Drum Tool Magazine Blocking Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held power tools with drum-like tool change magazines and slide-over elements suffer from reduced functionality and operational safety due to intermediate positions that hinder tool change and operation, limiting the tool's effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held power tool design featuring a drum-like tool change magazine with a slide-over element coupled to a manual switch containing a resilient blocking element, including a spring arm with a latch and guide curve, which automatically displaces to prevent undesired intermediate positions and ensure reliable tool change and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a slide-over element is provided for pushing a tool from a tool chamber into a tool holder, then tool changing capability is improved, but intermediate positions during sliding reduce operational safety and functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool changing capabilityVSAvoidoperational safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient blocking element is pre-positioned to automatically engage with the slide-over element at predetermined positions. As the slide-over element moves during tool changing, the blocking element proactively blocks intermediate positions before they can cause operational issues, ensuring only safe positions (tool chamber aligned or tool holder engaged) are accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient blocking element acts as an intermediary between the slide-over element and the tool changing mechanism. It mediates the sliding motion by selectively blocking certain positions, allowing the slide-over element to move freely only when safe, while preventing movement into hazardous intermediate positions without requiring complex control systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a resilient blocking element with spring arm and latch is added to prevent intermediate positions, then operational reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient blocking element is designed to be self-actuating through its spring arm and latch mechanism. As the slide-over element moves during tool changing, the blocking element automatically engages or disengages based on the position reached, without requiring external actuators, sensors, or control systems. The spring force provides the necessary blocking action inherently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The blocking element uses simple, inexpensive components such as a spring arm, latch, and guide curve instead of complex mechanical linkages or electronic control systems. These simple components are easy to manufacture and replace, providing reliable blocking functionality at low cost and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Adaptability or versatility

If automatic displacement of manual switch is implemented via triggering point on guide curve, then functionality is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidguide curve precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The guide curve is designed with a specific geometric form that includes a triggering point which causes automatic displacement of the manual switch. By carefully designing the shape and position of this triggering point on the guide curve, the system achieves automatic position switching without requiring high-precision manufacturing throughout the entire mechanism. The critical precision is localized to the triggering point geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enhances operational reliability by allowing simple and cost-effective releasable blocking of the push-over element in tool-changing and operating positions, preventing displacement into undesired intermediate positions and ensuring safe and reliable tool operation.

Implementation Method 1

a resilient blocking element which has at least one spring arm which is provided with an associated latch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the spring arm being designed to trigger automatic displacement of the manual switch when the triggering point is exceeded by the latch

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring energy storage: Spring

Data Source

PatentEP2599594B1Hand-held power tool with a drum -like tool change magazine
Publication Date: 2017.09.13 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2599594B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2599594B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2599594B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a hand-held power tool (100) with a tool holder (104) designed to receive a tool (101), which is arranged on an associated tool housing (124) in which a drum-like tool changer magazine (102) with at least one tool chamber (199) for storing the tool (101) is provided, which can be aligned with the tool holder (104), wherein a sliding element (150) movable in the longitudinal direction (108) of the tool holder (104) is provided for sliding the tool (101) from the tool chamber (199) into the aligned tool holder (104) or from the tool holder (104) into the aligned tool chamber (199), the sliding element (150) is coupled to an actuable hand switch (120) which has a spring-loaded locking element (250) designed to prevent the sliding element from moving. (150) to be releasably blocked in a tool change position or a tool operating position.