Offset Blade Floor Saw Drift Compensation via Differential Wheel Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Floor saws with offset cutting blades experience drifting issues due to imbalance, requiring manual compensation by operators, which is inefficient and strains the operator, and existing compensation methods are not always effective.
Innovation Solution
A floor saw with a control unit that adjusts the torque and speed of drive wheels to compensate for drifting, using sensors like IMUs, vision-based sensors, and electronic compasses to automatically maintain desired yaw motion, and includes a remote control system for operator convenience and autonomous operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the cutting blade is mounted offset to one side of the floor saw, then cuts can be made close to walls or obstacles, but the saw experiences imbalance and drifting towards the blade side
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the drive wheels (torque, speed) dynamically to compensate for the drift caused by offset blade mounting. The control unit adjusts wheel parameters in real-time based on detected drift, allowing the saw to maintain stability while operating with an offset blade configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system using sensors (IMU, vision-based sensors, electronic compasses) to detect yaw motion and drift. The control unit receives this feedback and automatically adjusts the drive wheel forces to counteract drift, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains cutting precision.
2Reliability
If fixed gear ratios are used to compensate for drift, then some drift correction is achieved, but the compensation is seldom perfect and residual drift remains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the floor saw to compensate for its own drift automatically through the control unit and sensor system. The machine self-corrects its yaw motion by adjusting drive wheel forces based on real-time drift detection, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and achieving perfect compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical compensation methods (fixed gear ratios) with an electronic control system that uses sensors and a control unit to dynamically adjust drive wheel forces. This substitution allows for precise, adaptive drift compensation that is not limited by mechanical constraints.
3Reliability
If the entire driven axle is steered to compensate for drift, then drift correction is achieved, but the system complexity increases and compensation is seldom perfect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the drive system into independently controllable drive wheels rather than steering the entire axle. By controlling each wheel's torque and speed independently, the system achieves drift compensation through differential wheel forces, simplifying the mechanism while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of drive wheel forces rather than static axle steering. The control unit continuously adjusts wheel torque and speed based on real-time drift detection, enabling adaptive compensation that responds to changing operating conditions and concrete hardness.
4Reliability
If manual body weight compensation is used by the operator, then drift can be corrected, but the operation becomes more difficult and places additional strain on the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the floor saw to self-compensate for drift through automated sensor-based control, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention. The machine independently detects and corrects its own yaw motion, completely removing the physical strain from the operator while maintaining perfect drift compensation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical compensation (operator body weight) with an electronic control system. Sensors detect drift and the control unit automatically adjusts drive wheel forces, substituting electronic automation for manual physical effort and eliminating operator strain entirely.
Data Source
AI summary
A floor saw for sawing in a concrete surface segment (160), the floor saw comprising a circular cutting blade (110) arranged transversally offset from a centrum line (C), which centrum line (C) is aligned with a forward direction (F) of the floor saw, the floor saw further comprising at least two supporting wheels (120) arranged to support the floor saw on the concrete surface segment (160), out of which supporting wheels at least one is a drive wheel, a sensor arrangement (140) configured to determine a current yaw motion of the floor saw, and a control unit (130) configured to obtain a desired yaw motion setting, wherein the drive wheel is arranged on an opposite side of the centrum line (C) compared to the circular cutting blade (110) and arranged to generate a respective variable wheel force by a respective first electric machine controlled by the control unit (130), and wherein the control unit (130) is arranged to control the first electric machine to reduce a difference between the current yaw motion of the floor saw and the desired yaw motion setting.