Insulating Screwdriver Wear Identification Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional insulating screwdrivers are prone to developing holes or cracks in their jackets due to friction or impact, compromising user safety when the jacket wears out or breaks, as the underlying drive shank is no longer protected.

Innovation Solution

An insulating screwdriver design featuring an identification insulating sleeve mounted between the drive shank and the insulating jacket, which remains outside the drive shank even when the jacket is worn or broken, providing a secondary insulation and visible color change to indicate wear, ensuring continued user protection and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single insulating jacket is used on the drive shank, then the structure is simple and cost-effective, but the insulation protection is compromised when the jacket wears out or breaks due to friction or impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinsulation protection reliabilityVSAvoidscrewdriver structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating system is divided into two separate components: an outer insulating jacket and an inner identification insulating sleeve. This segmentation allows each component to serve specific functions - the outer jacket provides primary insulation and wear resistance, while the inner sleeve provides backup insulation and wear indication, thereby improving overall reliability without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The identification insulating sleeve is nested inside the insulating jacket, with the sleeve's outer diameter being smaller than the jacket's inner diameter. This nested configuration allows the inner sleeve to remain protected within the jacket during normal use, while automatically providing backup insulation when the outer jacket wears out or breaks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the identification insulating sleeve is mounted inside the insulating jacket, then it provides backup insulation when the jacket is worn, but the wear condition of the jacket cannot be visually identified

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup insulation protectionVSAvoidjacket wear detection difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The identification insulating sleeve is designed with a different color from the outer insulating jacket. When the jacket wears out or breaks, the differently colored inner sleeve becomes exposed or visible through the damage, providing clear visual indication of wear condition while simultaneously offering backup insulation protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

3Ease of manufacture

If a conventional single-layer insulating jacket is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the user safety is compromised when the jacket develops holes or cracks during long-term utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoiduser safety risk from jacket wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The identification insulating sleeve serves as a pre-positioned backup insulation layer that is ready to protect the user before any actual harm can occur. When the outer jacket wears out, the inner sleeve immediately provides continued insulation protection, preventing electrical shock hazards without requiring any additional manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 ensures ongoing protection and safety by maintaining insulation and providing a clear visual indication of jacket wear, preventing direct contact with the drive shank and enhancing user safety during long-term use.

Implementation Method 1

an identification insulating sleeve mounted between the second end of the drive shank and the insulating jacket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Implementation Method 2

an identification insulating sleeve mounted between the second end of the drive shank and the insulating jacket

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS7882769B2Insulating screwdriver having wear identification function

Publication Date: 2011.02.08 YIH CHENG FACTORY

AI summary

An insulating screwdriver includes a handle, a drive shank having a first end mounted in the handle and a second end protruding outwardly from the handle, an insulating jacket mounted on the second end of the drive shank, and an identification insulating sleeve mounted between the second end of the drive shank and the insulating jacket. Thus, when the insulating jacket is worn out or broken due to friction or hit, the identification insulating sleeve is still located outside of the drive shank to provide a secondary insulating effect to the drive shank so as to protect the user when operating the drive shank.