Pivoting Button Housing for Dust-Tight Power Tool Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held power tools face challenges in maintaining a dust-tight closure mechanism for the button housing, which is not mechanically resilient and can be subjected to transverse forces, affecting the reliability of the switch mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A button housing design that pivots about a pivot axis perpendicular to the actuation axis, with a pin and sealing element to prevent dust entry, and a button cover fastened with a pivot joint, allowing the button to be actuated without applying transverse forces, and an electric slider that connects with slider tracks to control the electric motor's power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a dust-tight closure mechanism is implemented for the button housing, then dust ingress is prevented, but the mechanical resilience and reliability of the closure are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a sealing element in the form of a flexible membrane that can deform elastically to accommodate transverse forces while maintaining dust-tight closure. This flexible film approach allows the closure to remain both dust-proof and mechanically resilient, resolving the contradiction between dust prevention and mechanical durability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the button housing is rigidly fixed to prevent movement, then positioning precision is improved, but the ability to absorb transverse forces and reduce stress is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The button housing is designed with pivotability about a pivot axis, transforming it from a static rigid structure to a dynamic one that can adapt its orientation. This dynamic capability allows the housing to align itself to minimize transverse forces on the sealing element, maintaining both positioning precision and stress resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the button housing by allowing it to pivot about a pivot axis perpendicular to the actuation axis. This parameter change enables the housing to adjust its angular position, optimizing the alignment with the sealing element and reducing stress while maintaining precise positioning.
3Device complexity
If a simple pin mechanism is used for button actuation, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to prevent dust ingress while maintaining mechanical resilience is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sealing element as an intermediary component between the pin mechanism and the button housing interior. This intermediary element serves as a barrier to dust while allowing the simple pin actuation mechanism to function, thus maintaining both low complexity and high reliability for dust-tight closure.
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held power tool has a tool holder for holding a tool, an electric motor for driving the tool holder, and a handle for holding and guiding the hand-held power tool. A button has a button housing, a pin that can be moved on an actuation axis, and an electric slider which is connected to the pin and which slides on an electric slider track. The button housing is suspended in the handle in such a way that the button housing can be pivoted about a pivot axis perpendicular to the actuation axis.