Pivoting Closure Cap for Handheld Tool Tanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closure devices for handheld tool tanks, such as fuel or lubricant tanks, often provide an unfavorable grip for operators and are prone to unintended opening or breaking due to the protruding gripping portions.
Innovation Solution
A closure device with a pivotal member that can pivot between retracted and protruding positions, featuring a grip portion for easier handling and a locking mechanism to prevent unintended opening, utilizing a resilient member like a conical pressure spring to maintain the protruding position and a biasing member to return to the retracted position when not intended.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a protruding gripping portion is provided on the cap, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to unintended opening or breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The grip portion is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to pivot between a retracted position (when not in use) and a protruding position (when gripping is needed). This dynamic configuration allows the grip portion to provide enhanced gripability when required while minimizing the risk of unintended opening when retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
2Ease of operation
If the grip portion is always protruding, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases and unintended opening risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grip portion is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to pivot between a retracted position (when not in use) and a protruding position (when gripping is needed). This dynamic configuration allows the grip portion to provide enhanced gripability when required while minimizing the risk of unintended opening when retracted, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability
3Ease of operation
If the pivotal member stays in a separated position, then the gripability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to risk of damage or unintended loosening
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing member applies a preliminary restoring force to the pivotal member, continuously urging it back toward the retracted position. This preliminary anti-action counteracts external forces (such as branches or objects hooking onto the grip portion) before they can cause damage or unintended loosening, thus resolving the contradiction between gripability and damage risk
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
Facilitates easier and secure tightening and loosening of the closure device, even when wearing gloves, while preventing damage from external hooks by ensuring the pivotal member returns to the retracted position, thus enhancing operator safety and device reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member like a conical pressure spring to maintain the protruding position
Implementation Method 2
a biasing member to return to the retracted position when not intended
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A closure device for closing a refill opening of a tank of a handheld power tool, the closure device comprising a body portion configured to engage the refill opening, a pivotal member pivotally connected to the body portion and configured to pivot about a pivotal axis between a retracted position and a protruding position, wherein the pivotal member comprises a grip portion, and wherein, when the pivotal member is in the protruding position, the grip portion extends away from the body portion to form a grip for loosening or tightening the closure device relative to the refill opening, a resilient member extending between the body portion and the pivotal member and configured to hold the pivotal member in the protruding position, wherein the pivotal member comprises a counter portion, and wherein the counter portion is located on an opposite side of the pivotal axis relative to the grip portion and wherein the body portion comprises a recess portion, and wherein the recess portion is configured to receive the counter portion when the pivotal member is in the protruding position.