Magnetic Base Wear Indicators for Core Drilling Safety

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Solution Overview

Problem

Magnetic bases for core drilling machines suffer from reduced holding force due to surface abrasion and scratching when moved on workpieces, leading to safety issues and the need for costly service, as users struggle to assess when the magnetic base requires maintenance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating multiple wear indicators on the magnetic base's contact side, designed as recesses with contrasting materials or shapes, and a detachable wear plate with screw attachment from the non-contact side, to monitor and manage wear effectively, ensuring safe operation and reducing service costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the magnetic base is moved on the workpiece surface by reducing magnetic force, then repositioning is enabled, but the underside of the magnetic feet becomes worn and scratched

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepositioning capabilityVSAvoidholding force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicators are pre-installed on the magnetic base to provide early warning of surface degradation. This allows users to monitor the condition of the magnetic base before actual wear affects performance, enabling preventive maintenance rather than reactive repair.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wear indicators provide visual feedback about the condition of the magnetic base surface. As the magnetic base wears during repositioning operations, the indicators progressively reveal themselves, giving continuous feedback on the degradation state and when service is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If wear indicators are added to the magnetic base, then wear detection is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear detectionVSAvoidstructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicators utilize color or visual contrast differences between the indicator material and the magnetic base surface. This simple visual differentiation allows users to easily detect wear without requiring complex sensors, electronics, or diagnostic systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Solution Approach 2:

The wear indicators are simple, inexpensive features that can be easily manufactured into the magnetic base or wear plate. Rather than using complex, expensive detection systems, the patent employs simple visual indicators that serve their purpose effectively at low cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the wear indicator material has lower wear resistance than the magnetic base, then wear is clearly visible, but the indicator wears faster than the base

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear visibilityVSAvoidindicator lifespan
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The wear indicator material is strategically selected with different wear resistance properties than the magnetic base material. This local quality difference ensures that the indicator wears at a different rate, creating visible contrast that signals wear to the user while the overall magnetic base maintains its structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 wear indicators allow users to easily detect wear and determine when maintenance is needed, reducing the risk of air gaps and maintaining the magnetic base's holding force, thus ensuring safe and reliable operation of the drilling machine.

Implementation Method 1

a magnetic base for a power tool, in particular for a magnetic core drilling machine, with a base body in which at least one first magnet is received, the magnetic force of which can be switched between a maximum resulting holding force and a minimum resulting holding force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic force: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP3845343B1Magnetic base
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 C & E FEIN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3845343B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3845343B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3845343B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a magnetic base (1) for a power tool (15), in particular for a magnetic core drilling machine (2), comprising a base body (3) in which at least one first magnet (16) is received, the magnetic force of which is switchable between a maximum resulting holding force and a minimum resulting holding force. The magnetic base (1) has a first side (7) that can be coupled to the power tool (15) and an opposing second side (8) that can be placed on a workpiece to be machined. At least one wear indicator (9) is assigned to the second side (8). The invention also relates to a power tool (15) with a magnetic base (1) according to the invention.