Electric Toothbrush Oscillation Drive With Spring Resonance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric toothbrushes with mechanical drive trains are noisy and induce unwanted vibrations, which can be detrimental to the user experience and effectiveness of oral hygiene.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic drive train with a magnetic assembly and a spring mechanism that amplifies oscillation motion, reducing noise and vibrations while delivering fluid to the brush head, utilizing permanent magnets and electromagnets to rotate the output shaft and a spring with a mass to match the oscillation frequency, enhancing the brushing and irrigating functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If a mechanical drive train is used to drive the output shaft, then the toothbrush can achieve brushing and irrigating functionality, but it generates noise and unwanted vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical drive train with an electromagnetic drive system consisting of a magnetic assembly that directly imparts oscillation motion to the output shaft. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact and associated vibrations, resolving the technical contradiction by reducing noise and unwanted vibrations while maintaining the required brushing and irrigating functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spring mechanism as an intermediary between the magnetic assembly and the output shaft. The spring amplifies the oscillation motion generated by the magnetic assembly, allowing the system to achieve sufficient brushing force without requiring a complex mechanical drive train, thus reducing noise and vibrations while maintaining device functionality.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a magnetic assembly is used to impart oscillation motion to the output shaft, then noise and vibrations are reduced, but the oscillation motion needs to be amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a spring mechanism that utilizes mechanical vibration and resonance principles to amplify the oscillation motion generated by the magnetic assembly. The spring is designed to resonate at the operating frequency, multiplying the oscillation amplitude without requiring increased input force, thus resolving the contradiction between reducing vibrations and maintaining sufficient brushing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the spring (such as wire diameter, coil diameter, and number of turns) to optimize its amplification characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves the desired oscillation motion amplitude while maintaining the low-noise electromagnetic drive system, resolving the technical contradiction between reduced vibrations and sufficient force.
3Force
If a spring mechanism is added to amplify oscillation motion, then the brushing effectiveness is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the spring mechanism to serve multiple functions: it amplifies oscillation motion, provides mechanical coupling between the magnetic assembly and output shaft, and allows fluid passage through its structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby enhancing brushing effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the spring mechanism with the fluid delivery system by routing the fluid tube through the spring structure. This integration combines the motion amplification function with the fluid passage function in a single component, enhancing brushing effectiveness without proportionally increasing device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the spring is made hollow to allow fluid passage, then the irrigating functionality is enabled, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hollow spring structure with carefully designed wall thickness that maintains sufficient structural integrity while allowing fluid passage. The spring acts as a flexible shell that can withstand the mechanical stresses of oscillation while accommodating the fluid flow required for irrigating functionality, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different wall thicknesses or material properties at different locations of the spring structure. The spring has thicker walls at stress-concentration points to maintain structural integrity, while having sufficient openings and thinner sections where fluid passage is required, thus enabling irrigating functionality without compromising overall strength.
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 provides a quieter, more effective brushing and irrigating experience by reducing noise and vibrations, enhancing the oscillation motion, and allowing for a fluid pathway through the drive train, improving oral hygiene without the drawbacks of mechanical systems.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic assembly positioned within the housing and configured to impart an oscillation motion to the output shaft; first and second permanent magnets positioned within the housing and fixed to opposing sides of the output shaft so as to rotate therewith; first and second electromagnets fixed in position relative to the housing and positioned on opposing sides of the output shaft
Implementation Method 2
a spring positioned within the housing. The spring includes a first end non-rotatably coupled to the housing and a second end non-rotatably coupled to the output shaft, such that the spring twists as the magnetic assembly oscillates the output shaft to amplify the oscillation motion of the output shaft generated by the magnetic assembly
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates generally to oral health products, such as electric toothbrushes. In one example, the electric toothbrush includes a housing, an output shaft positioned within and extending out of the housing, a magnetic assembly positioned within the housing and configured to impart an oscillation motion to the output shaft, and a spring positioned within the housing. The spring includes a first end non-rotatably coupled to the housing and a second end non-rotatably coupled to the output shaft, such that the spring twists as the magnetic assembly oscillates the output shaft to amplify the oscillation motion of the output shaft generated by the magnetic assembly.