Hand Tool Spring Mechanism for Expanded Jaw Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hand tools, such as pliers and shears, lack the ability to expand beyond a basic open position for accommodating larger objects, limiting their functionality and usability.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spring mechanism that allows tool legs to pivot beyond the basic open position into an expanded open position by interacting with different bearing surfaces, enabling the tool jaw to be expanded for larger cross-section objects, and automatically returning to the basic open position due to the spring's restoring force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tool legs are designed to pivot only between closed and basic open positions, then the device structure remains simple, but the adaptability to accommodate objects of different sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The hand tool incorporates a dynamic range of motion for the tool legs, allowing pivoting between a closed position, a basic open position, and an expanded open position. This dynamic capability enables the tool to adapt to different object sizes without requiring multiple separate tools, resolving the contradiction between versatility and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool legs can change their angular position parameter relative to each other, transitioning between defined positions (closed, basic open, expanded open). This parameter change allows the same tool structure to accommodate varying object cross-sections by adjusting the opening angle, achieving adaptability without complex mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the spring acts on the same bearing surfaces during both closing and opening motions, then the device structure remains simple, but the ability to expand beyond basic open position is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is segmented into different interaction zones, with first bearing surfaces engaged during closing motion and second bearing surfaces engaged during expansion beyond the basic open position. This segmentation allows the spring to provide controlled resistance in both directions without requiring a completely separate mechanism for each motion type.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the user's manual force and the tool legs' motion. By engaging different bearing surfaces at different stages of motion, the spring enables the expanded open position while maintaining a relatively simple overall mechanism structure.
3Ease of operation
If the tool legs are held in basic open position by spring force alone, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to maintain expanded open position against spring force requires significant manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The spring provides sufficient force to automatically return the tool legs to the basic open position from the expanded position, which is an excessive action relative to normal operation. This ensures easy automatic reset while the user only needs to apply force temporarily to achieve the expanded position, balancing ease of operation with the ability to expand when needed.
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
Enhances the service value of hand tools by allowing them to accommodate larger objects and automatically return to a functional position, improving handling capabilities and usability between the closed and basic open positions.
Implementation Method 1
the spring, which predefines a basic open position of the hand tool... acts upon different bearing surfaces of the tool legs... After the suspension of the corresponding holding forces exerted upon the tool legs, the tool legs preferably are pivoted back automatically from the expanded open position into the basic open position solely as a result of the restoring force of the spring acting upon these tool legs
Data Source
AI summary
A hand tool has first and second tool legs that are connected in a pivot region and which overlap in an overlapping region both in an open state of the hand tool and in a closed state of the hand tool. The tool legs interact with a spring such that the tool legs can be pivoted, even beyond a basic open position, into an extended open position by the user in applying manual force against the force of the spring, the spring coming into action in the case of the additional pivot movement of the hand tool legs beyond the basic open position and/or in the case of a closing pivoting movement of the hand tool legs acts on different bearing surfaces of the hand tool legs.