Impact Driver Depth Adjustment via Floating Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing impact driver screw driving devices with depth adjustment mechanisms are prone to changing depth settings due to the concussive force transmitted during screw driving, which is undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A screw driving device with a floating sleeve and depth control sleeve that allows independent rotation of the depth adjustment mechanism, preventing concussive force from altering the set depth, featuring a depth adjustment indicator and lock tabs for precise setting retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a depth adjustment mechanism is integrated into the impact driver screw driving device, then screw depth control capability is improved, but the mechanism is susceptible to concussive force causing unintended depth changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrew depth controlVSAvoiddepth setting stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The device separates the depth adjustment mechanism into a独立 floating sleeve assembly that can rotate independently from the main body. This segmentation isolates the depth setting from the impact of concussive forces during screw driving, allowing precise depth control without compromising stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The depth adjustment is performed preliminarily by rotating the floating sleeve to set the desired depth before the screw driving operation begins. Once set, the depth remains fixed during the high-impact driving process, ensuring consistent depth control without interference from subsequent concussive forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the depth adjustment mechanism is made fixed to prevent changes during operation, then depth setting stability is improved, but adjustability and ease of modification are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth setting stabilityVSAvoiddepth adjustment flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The floating sleeve is designed to be dynamically adjustable during setup but becomes effectively fixed during operation. The user can rotate the floating sleeve to change depth settings when needed, but once set, the mechanism maintains stable depth control during the screw driving process, combining adjustability with operational stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The floating sleeve acts as an intermediary between the user's adjustment input and the screw driving mechanism. It allows easy adjustment of depth settings while mediating to prevent unintended changes during operation, thus providing both flexibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the floating sleeve is allowed to rotate independently, then protection from concussive force is improved, but mechanical complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedepth setting stabilityVSAvoidmechanism structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The floating sleeve is nested within the main device body, with the depth adjustment mechanism integrated into the existing structure. This nesting approach allows the independent rotation capability while minimizing additional external components, thus reducing overall mechanical complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The floating sleeve serves multiple functions: it allows depth adjustment, provides visual indication of depth settings through alignment marks, and protects the depth mechanism from concussive forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, simplifying the overall mechanism.

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

The device maintains consistent depth settings during screw driving, ensuring accurate screw placement without unintended depth changes, allowing operators to manually adjust and lock the depth as needed.

Implementation Method 1

a floating sleeve spring that provides a constant bias between an upper end of the floating sleeve and an upper end of a hollow clutch sleeve of the screw driving mechanism

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a clutch spring that constantly urges the screw driving mechanism to a drive position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 3

a depth control sleeve threadedly connected to a bottom end of the floating sleeve

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectScrew: Screw

Data Source

PatentEP3670084B1Impact driver screw driving device with depth adjustment
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 RAJOTTE JACQUES
  • EP3670084B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3670084B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3670084B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An impact driver screw driving device with depth adjustment has a floating sleeve that surrounds a screw driving mechanism. A floating sleeve spring provides a constant bias between a top of the floating sleeve and a top of the screw driving mechanism. A depth adjustment sleeve is threadedly connected to a lower end of the floating sleeve. The floating sleeve and the depth adjustment sleeve are free to rotate independently of the screw driving device so concussive force of the impact driver does not change a driven screw depth adjustment set by manually rotating the depth adjustment sleeve while gripping the floating sleeve.