Planetary Stapler for Electrical Wiring with Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions fail to effectively and efficiently secure long, thin objects like electrical wiring to support surfaces without causing damage or excessive tightening, as they lack a mechanism to center and regulate the depth of penetration of fastening elements.
Innovation Solution
A staple system comprising a housing with central and planetary gears, screws with reverse threads, and a clip or integral standoffs to center and secure wiring, allowing for controlled fastening and preventing damage, driven by a tool with a compatible bit configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fastening methods are used to secure electrical wiring to support surfaces, then the wiring can be attached to the surface, but the wiring may be damaged or excessively tightened due to lack of depth regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of screw penetration depth by using reverse-threaded screws that engage with planetary gears. As the central gear rotates clockwise, the planetary gears rotate counter-clockwise, causing the reverse-threaded screws to unscrew and back out, automatically regulating the penetration depth to prevent damage to the wiring while maintaining secure fastening.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism provides automatic feedback control through the gear system. The rotation of the central gear directly controls the unscrewing action of the planetary gears, creating a feedback loop that automatically adjusts the screw penetration depth based on the fastening process, preventing over-tightening and damage to the wiring.
2Ease of operation
If conventional fastening methods are used, then wiring can be attached, but there is no mechanism to center the wiring or regulate penetration depth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary elements including a clip that centers the wiring between the screws, and planetary gears that act as intermediaries between the central gear and the screws. The clip provides precise centering and positioning, while the planetary gears mediate the motion control to regulate screw penetration depth, achieving both ease of operation and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional components: a central gear for driving, planetary gears for motion transformation and depth control, reverse-threaded screws for fastening, and a clip for centering. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with high precision, enabling both easy operation and controlled penetration depth.
3Device complexity
If a single screw is used for fastening, then the structure is simple, but there is no ability to regulate depth or prevent excessive tightening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a coordinated system: the central gear combines driving function, the planetary gears combine motion transformation and depth regulation function, the reverse-threaded screws combine fastening and depth control function, and the clip combines centering and protection function. This merging of functions achieves reliable depth regulation while maintaining reasonable structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The planetary gears serve multiple functions: they transform the rotation direction from the central gear, they control the penetration depth of the screws, and they provide the mechanical linkage between the driving mechanism and the fastening elements. This multi-functionality achieves reliable depth regulation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for fastening electrical wiring and the like to a support may include a tool with a bit, a housing, a central gear configured to be driven by the tool bit, two opposing planetary gears positioned to be driven by the central gear; and screws extending from the planetary gears. These planetary screws may have reverse threads so the central gear may be driven clockwise by a Philips head, flat head, Allen head or other bit configuration to advance the screws into the support. A clip may be used to center wiring between the screws and limit the depth to which the screws are driven into the support. The clip may be integral to the housing or integral standoffs may be provided to define a specific clearance between the housing and the support to prevent damage to the wiring.