Manually operated work device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hand-held blower impellers are difficult to dismantle due to their secure attachment, which complicates maintenance and assembly.

Innovation Solution

The impeller is secured to the shaft using a nut with a frictional engagement system, featuring a first frictional contact surface that allows for automatic tightening during operation, reducing the required assembly torque and preventing over-tightening, while a second conical frictional contact surface provides high friction torque without slippage, enabling easy removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the impeller is securely attached to the shaft using a nut, then the impeller remains firmly fixed during operation, but the impeller becomes difficult to dismantle for maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure attachment of impellerVSAvoiddisassembly of impeller
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The nut is designed to transition from a static fastening component to a dynamic self-tightening component during operation. The first friction contact surface enables the nut to automatically post-tension the impeller against the shaft when relative movement occurs between the impeller and shaft, transforming the attachment system from purely mechanical to dynamically adaptive, thereby maintaining secure attachment while enabling easy disassembly when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The nut performs self-tightening through the frictional engagement mechanism. During operation, when the impeller moves relative to the shaft, the first friction contact surface generates friction torque that automatically post-tensions the nut without external intervention. This self-service mechanism ensures reliable attachment during operation while allowing simple disassembly by overcoming the friction torque.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a high tightening torque is applied to the nut during assembly, then the impeller is securely fastened, but the risk of over-tightening and damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure fastening of impellerVSAvoidover-tightening damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-tightening during operation through the frictional engagement between the nut and impeller. The first friction contact surface generates friction torque that automatically post-tensions the nut to the required level during operation, eliminating the need for high initial tightening torque and preventing over-tightening damage during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The friction torque characteristics of the first friction contact surface are designed to provide automatic post-tensioning at operating conditions. By selecting appropriate friction coefficients and contact surface parameters, the system achieves secure fastening during operation without requiring excessive initial tightening torque, thus avoiding over-tightening damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Length of moving object

If the shaft diameter is reduced for compact design, then the device becomes more compact, but the friction torque capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshaft diameterVSAvoidfriction torque capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The solution transitions from relying solely on radial friction contact (single dimension) to incorporating axial friction contact through the conical second friction contact surface. The wedge effect of the conical surface converts axial forces into radial clamping forces, enabling sufficient friction torque capacity on a reduced-diameter shaft by utilizing the third dimension (axial direction) for force generation.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The conical geometry of the second friction contact surface changes the force distribution parameters. The wedge effect increases the contact pressure and frictional engagement between the shaft and impeller hub, compensating for the reduced shaft diameter and maintaining adequate friction torque capacity despite the smaller dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This design allows for simple disassembly and reassembly of the impeller, reducing the risk of over-tightening and facilitating maintenance, while maintaining secure attachment during operation, and allows for a compact shaft design.

Implementation Method 1

A first friction torque acting about the axis of rotation can be transmitted between the nut and the impeller via a first friction contact surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

In the second, conical frictional contact surface, a conical frictional force acts at a distance from the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

A wedge effect results from the conicity of the second friction contact surface. This wedge effect causes an increase in the frictional contact forces

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWedge effect: Wedge

Data Source

PatentEP3456480B1Manually operated work device
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 ANDREAS STIHL AG & CO KG
  • EP3456480B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3456480B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3456480B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a hand-held tool with a fan wheel (7). The fan wheel (7) is held against rotation on the shaft (3) by means of a nut (6) by frictional engagement. A threaded friction torque (MA) can be transmitted via a threaded section (11) between the nut (6) and the shaft (3). A first friction torque (M1) can be transmitted via a first friction contact surface (12) between the nut (6) and the fan wheel (7). The first friction contact surface (12) is designed such that, at a minimum tightening torque of the nut (6), the first friction torque (M1) is greater than the threaded friction torque (MA). As a result, during operation of the tool (1), the relative movement between the fan wheel (7) and the shaft (3) causes the nut (6) to move along with it. The nut (6) tightens the fan wheel (7) against the shaft (3). The second friction contact surface (13) is conical towards the axis of rotation (4).