Flexible Pad Driver Structure for Uneven Floor Finishing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Rigid pad drivers in floor treating machines are unable to follow the contour of uneven floor surfaces, making it difficult to achieve a smooth, even appearance and increasing the time required to achieve a desired floor finish.

Innovation Solution

A pad driver with a central hub and radially extending flexible spokes, allowing the abrasive pads to flex and adapt to floor irregularities, coupled with a shock-mounted design to reduce vibration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a rigid pad driver is used, then the structure is simple and stable, but it cannot follow the contour of uneven floor surfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to follow floor contourVSAvoidpad driver structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pad driver is divided into multiple independent flexible spokes radiating from a central hub, allowing each spoke to independently follow floor irregularities while maintaining overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The spokes are constructed from flexible materials that can bend and deform to conform to uneven floor surfaces, enabling the pad driver to adapt to contour variations without requiring a completely complex mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Productivity

If a rigid pad driver is used, then manufacturing is easier, but the time required to achieve desired floor appearance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor finishing speedVSAvoidpad driver manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pad driver transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can actively adapt to floor irregularities during operation, improving finishing speed by maintaining consistent pad-to-floor contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexibility parameter of the spokes is optimized to allow sufficient bending to follow floor contours while maintaining enough rigidity to effectively transmit polishing forces, achieving a balance between adaptability and manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If flexible spokes are used to follow floor contours, then floor finish smoothness improves, but vibration and shock increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefloor surface smoothnessVSAvoidoperator vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible spokes act as preemptive shock absorbers, absorbing vibrations and impacts from floor irregularities before they can be transmitted to the operator, thereby protecting against harmful vibrations while maintaining floor contact smoothness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enables the pad driver to effectively navigate uneven surfaces, improving the smoothness of the floor finish and reducing operator vibration.

Implementation Method 1

The spokes, being flexible, are able to flex upon engaging unevenness in a floor being grinded, polished and/or burnished

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlexibility: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the pad driver is shock-mounted so as to reduce the amount of vibration that is transmitted to an operator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration reduction: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS9289106B1Floor treating machine head with flexible pad driver

Publication Date: 2016.03.22 DIAMOND PRODUCTS LIMITED

AI summary

A pad driver for a floor treating machine comprises an annular support plate to which is attached a plurality of resilient spoke members that project radially therefrom. The support plate is shock-mounted to a hub used to couple the pad driver to a floor treating machine drive motor shaft. On the free ends of the resilient spokes are connector plates on which abrasive pads are removably secured.