Section Bar Cutting Blade Retraction During Power Failure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting-off machines for section bars pose a risk to personnel due to the cutting blade protruding above the horizontal resting surface during power supply failures, as they lack a mechanism to safely retract the blade in such situations.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of a pneumatic actuating cylinder that moves the cutting blade from its working position to a rest position in case of an electric motor power failure, ensuring safety by disengaging the blade from the cutting surface, with alternative variants using hydraulic actuating cylinders or mechanical springs for different configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the cutting blade is positioned to protrude above the horizontal resting surface during cutting operations, then cutting effectiveness is improved, but safety risk increases in case of power failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting effectivenessVSAvoidsafety in case of power failure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is pre-loaded to store potential energy before operation. In the event of power failure, this pre-stored energy automatically activates the blade retraction mechanism without requiring additional power or control systems, thus resolving the safety concern while maintaining cutting effectiveness during normal operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded mechanism provides automatic blade retraction upon power failure without requiring external intervention, additional actuators, or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using the pre-loaded spring energy to return the blade to the retracted position, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining operational effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If a power failure occurs with the cutting blade in working position, then operational continuity is disrupted, but the protruding blade creates a hazardous situation for personnel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidhazard to personnel
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring element is pre-loaded to create a cushion of stored energy that is ready to activate immediately upon power failure. This beforehand preparation ensures that the blade automatically retracts to a safe position without exposing personnel to hazards, while minimizing disruption to operational continuity through automatic recovery

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

3Reliability

If the cutting blade is retracted to a safe position during power failure, then personnel safety is improved, but cutting operations are interrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonnel safetyVSAvoidcutting operation continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded retraction mechanism activates rapidly upon power failure, quickly returning the blade to the safe retracted position. This rapid action minimizes the interruption duration of cutting operations while ensuring personnel safety is immediately restored, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and operational continuity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

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 effectively addresses the risk of power failures by automatically retracting the cutting blade to a safe position, enhancing operational safety and maintaining simplicity and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

an operating device (25) comprising a pneumatic actuating cylinder (26), mounted parallel to the direction (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

an operating device (25) comprising a hydraulic actuating cylinder (26), mounted parallel to the direction (13)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

an operating device (25) comprising a mechanical spring (26), arranged in an active state between two extreme positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic potential energy: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP3479943B1Cutting-off machine to cut section bars, in particular made of aluminium, light alloys, PVC or the like
Publication Date: 2022.01.05 FOM INDUSTRIE SRL
  • EP3479943B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3479943B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3479943B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A cutting-off machine to cut section bars (2), in particular made of aluminium, light alloys, PVC or the like, is provided with a horizontal resting surface (P1) and with a vertical resting surface (P2) for at least one section bar (2), with a first operating device (12) to move a cutting blade (17) over the horizontal resting surface (P1), and with a second operating device (25) to move the cutting blade (17) outside the horizontal resting surface (P1) in the event of a power supply failure of the electric motor (22) of the first operating device (12).