Modular Power Head Mating Interface for Tool Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered outdoor power equipment often requires unique device designs for each function, leading to increased costs and user unfamiliarity when using different tools, despite sharing a common battery across devices.
Innovation Solution
A modular power head design that is interchangeable with various tool attachments, featuring a mating interface for safety and usability, allowing the same power head to be used with multiple devices, thus reducing production costs and enhancing user familiarity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each different device is designed as a unique tool with its own motor housing and components, then device reliability and performance are improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into two main parts: a universal power head containing the motor and battery, and interchangeable tool attachments containing only the working assembly. This segmentation allows the complex motor housing to be reused across multiple tools while each attachment maintains its specialized function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The power head is designed as a universal component that can be attached to multiple different tool attachments (trimmer, edger, chainsaw, blower). The standardized mating interface enables one motor housing to serve multiple functions, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable performance across all tool types.
2Reliability
If each different device is designed as a unique tool with separate controls and housings, then device performance is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to user unfamiliarity
Solution Approach 1:
The controls and power head interface are designed to be universal across all tool attachments. Users learn one control scheme and one attachment procedure that applies to all tools, improving ease of operation while maintaining the specialized performance of each tool attachment through its dedicated working assembly.
3Ease of manufacture
If a standardized power head is used across multiple tool attachments, then production costs are reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for a universal mating interface
Solution Approach 1:
A universal mating interface is designed with standardized mechanical and electrical connection features that work across all power heads and tool attachments. This standardized interface reduces production costs through component commonality while the modular design keeps the interface complexity manageable by separating mechanical coupling from electrical connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mating interface is designed with built-in alignment features and sequential engagement mechanisms that automatically guide the attachment to the correct position before electrical connections are made. This preliminary mechanical alignment simplifies the overall interface design by eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms.
4Use of energy by moving object
If electrical connections are made first during attachment, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to potential short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The mating interface is designed so that mechanical connections are established first, followed by electrical connections. The mechanical coupling features guide the attachment into position and secure it before the electrical contacts engage, ensuring proper alignment and preventing short circuits while maintaining efficient power transfer.
Solution Approach 2:
The mating interface is segmented into separate mechanical coupling features and electrical connection features. This segmentation allows the mechanical structure to be established first as a safety barrier, preventing electrical contact until the mechanical interface is properly engaged, thereby ensuring both safety and efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-tool (100) includes a power head (120) including a power head housing (122) having a handle (124) operably coupled thereto, a tool attachment (106, 108, 110) configured to perform a work function, the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) being alternately separable from and operably coupled to the power head (120), a motor (140) disposed in the power head housing (122), a battery (130) configured to be operably coupled to the motor (140) to selectively power the motor (140), a power head mating interface (121) including structures disposed at the power head (120) for defining a physical mating assembly, a drive power transfer assembly and an electronic assembly, and a tool mating interface (123) including structures disposed at a housing of the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) for defining the physical mating assembly, the drive power transfer assembly and the electronic assembly. The structures disposed at the power head (120) and the structures disposed at the housing of the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) for defining the physical mating assembly are configured to contact each other before the structures disposed at the power head (120) and the structures disposed at the housing of the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) for defining the drive power transfer assembly contact each other responsive to operably coupling of the power head mating interface (121) to the tool mating interface (123). The structures disposed at the power head (120) and the structures disposed at the housing of the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) for defining the drive power transfer assembly are configured to contact each other before the structures disposed at the power head (120) and the structures disposed at the housing of the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) for defining the electronic assembly contact each other responsive to operably coupling of the power head mating interface (121) to the tool mating interface (123).