Power Nailer Kinetic Energy Control via Flywheel Threshold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional power nailers lack flexibility and freedom due to the presence of hoses, which restrict user operation and require improved control over kinetic energy levels for efficient fastening.
Innovation Solution
A driving tool with a motor assembly, sensor, and controller that senses kinetic energy levels and selectively activates or deactivates the motor based on predetermined thresholds to ensure efficient energy transmission and usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the motor is continuously powered to ensure ready-to-drive capability, then the driver can be activated immediately when needed, but energy is wasted when the kinetic energy level is insufficient for effective fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-spinning the flywheel to accumulate kinetic energy before the actual fastening operation is needed. This allows the motor to be deactivated during the fastening cycle while maintaining readiness, as the stored kinetic energy in the flywheel is sufficient to drive the fastening operation without continuous motor power.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor operates in periodic cycles rather than continuously - it activates to spin the flywheel up to the required kinetic energy threshold, then deactivates while the flywheel maintains rotation. The motor only reactivates when the flywheel speed drops below the threshold, creating an efficient periodic operation pattern that eliminates energy waste during periods when kinetic energy is sufficient.
2Loss of energy
If the motor is deactivated to save energy, then energy efficiency improves, but the driver cannot be activated when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors the rotational speed of the flywheel and uses this feedback to determine when to activate or deactivate the motor. When the sensed speed drops below the predetermined threshold, the controller automatically reactivates the motor to restore kinetic energy levels, ensuring operational readiness is maintained without unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The flywheel serves itself by maintaining rotation and kinetic energy storage without continuous external power input. Once the motor spins the flywheel up to the threshold speed, the flywheel's inertia keeps it rotating and ready to drive the fastening operation, eliminating the need for continuous motor activation and thereby improving energy efficiency while maintaining operational capability.
3Reliability
If hoses are used to connect the power nailer to the power source, then continuous power supply is ensured, but user flexibility and freedom are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the hose connection requirement by using a self-contained energy storage system (flywheel) within the power nailer. The motor and flywheel combination allows the tool to operate independently without external hose connections, granting users complete mobility and flexibility while maintaining reliable power supply through the stored kinetic energy in the flywheel.
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
Enhances user flexibility and energy efficiency by ensuring the motor only engages when kinetic energy exceeds a set threshold, optimizing power delivery for fastening tasks.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor senses a condition in the power source that is indicative of a level of kinetic energy of an element in the power source and generates a sensor signal in response thereto
Implementation Method 2
The power source, which includes a motor, provides an input to the driver and causes the driver to translate along the axis
Implementation Method 3
moving the pinch member to drive one of the flywheel and the driver into contact with the other one of the flywheel and the driver to transmit energy from the flywheel to the driver and translate the driver along an axis
Data Source
AI summary
A driving tool having a driver, a power source, a sensor and a controller. The power source selectively provides an input to the driver to cause the driver to translate along an axis. The sensor senses a condition in the power source that is indicative of a level of kinetic energy of an element in the power source and generates a sensor signal in response thereto. The controller is coupled to the power source and the sensor and is responsive to the sensor signal for deactivating the power source to inhibit the power source from providing the input to the driver when the level of kinetic energy of the element in the power source is below a predetermined threshold. A method for operating a driving tool is also provided.