Flexible Cable Transmission for Circular Saw Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable machine tools, such as circular saws, face challenges in providing intuitive and reliable adjustment of cutting depth and angle, often requiring complex mechanisms and compromising on ergonomics and operational safety.

Innovation Solution

A portable machine tool design featuring a flexible transmission unit that transmits movement from an operating element to a securing element, allowing for intuitive adjustment of cutting parameters through a latching mechanism, with components like guide elements, positioning elements, and a restoring spring for enhanced operational safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex mechanism is used for adjusting cutting depth and angle, then the adjustment precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and ergonomic performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment reliabilityVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a flexible cable transmission unit to replace complex rigid mechanical linkages. The cable connects the operating element to the securing element, allowing movement transmission through a flexible medium that simplifies the overall mechanism while maintaining reliable adjustment functionality for cutting depth and angle parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The invention substitutes traditional complex mechanical transmission systems with a cable-based flexible transmission system. This replacement reduces the number of mechanical components, simplifies the adjustment mechanism, and improves ergonomic performance while preserving the reliability of cutting parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a rigid transmission mechanism is used to connect operating element and securing element, then the transmission precision is improved, but the ergonomic performance and adaptability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemovement transmission precisionVSAvoidergonomic performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible cable transmission unit allows the operating element to be positioned ergonomically for the user while maintaining precise movement transmission to the securing element. The cable's flexibility enables adaptation to different spatial arrangements without compromising transmission precision, thereby improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dynamic, flexible transmission system that can adapt its configuration based on spatial requirements. The cable-based system allows for movement and adjustment in the transmission path, enabling ergonomic positioning of controls while maintaining reliable connection between the operating element and securing element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the operating element is positioned for optimal ergonomics, then the ease of operation is improved, but the transmission path length and potential for transmission loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating element accessibilityVSAvoidtransmission response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible cable transmission unit is designed to maintain responsive transmission characteristics even when configured for optimal ergonomic accessibility. The cable's construction and tensioning ensure that movement at the operating element is efficiently transmitted to the securing element, minimizing transmission delay while allowing ergonomic positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentEP3360657B1Portable hand-held machine
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3360657B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3360657B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3360657B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a portable machine tool, in particular a circular saw, with a housing unit (12a), with at least one guide unit (14a) for at least guiding a pivoting movement of the housing unit (12a), with at least one setting unit (16a; 16b) for setting at least one cutting parameter, in particular a cutting depth and/or a cutting angle, which has at least one locking element (18a, 32a) arranged on the guide unit (14a), in particular a locking element, for locking a position of the housing unit (12a) and/or for limiting a movement of the housing unit (12a), and with at least one operating unit (20a; 20b) which has at least one operating element (22a, 34a; 22b, 34b) for at least acting on the locking element (18a, 32a).It is proposed that the portable machine tool shall have at least one at least partially flexible transmission unit (24a, 36a) designed to transmit a movement of the control element (22a, 34a; 22b, 34b) to the locking element (18a, 32a).