Electric Hair Clipper Oscillating Drive Tip and Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric hair cutting apparatuses face issues with wear and tear on internal components and user-felt vibrations due to the eccentric's off-center rotation and loose hair build-up, leading to inefficient contact and discomfort during use.
Innovation Solution
An electric hair cutting apparatus with an angled eccentric bearing and a drive tip that oscillates to maintain continuous contact, supported by a front motor housing with dampers to reduce vibrations, allowing for reduced wear and minimized vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an eccentric is used to translate rotational motion into side-to-side motion of the reciprocating blade, then the blade can be driven effectively, but wear and tear on the internal components increases due to physical contact and loose hair build-up
Solution Approach 1:
A follower component is introduced as an intermediary between the eccentric and the reciprocating blade. The follower converts the rotational motion of the eccentric into linear reciprocating motion of the blade, reducing direct physical contact and wear between the eccentric and blade components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional direct mechanical contact system with a cam-follower mechanism. This substitution reduces friction and wear by distributing contact forces across larger surfaces and reducing the frequency of direct contact between high-wear components.
2Ease of operation
If the shaft is connected to the eccentric off-center from the central axis, then side-to-side motion of the reciprocating blade is achieved, but maintaining proper contact between the eccentric and drive tip becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The follower component adds a dimensional element to the mechanism, converting rotational motion in one plane into linear motion in another direction. This dimensional transformation allows for maintained contact between components throughout the full range of motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The follower is designed to dynamically adapt its position and orientation as the eccentric rotates, maintaining optimal contact through the entire cycle of motion. This dynamic adjustment ensures continuous effective contact without requiring precise static alignment.
3Productivity
If the eccentric rotates at high RPM to drive the blades, then cutting efficiency is improved, but vibration is increased and felt by the user
Solution Approach 1:
The follower acts as a vibration-isolating intermediary between the high-RPM eccentric and the blade assembly. It absorbs and dampens vibrations generated by the rapid rotation, preventing transmission of these vibrations to the handle and user.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism converts the potentially harmful high-frequency vibrations from the eccentric into useful reciprocating motion of the blade. The follower transforms the rotational energy into linear cutting motion while dissipating vibrational energy through controlled mechanical contact.
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
The solution reduces wear on internal components and minimizes vibrations felt by the user, enhancing the efficiency and comfort of hair cutting by maintaining continuous contact and effectively dampening vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
By positioning dampers between the external housing of the apparatus and the front motor housing, much of the vibration caused by the movement of the eccentric, blades, etc., can be reduced before it reaches the housing and the user.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric hair cutting apparatus having a motor for rotating a shaft, which, rotates an eccentric about the axis of the shaft, but not about the central axis of the eccentric, A cylindrical bearing is positioned around the eccentric. A drive tip is provided with a follower end which is shaped and positioned to engage with the bearing surrounding the eccentric. As the eccentric rotates, the bearing alternately pushes on left and right arms of the follower end of the drive tip, causing the drive tip to oscillate back and forth about a pivot point, The angle of the bearing with respect to the eccentric allows for generally continuous contact between the arms of the follower end of the drive tip with the bearing, even throughout the pivoting of the drive tip.