Pinless Tool Retention Mechanism for Hydraulic Hammer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic hammer assemblies rely on a tool retention pin that causes burring and restricts tool rotation, making tool replacement complex and prone to stress concentration and uneven wear.
Innovation Solution
A tool assembly with a housing and a tool retention member featuring a central aperture and engaging structure that allows relative rotation for secure tool retention and easy tool exchange, eliminating the need for a retainer pin and enabling tool rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a tool retention pin is used to retain the work tool within the front head, then the work tool is securely retained, but the pin and groove are subject to burring due to repeated impact and the tool cannot rotate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the tool retention pin from the system, replacing it with a pinless retention mechanism where the work tool is retained within the front head through engagement between the tool body and front head structure, removing the source of burring and stress concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The retention mechanism is segmented into separate functional elements: the front head with retention features and the work tool with corresponding engagement features, allowing independent optimization of each component without the constraints of a pin-based system
2Stability of the object's composition
If a tool retention pin is used to restrain the tool from rotation, then the tool is prevented from rotating, but unwanted torque is transferred from the tool to the tool assembly and machine
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the tool retention pin that acts as a torque transmission element, replacing it with a retention mechanism that secures the tool while allowing or accommodating rotational movement, thereby eliminating the torque transfer path to the tool assembly and machine
3Reliability
If a conventional pin-based tool retention system is used, then the tool is securely retained, but tool replacement requires pin removal and burring removal making the process complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the tool retention pin and associated groove structure, replacing them with a direct engagement retention system where the work tool is retained within the front head through complementary geometric features, enabling tool replacement without pin removal or burring cleanup operations
Solution Approach 2:
The front head and work tool are designed with pre-configured engagement features that automatically secure the tool in place upon insertion, eliminating the need for separate pin installation and burring removal steps that would otherwise be required
Data Source
AI summary
A tool assembly (10), for example a hydraulic or pneumatic hammer assembly, includes a housing (11) defining a chamber (16), a removable reciprocating work tool (20) arranged in the chamber, and a tool retention member (80) having an aperture through which the work tool extends. The housing (11) includes an engaging structure (50) which permits the engagement of the tool retention member (80) with the housing by relative rotation of the tool retention member and housing. The work tool (20) is provided with retention structure (44) such as a retaining flange which prevents the removal of the work tool from the housing when the tool retention member is engaged with the housing. At least some of the disclosed embodiments may eliminate the need for a retainer pin, thereby allowing the work tool to rotate, possibly avoiding wear, increasing tool life and simplifying tool replacement.