Hand-Held Tool Cooling Grille Force Transfer Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hand-held work tools with cooling air grilles have a low load-bearing capacity, making them susceptible to damage from external forces, which can lead to deformation or fracture during use on uneven surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held working device with a support structure that transfers forces from the cooling air grille to the housing, allowing for elastic deformation of the grille before it contacts the support structure, thereby distributing energy and reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cooling air grille is made part of the housing structure, then it provides structural integration and cooling functionality, but it has low load-bearing capacity and is susceptible to damage from external forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage resistance of cooling air grilleVSAvoidload-bearing capacity of cooling air grille
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two functional parts: the cooling air grille (formed separately with cooling openings) and the support structure (formed separately with support surfaces). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the grille for cooling efficiency and the support structure for mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between integration and load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A support device acts as an intermediary element between the cooling air grille and the support structure. This mediator transfers forces from the grille to the support structure, protecting the grille from excessive deformation while maintaining the functional integration of the system. The support device resolves the contradiction by providing mechanical coupling without direct structural integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the cooling air grille is made resilient for flexibility, then it adapts to mounting variations, but it becomes more susceptible to deformation and damage from external forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflexibility of cooling air grilleVSAvoiddamage resistance of cooling air grille
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure provides beforehand cushioning by being positioned to receive and distribute forces before they can cause damage to the cooling air grille. This preventive measure allows the grille to be resilient and adaptable while protected from excessive deformation, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the housing have different mechanical properties: the cooling air grille is made resilient for adaptability, while the support structure is made rigid for strength. This local differentiation of material properties allows each component to fulfill its specific function optimally, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and damage resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If external forces act on the cooling air grille during use, then the grille may deform or fracture, but providing additional support structures increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of cooling air grilleVSAvoidstructural complexity of housing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support function is merged with the existing housing structure by forming the support structure as an integral part of the housing. This integration provides protection for the cooling air grille without adding separate, complex support components, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical strength to protect the cooling air grille, maintains the structural integrity of the housing, and facilitates force distribution. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, resolving the contradiction between protection and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enhances the resilience of the cooling air grille by allowing it to deform elastically and absorb energy, preventing plastic deformation and ensuring a gradual energy distribution into the housing, thus protecting the grille and maintaining airflow functionality.

Implementation Method 1

the cooling air grille and the support device are designed and arranged relative to one another in such a way that, upon transmission of the force that causes deformation of the cooling air grille until the cooling air grille rests against the support device, the cooling air grille is only elastically deformed

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4450230A1Hand-held work device
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG
  • EP4450230A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4450230A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4450230A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held tool comprising a cooling air duct (10) formed in the housing (2) for guiding a cooling air flow (11), at least one cooling air grille (30), wherein the at least one cooling air grille (30) is arranged at the duct inlet (26) and/or the duct outlet (27), wherein the housing (2) comprises a support structure (15), wherein the support structure (15) is designed as a separate component from the at least one cooling air grille (28, 30), and wherein a support device (16) is provided in the cooling air duct (10) between the cooling air grille (28, 30) and the support structure (15), wherein the cooling air grille (28, 30) and the support device (16) are designed and arranged relative to each other such that a force (F) acting on the cooling air grille (28, 30) is transmitted from the cooling air grille (28, 30) via the support device (16) to the The supporting structure (15) is transferable.