Lockable Fitting Structure for Welding Respirator Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing electric air-purifying respirators for welding helmets face issues with battery disengagement during use, leading to potential inhalation of harmful air and reduced working efficiency due to the need for frequent battery replacement.

Innovation Solution

A lockable fitting structure between the rechargeable battery and the battery holder, featuring sliding joint structures and a locking mechanism with a button and tongue, ensures secure attachment and easy disassembly, preventing unexpected disengagement and facilitating on-site battery replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the rechargeable battery is connected to the battery holder at a small number of positions, then the connection structure is simple, but the battery may disengage unexpectedly during welding operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection structureVSAvoidbattery engagement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure is divided into multiple sliding joint structures (at least four pairs) distributed around the battery holder perimeter, with each pair providing independent engagement. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity while achieving reliable multi-point connection that prevents unexpected disengagement during welding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the battery is designed to be readily detached and re-installed on the welding site, then the wearer's working efficiency is enhanced, but the connection structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking efficiencyVSAvoidconnection structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection structure employs dynamic sliding joint structures that can be easily moved between locked and unlocked states. The sliding mechanism allows rapid battery attachment and detachment without complex operations, enhancing working efficiency while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that does not require multiple components or complicated assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the tongue is movable along a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction, then the locking is more reliable, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidlocking structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism introduces a perpendicular dimension by making the tongue movable along a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the sliding joint structures. This dimensional change creates effective locking engagement that prevents disengagement while maintaining structural simplicity, as the perpendicular movement provides reliable locking without requiring additional complex components or mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3228288B1Lock-catch fitting structure of electric air-purifying respirator of auto-darkening welding mask
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 TECMEN ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3228288B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3228288B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3228288B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a lockable fitting structure used for an electric air-purifying respirator of an auto-darkening welding helmet, the electric air-purifying respirator comprising a housing and a battery device, a battery holder being formed in the housing, and the battery device being able to be detachably installed in the battery holder by the lockable fitting structure, wherein the lockable fitting structure comprises at least four pairs of sliding joint structures formed on the battery device and the battery holder respectively and a locking structure provided in the battery device, wherein the sliding joint structures of each pair can be engaged with or disengaged from each other by sliding them relative to each other, wherein the locking structure comprises a button and a tongue capable to be actuated by the button, wherein the tongue is movable along a direction substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction of the sliding joint structure, and wherein after the sliding joint structures have been moved relative to each other in place, the tongue contacts a stop side of the battery holder to lock the pairs of sliding joint structures. The present application also discloses an electric air-purifying respirator for an auto-darkening welding helmet, which is equipped with said lockable fitting structure.