Floating Motor Vibration Isolation via Flexible Diaphragm
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric hand-held massage appliances transmit unwanted vibration from the motor to the handle, causing discomfort, fatigue, and potential injury such as carpal tunnel syndrome due to the rigid attachment of the vibration mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A massage appliance design featuring a motor that floats relative to the handle, utilizing a flexible diaphragm with a vibration motor mounted on one face and a massage node on the other, allowing the central portion to move freely in all directions, thereby isolating the handle from most of the vibrational energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vibration motor is rigidly attached to the handle, then the motor provides stable support and power transmission, but the handle experiences unwanted vibration causing discomfort and fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible diaphragm is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor and the handle. This diaphragm allows the motor to vibrate freely while isolating the handle from the vibrational energy, thus resolving the contradiction between providing stable motor support and preventing handle vibration. The diaphragm acts as a mediator that transmits necessary mechanical coupling while blocking harmful vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible diaphragm (thin film structure) to couple the motor to the handle assembly. This flexible film allows the motor to move and vibrate independently while maintaining a mechanical connection for power transmission. The flexibility of the diaphragm enables it to decouple vibrational energy from the handle, solving the contradiction between stability and vibration isolation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the motor is freely mounted to allow vibration isolation, then handle comfort is improved, but the motor may become unstable or misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible diaphragm serves as a mediator that maintains motor positioning stability while allowing vibration isolation. It provides sufficient mechanical coupling to keep the motor aligned and stable during operation, yet flexibility to isolate the handle from vibrations. This resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal balance point in the coupling strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mechanical coupling parameter from rigid (infinite flexibility) to flexible (finite flexibility). This parameter change allows the system to simultaneously achieve motor stability and vibration isolation. The flexible diaphragm provides a controlled degree of flexibility that maintains positioning while isolating vibrations, resolving the contradiction between stability and isolation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible diaphragm is used to isolate vibrations, then handle comfort is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible diaphragm is a thin film component that provides vibration isolation with minimal structural complexity. Compared to rigid mounting structures, the diaphragm simplifies the overall design while achieving the desired vibration isolation function. This resolves the contradiction by using a simple yet effective flexible film rather than complex rigid mechanisms.
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
Substantially reduces vibration transmission to the handle, minimizing user discomfort and the risk of injury by allowing only a small portion of vibrational energy to be felt, thus providing a more comfortable and safer massage experience.
Implementation Method 1
The central portion which carries the massage node... is relatively free to move in all of the x-, y-, and z-directions due to the presence of one or more flexible contours surrounding the central portion such as folds, bends, or curves
Implementation Method 2
the mechanism that creates the vibration, which is usually an electric motor having an eccentric weight attached thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A vibration appliance includes a vibration-isolation structure which substantially reduces vibration felt by the user at the handle. The vibration motor is mounted to a vibration plate which carries the massage node. The vibration plate floats within the vibration appliance housing, being suspended by a flexible, elastomer membrane having contours such as curves or folds in it that provide freedom of movement of the vibration plate relative to the housing to which the flexible membrane is mounted. This arrangement can be thought of as the motor and vibration node being mounted on a flexible diaphragm that can move freely as if mounted to the housing by a bellows-like arrangement.