Flex-Arm Grinding Wheel Tilt Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flex-arm mounted grinding wheels are limited in their ability to accurately grind angled surfaces due to their restricted dynamism, allowing only parallel or perpendicular grinding, making precise angled surface grinding challenging.
Innovation Solution
A flex-arm device with a shaft and support blocks that allow angular displacement of the grinding wheel by rotating within a shaft aperture, enabling the grinding wheel to be tilted to multiple positions through a locked or unlocked mechanism, allowing for precise adjustment of the contact angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the flex-arm is mounted on a fixed base with limited movement axes, then the device structure is simple and stable, but the grinding wheel can only accurately grind surfaces parallel or perpendicular to the base, reducing adaptability for angled surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism that allows the flex-arm to be tilted at various angles relative to the base. The shaft can rotate within the shaft aperture to different angular positions, and the set members can be adjusted to lock the shaft at desired angles. This transforms the previously static fixed-angle structure into a dynamic multi-angle adjustable structure, enabling the grinding wheel to accurately grind angled surfaces while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft is allowed to rotate freely within the shaft aperture, then the grinding wheel can be tilted to multiple positions for angled surface grinding, but the device loses stability and cannot maintain precise contact angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs set members that can be adjusted to change the internal circumference of the shaft aperture. When the set members are tightened, they reduce the aperture circumference to match the shaft circumference, locking the shaft at a specific angular position. When loosened, they increase the aperture circumference to allow free rotation. This parameter change mechanism enables both stable position holding and flexible angular adjustment.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the shaft aperture circumference is reduced to match the shaft circumference for locking, then position stability is achieved, but the shaft cannot rotate for angular adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic locking system where the relationship between the shaft aperture circumference and shaft circumference can be changed on demand. The set members enable the aperture to transition between two states: a locked state where the circumferences match for position stability, and an unlocked state where the aperture circumference is larger to allow rotation. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between stability and adjustability.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a flex-arm device including a base, at least one support block attached to the base, the support block including a shaft aperture, a shaft engaged with the shaft aperture of the support block, and a flex-arm mount attached to the shaft. When the device is in an unlocked orientation, the shaft is capable of rotation within the shaft aperture such that the flex-arm mount may be angularly displaced about multiple positions, and when the device is in a locked orientation, the shaft is restricted from rotation within the shaft aperture.