Glove-Mounted Suction Nozzle for Complex Surface Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surface treatment tools face challenges in accessing restricted areas and overcoming obstacles such as fixings on complex shapes, limiting their effectiveness in smoothing rough surfaces, particularly on aircraft structures.
Innovation Solution
A portable surface treatment tool with a suction system, comprising a surface treatment tip adapted to a glove, featuring removably linked bricks for flexible attachment and a conduit connecting a suction device, allowing close access to complex shapes and varied surfaces, equipped with abrasive surfaces for sanding or brushing, and including a filtering system for particle removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional dust extraction tool is used, then surface treatment can be performed, but the tool size limits access to restricted areas and obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is divided into separate functional modules: a glove unit with integrated nozzle, a flexible conduit, and a separate suction container. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables the tool to be broken down into smaller manageable sections for accessing restricted areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is integrated within the glove structure, with the conduit nested within the glove material. The suction container can be worn on the body, creating a nested configuration where smaller components are housed within larger ones, reducing overall footprint while maintaining functionality.
2Ease of operation
If a compact nozzle is used for accessing complex shapes, then access to confined areas is improved, but the nozzle must be equipped with additional components for surface treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle integrates multiple functions into a single compact unit: surface treatment capability, particle suction, and glove integration. The abrasive surface and suction opening are combined in one nozzle assembly, eliminating the need for separate tools and reducing overall system complexity despite the added functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle is designed as a universal component that can perform multiple operations: sanding, gritting, and particle extraction. The same nozzle structure accommodates different abrasive surfaces and suction configurations, making it adaptable to various surface treatment requirements without requiring multiple specialized tools.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a removable brick system is used for different surface shapes, then adaptability is improved, but the connection system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is divided into removable brick sections that can be independently attached and detached. Each brick can be optimized for specific surface shapes or treatment requirements, allowing the system to be reconfigured without requiring a completely different nozzle design for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system uses dynamic, reversible attachment mechanisms that allow bricks to be easily swapped between different configurations. The removable connections enable the system to adapt to varying surface shapes while maintaining a simple, user-friendly interface that does not require complex assembly procedures.
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 efficient surface treatment by allowing close access to complex shapes and protruding elements, effectively removing particles and protecting the operator from contamination, while maintaining portability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a conduit (14) allowing the suction of particles
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~9
AI summary
One of the problems posed by suction-based surface treatment tools is their bulk, which limits or even prevents access to confined or complex-shaped areas. The portable suction-based surface treatment tool according to the present invention comprises a surface treatment nozzle (18) with a surface (20) adapted to the desired treatment, worn by a glove (22). The nozzle (18) is connected to a container (16) housing a suction device via a conduit (14) to allow the suction of particles. In this way, because it is worn by a glove, and more specifically at the tip of a finger, the small suction nozzle can get very close to the complex shapes of a surface to be treated.