Conical Grinding Wheel Geometry for Planar Edged Tool Bevels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional grinding machines with cylindrical grindstones often produce concave bevels on edged tools, reducing their strength and leading to uneven sharpening due to wear and misalignment issues.

Innovation Solution

A grinding machine with a conical grinding wheel and a grinding jig that holds the tool perpendicular to the rotational direction, utilizing a super-abrasive coating to maintain a flat grinding surface and prevent chambering, ensuring strong and planar edges.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a cylindrical grindstone is used for grinding edged tools, then the grinding process can be performed, but the bevels of the edge become concave which reduces blade strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade strengthVSAvoidbevel flatness
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional cylindrical grindstone into a conical grinding wheel. This geometric inversion changes the grinding surface from curved to substantially flat, eliminating the concave bevel formation while maintaining effective edge grinding capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the grinding wheel from cylindrical to conical shape. This parameter change transforms the grinding surface geometry, creating a substantially flat envelope surface that prevents concave bevel formation and improves blade strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a conventional grindstone is used, then grinding can be performed, but wear results in chambered profile causing misalignment between grinding jig and grindstone surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment stabilityVSAvoidgrindstone service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The conical geometry inversion creates a self-aligning grinding surface. The converging conical shape naturally guides the blade into proper alignment during grinding, compensating for wear and preventing misalignment issues that plague conventional cylindrical grindstones.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The conical grinding wheel design enables self-alignment during the grinding process. The geometry itself provides the alignment function, eliminating the need for precise external alignment mechanisms and maintaining reliability throughout the grindstone's service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If a conical grinding wheel is used instead of cylindrical, then flat grinding surface is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveedge planarityVSAvoidgrinding wheel geometry
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite structure combining a metal core with a super-abrasive coating. This composite approach maintains the simplified conical geometry while achieving superior edge planarity through the enhanced grinding characteristics of the coating material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 results in less concave bevels, increasing the strength and longevity of the edges, while maintaining the grinding wheel's shape and preventing misalignment, thus achieving efficient and long-lasting sharpening.

Implementation Method 1

The grinding wheel may be made of metal with a super-abrasive coating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAbrasion: Abrasion

Implementation Method 2

a conical grinding wheel arranged to be rotated in a rotational direction (R) and having an envelope grinding surface for an edged tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP4265373A1An arrangement for grinding edged tools
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 TORMEK
  • EP4265373A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4265373A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4265373A1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

An arrangement (50) for grinding edged tools, such as knives, said arrangement (50) configured to be part of a grinding machine (100), comprising: - a conical grinding wheel (110) arranged to be rotated in a rotational direction (R) and having an envelope grinding surface (111) for an edged tool (10), and; - a grinding jig (120) for holding an edged tool (10), wherein the grinding jig (120), in use, is arranged such that the edged tool (10) extends over the envelope grinding surface (111) perpendicular to the rotational direction (R).