Protective Garment With Cut-Sensing Fibers for Chainsaw Shutdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Protective garments for electric power tools, such as chainsaws, fail to prevent the moving chain from cutting through all layers, increasing the risk of harm to the operator when the tool slows down and increases torque.
Innovation Solution
A protective garment with multiple layers, including metal fibers, equipped with a garment sensing device that detects when metal fibers are cut, sending a signal to disable the tool's blade movement via wireless or wired communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple layers of protective fabric are used to stop the chain, then protection is provided for gas chainsaws, but the fabric layers can be cut through by electric chainsaws which increase torque when slowing down
Solution Approach 1:
The protective garment incorporates metal fibers woven into the fabric layers to create a composite material that combines the entanglement properties of organic fibers with the cut-detection capabilities of metal conductors. This composite structure maintains protection against gas chainsaws while enabling detection and response to electric chainsaw contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by using sensors to detect when metal fibers are cut, generating a signal that is transmitted to the chainsaw controller to automatically shut off power to the motor. This closed-loop feedback mechanism responds to the harmful condition (fiber cutting) by eliminating the cause (motor power).
2Power
If the chainsaw slows down due to clogged chain, then gas chainsaws lose torque and stall protecting the operator, but electric chainsaws increase torque and may cut through all protective layers
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting the cutting event through metal fiber disruption and sending a shutdown signal before the electric chainsaw can accumulate enough torque to penetrate through all protective layers. This preemptive shutdown prevents the harmful condition from developing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical protection mechanism (relying on fabric entanglement to stall the chain) with an electrical detection and control system. Metal fibers serve as both structural components and sensors, substituting the purely mechanical gas chainsaw stall mechanism with an electronically controlled shutdown system.
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
Prevents further cutting by the tool's blade by automatically shutting it off, enhancing safety for the operator by preventing the chain from continuing to cut through the garment layers.
Implementation Method 1
At least one layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a plurality of fibers adapted to entangle with the moving blade upon contact between the moving blade and the fabric
Implementation Method 2
The garment includes a garment sensing device having a sensor configured to detect when one or more metal fibers are cut
Data Source
AI summary
Protective garments are provided. A protective garment includes a protective garment fabric. The fabric is formed from a plurality of layers. At least one layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a plurality of fibers adapted to entangle with a moving blade of a tool upon contact between the moving blade and the fabric. At least one layer of the fabric includes metal fibers. The garment includes a garment sensing device including a sensor configured to detect when one or more metal fibers are cut, and a signal generator configured to send a signal to the tool to disable movement of the moving blade.