Electric Cutting Tool Stroboscopic Blade Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric cutting tools face difficulties in aligning and determining the position of the saw blade due to high-speed repetitive movements, which complicates user alignment and reduces operational efficiency, as existing solutions require additional components and suspension of tool operation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a stroboscopic effect using a Hall sensor to control an LED illuminating device, varying its frequency based on the motor's rotational speed, creating a visually stationary or moving illusion of the saw blade without modifying the mechanical transmission or motor control, allowing continuous operation and alignment without speed reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the saw blade moves at high speed during operation, then cutting efficiency is improved, but it becomes difficult to align the saw blade with the workpiece and determine its position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting efficiencyVSAvoidalignment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies periodic action by using a stroboscopic light that flashes at specific intervals synchronized with the saw blade's movement cycle. This periodic illumination creates the visual effect of the moving saw blade appearing stationary, allowing users to align and position the blade accurately while maintaining high cutting speeds without requiring speed reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If the electric cutting tool suspends movement to allow alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but operational efficiency is seriously impacted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidoperational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary element - the stroboscopic light - that mediates between the moving saw blade and the user's visual perception. This light creates an optical illusion that allows simultaneous achievement of alignment precision and continuous operation, eliminating the need to suspend tool movement for alignment purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If additional components are added to make the tool memorize and suspend the saw blade position, then alignment capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment capabilityVSAvoidcomponent quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex mechanical systems (memory devices, suspension mechanisms, additional sensors) with a simple optical solution - a stroboscopic light. This substitution dramatically reduces device complexity while maintaining or improving alignment capability, as the optical effect naturally creates the desired visual stationary effect without requiring mechanical intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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

This approach enhances alignment precision and operational efficiency by providing a clear visual of the saw blade's position without additional sensors or mechanical changes, maintaining high-speed operation and adaptability across various speed ranges, including off-load conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The sensor is a Hall sensor fixed to the motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Implementation Method 2

The implementation of a stroboscopic effect using a Hall sensor to control an LED illuminating device, varying its frequency based on the motor's rotational speed, creating a visually stationary or moving illusion of the saw blade

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStroboscopic effect: Stroboscopic Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3348341B1Electric cutting tools
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 TTI MACAO COMML OFFSHORE LTD
  • EP3348341B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3348341B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3348341B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric cutting tool is provided which includes a motor, a cutting member driven by the motor, an illuminating device, and a controller for controlling the illuminating device. The cutting member is adapted to move in a repetitive way during operation. The controller is adapted to control the illuminating device according to a rate of a movement of the cutting member to generate an illumination varied in a particular frequency, the particular frequency making the cutting member representing a still visual effect when the cutting member is moving at the rate. As the invention using a stroboscopic effect, the electric cutting tool does not need to stop the motor or reduce the speed of the cutting to carry out the alignment, so that a high working efficiency is ensured.