for electric hand-held power tools according to the invention is designed in the shape of a cylinder or preferably as a truncated hollow cone with a bottom ring (11) and an upper ring (12) with a circular surface (121) with a hub (122). The separator has on the circumference in of the cone one or more, preferably nine uniformly distributed ribs (13) rotated for an angle a with regards to the transverse axis of the cone. Each rib (13) has a surface (131), which due to its position enables bouncing off larger dust particles, when a working drive motor (2) spins a fan (3) for cooling the motor (2) and creates suction of outer air through the separator (1) in a handle (42). The cooling air enters the housing (4) through entry slots (421) of the handle (42) and openings (14) of the separator (1), while it leaves through outlet openings (431) of a reducer part (43), which closes the housing (4). Because the larger dust particles are removed before entering the tool, only cooling air with smaller dust particles enters the interior of the electric tool.