Power Tool Coupling Layout for Protected Contacts and Airflow

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dust extractor designs for rotary hammers often suffer from damaged electrical contacts when placed on a surface, leading to improper function, or restrict airflow when mounted, compromising performance.

Innovation Solution

A power tool coupling arrangement featuring a mechanical slot or rail system for secure attachment and a plurality of electrical contacts on different surfaces to prevent short circuits, ensuring reliable electrical connection and unobstructed airflow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrical contacts are positioned on the surface of the housing for engagement with the dust extractor, then electrical connection is achieved, but the electrical contacts are damaged when the rotary hammer is placed on a surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidcontact damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contacts are moved from the external surface of the housing to the internal surface of the housing, changing their spatial dimension from external to internal. This allows the contacts to engage with the dust extractor when mounted while being protected from damage when the tool is placed on surfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The air vent serves as an intermediary structure that houses the electrical contacts. Instead of placing contacts directly on the housing surface, they are positioned within the air vent, which acts as a protective intermediary that prevents direct contact with surfaces while still allowing electrical engagement when mounted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If electrical contacts are positioned in air vents to prevent damage, then contact protection is achieved, but the airflow through the rotary hammer is restricted when mounted to the dust extractor

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact protectionVSAvoidairflow

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical contacts are positioned on specific surfaces of the air vent that are not critical for airflow passage. By carefully selecting which surfaces of the air vent to place contacts on, the design maintains local quality where airflow is preserved while electrical connection is achieved in non-critical areas.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a mechanical coupling system is used to secure the dust extractor to the rotary hammer, then secure attachment is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidcoupling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical coupling features are merged with the existing housing structure and air vent design. Rather than adding separate coupling mechanisms, the housing itself incorporates recesses and engagement features that provide secure attachment while maintaining simplicity by combining multiple functions into existing structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11986941B2Power tool, power tool accessory and coupling arrangement therefor

Publication Date: 2024.05.21 BLACK & DECKER CORP

AI summary

A power tool is provided comprising: a power source; a power tool housing comprising a first mechanical coupling connectable with a second reciprocal mechanical coupling on a power tool accessory; and a first electrical coupling in electrical connection with the power source and mounted on the first mechanical coupling. The first electrical coupling is electrically connectable with a second reciprocal electrical coupling on the power tool accessory.