Motor Shoulder Support Oscillation Control via Abutment Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shoulder supports for gardening tools with motors suffer from oscillations that alter the center of mass and cause excessive stress on resilient support elements, leading to premature wear and maintenance issues.

Innovation Solution

A shoulder support design featuring a rigid L-shaped frame with a through opening and a resilient support element connected by springs, where an abutment element limits oscillation along a transverse direction, reducing stress on the resilient element and enhancing stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a resilient support element is used to connect the connection body to the frame, then the vibrations of the motor can be limited or prevented from being transmitted to the operator, but the resilient support element is subjected to substantial shearing stresses that cause early wearing and breaking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidresilient support element durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient support element is divided into multiple springs (at least two, preferably three or four) arranged in parallel. This segmentation distributes the shearing stresses across multiple elements, reducing the stress burden on each individual spring and preventing early failure while maintaining vibration damping functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The springs are arranged with their axes on a plane adapted for being arranged transversally to the vertical direction (horizontal plane), rather than vertically. This dimensional reorientation changes the direction in which the springs resist oscillation, allowing them to better withstand the shearing stresses generated by motor vibrations and weight forces.

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

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the motor is connected to the frame through a resilient support element allowing oscillation, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the centre of mass of the assembly changes and moves with respect to the frame during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidcenter of mass stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple springs arranged in parallel provide distributed support that stabilizes the connection body's position. The segmented resilient support system maintains the center of mass more steadily compared to a single resilient element, as the distributed springs collectively resist oscillations in multiple directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By orienting the spring axes horizontally (transversally to vertical), the system better counteracts the horizontal and lateral oscillations that would otherwise cause center of mass displacement. This dimensional reorientation provides more effective stabilization against the specific oscillation patterns generated by the motor.

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the resilient support element allows free oscillation of the connection body, then vibration damping is achieved, but the stress on the resilient element is accentuated by the weight force acting on the motor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidshear stress on resilient element
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The weight force and resulting shearing stresses are distributed across multiple springs arranged in parallel. Each spring carries a portion of the total load, reducing the stress on any single element and preventing premature failure while maintaining effective vibration damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Orienting the spring axes horizontally changes the stress distribution pattern. The springs are better positioned to resist the combined effects of weight force and vibration-induced oscillations, reducing the accentuation of stresses that would occur with vertical spring arrangement.

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

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 effectively limits motor oscillations and reduces stress on the resilient support element, improving the shoulder support's stability and reducing maintenance needs while maintaining a simple and cost-effective design.

Implementation Method 1

the resilient support element comprises a plurality of springs equally spaced apart

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a resilient support element adapted for connecting the connection body to the frame, in a floating manner inside a seat defined by the through opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

an abutment element configured to limit an oscillation of the connection body with respect to the frame along a direction transversal to the axes of the springs

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical constraint:

Implementation Method 4

Thanks to such a provision it is possible to limit or prevent the transmission of the vibrations of the motor to the operator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3537922B1Shoulder support for a motor
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 EMAK
  • EP3537922B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3537922B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3537922B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A shoulder support (1) for a motor (2) comprising a frame (12), a connection body (14) adapted for being rigidly connected to the motor (2) and a resilient support element (16) adapted for connecting the connection body (14) to the frame (12), and comprising an abutment element (17) configured to limit an oscillation of the connection body (14) with respect to the frame (12).