Power Tool User Interface Nesting in Motor Endbell

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power tools often require larger housings to accommodate user interface controls for regulating electric motor power, limiting packaging efficiency and design flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A hand-held power tool design featuring a user interface located on the motor endbell, including a rotatable control knob with piloting and indexing features that provide haptic feedback, allowing for selection of multiple operation modes without increasing tool size, by integrating these features internally within the housing assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If user interface controls are provided on power tool housings, then user interaction and control are enabled, but tool size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interface controlVSAvoidtool size

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The user interface control features (piloting features and indexing features) are nested within the motor endbell, which is already an internal component of the power tool. The piloting features include an arcuate guide that guides rotation of the control knob, and indexing features include selective stops that provide haptic feedback, all integrated within the existing motor endbell structure rather than adding external housing features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The motor endbell serves multiple functions: it houses the motor components and simultaneously provides the user interface control features through its integrated piloting and indexing features. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate housing structures dedicated solely to user interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional control features are added to regulate motor power, then operational control is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational controlVSAvoidcontrol structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The piloting features and indexing features are merged into a single integrated system within the motor endbell. The arcuate guide and selective stops work together as a unified mechanism to provide both guidance and positional feedback, reducing the need for separate control components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control knob interacts directly with the piloting and indexing features through intuitive haptic feedback from the selective stops, allowing users to understand and control power levels without additional displays, buttons, or complex interfaces. The system serves itself by providing natural tactile cues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10418879B2Power tool user interfaces

Publication Date: 2019.09.17 INGERSOLL RAND IND US INC

AI summary

A hand-held power tool is provided that includes a housing assembly to support a motor. An output spindle protrudes from an output end of the housing assembly such that the output spindle rotates in response to a rotation of the motor. A user interface is located at the housing assembly opposite the output spindle. The user interface is configured to select one of a plurality of modes of operation of the hand-held power tool to regulate power supplied to the motor.