Grinding Machine Movable Trough Holder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing grinding machines are cumbersome to mount and dismount the water trough, leading to water spills and potential grindstone deterioration due to excessive soaking.

Innovation Solution

A grinding machine with a trough holder that can be easily lowered and raised using an intermeshing gear and toothed rack mechanism, allowing for simple mounting and dismounting, and adjustable height for different grindstone diameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the water trough is mounted by pushing it in position and lifting it up to hook on to a holder, then the trough can be secured to the grinding machine, but the mounting procedure becomes cumbersome and may result in water spill

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure mounting of troughVSAvoidmounting procedure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The trough holder is made movable along a vertical guide slot, allowing it to be positioned at different heights. This dynamic positioning capability enables the holder to accommodate various grindstone diameters and simplifies the mounting process by allowing the trough to be easily lowered to a convenient mounting position and then raised to the operating position without manual lifting and hooking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A vertical guide slot is introduced as an intermediary structure between the housing and the trough holder. This guide slot provides a constrained path for the holder's movement, ensuring stable and secure vertical motion while preventing lateral displacement that could cause water spill during mounting operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the grindstone is left in contact with the liquid in the water trough at the end of the work day, then the trough remains in position, but excessive soaking of the grindstone and deterioration thereof occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetrough positioningVSAvoidgrindstone deterioration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable trough holder allows easy adjustment between mounted and dismounted positions. At the end of the work day, the holder can be lowered back to the mounting position, automatically separating the grindstone from the grinding liquid and preventing deterioration, while maintaining operational readiness for the next use

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to prevent the harmful effect of excessive soaking by providing a simple mechanism to separate the grindstone from the liquid. The preliminary action of lowering the holder prevents contact between the grindstone and grinding liquid, countering the potential deterioration before it can occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Device complexity

If the trough holder is fixed at a single height, then the structure is simple, but grindstones of different diameters cannot be properly wetted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholder structureVSAvoidaccommodation of different grindstone diameters
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The trough holder is designed with vertical movability along a guide slot, transforming it from a fixed structure to a dynamic one. This allows the holder to be positioned at different heights to accommodate grindstones of various diameters, ensuring proper wetting while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through the use of a straightforward guide mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The movable holder structure serves multiple functions: it provides stable mounting for the trough, enables adjustment for different grindstone sizes, and ensures proper positioning for effective wetting. This multi-functionality is achieved through the simple addition of vertical movement capability along the guide slot

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Simplifies the mounting and dismounting process, prevents water spills, and allows for the use of troughs with grindstones of varying diameters, ensuring the grindstone remains dry at the end of the workday.

Implementation Method 1

A grinding machine with a trough holder that can be easily lowered and raised using an intermeshing gear and toothed rack mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear mechanism: Gear

Data Source

PatentEP3159105B1Grinding machine with movable water trough
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 TORMEK
  • EP3159105B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3159105B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3159105B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A grinding machine (100) comprising a housing (1) having a base (2) for supporting the grinding machine, a shaft (3) for holding a grindstone (4), a motor for rotating the shaft (3) and a trough holder (10) for holding a trough (6) for grinding liquid, the through holder (10) being arranged below the shaft (3), wherein the trough holder (10) is movable in vertical direction between the base (2) of the housing (1) and the shaft (3) for holding a grindstone and that the grinding machine (100) comprises a lifting/lowering arrangement (20) for moving the trough holder (10) in said vertical direction.