Impact Tool Sensor Control Logic for Malfunction Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Impact tools face sensor malfunctions due to heavy impacts, leading to unintended gas injection and ignition, which increases the risk of accidents and wasteful gas consumption, and existing solutions like impact damping devices increase tool size and cost.

Innovation Solution

A control unit in the impact tool nullifies sensor inputs for a predetermined period after the internal mechanism is operated, preventing sensor malfunctions without relying on mechanical structures like dampers or absorbing mechanisms, by ensuring that the sensors do not operate until a predetermined condition is met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an impact damping device or impact absorbing mechanism is added to prevent sensor malfunction, then sensor reliability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical impact damping device with a control system that uses sensor output signals to control the ignition plug and gas injection device. The control unit determines whether to allow operation based on sensor signals during a predetermined period after internal mechanism operation, substituting mechanical protection with electronic control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the ignition/gas injection systems. It receives sensor output signals and uses these signals to determine whether to permit operation of the ignition plug and gas injection device, thereby preventing unintended operation without requiring physical damping structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an impact damping device or impact absorbing mechanism is added to prevent sensor malfunction, then sensor reliability is improved, but tool weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor reliabilityVSAvoidtool weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical impact damping device with a control system that uses sensor output signals to control the ignition plug and gas injection device. The control unit determines whether to allow operation based on sensor signals during a predetermined period after internal mechanism operation, substituting mechanical protection with electronic control logic.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If sensors remain operational during impact periods, then measurement precision is maintained, but harmful factors increase due to unintended gas injection and ignition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor measurement precisionVSAvoidunintended gas injection and ignition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit applies preliminary anti-action by determining whether to allow operation of the ignition plug and gas injection device based on sensor output signals received during a predetermined period after the internal mechanism is operated. This preemptive control prevents harmful gas injection and ignition that would result from sensor malfunctions during impact periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit uses feedback from sensor output signals to determine whether to permit operation. The sensors continuously monitor conditions and feed signals back to the control unit, which adjusts the operation state of the ignition plug and gas injection device based on these feedback signals, preventing harmful operation when sensor malfunctions are detected.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2708328B1Impact tool
Publication Date: 2017.06.28 MAX CO LTD
  • EP2708328B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2708328B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2708328B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An impact tool can be operated by generating an impact using an internal mechanism. The impact tool includes a control unit and sensors. The control unit controls the internal mechanism. The sensors output a signal for operating the internal mechanism or a signal for preparing the operation of the internal mechanism, to the control unit. Until a predetermined condition is established after the internal mechanism is operated, the control unit does not accept the input of the sensors.