Power Tool Grip Adaptor With Liquid-Filled Foam Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing power tools cause Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS) due to inadequate vibration damping solutions, which are either ineffective or add unwanted mass, and custom dampers are difficult and costly to produce.
Innovation Solution
A customizable adaptor system for power tools using closed cell liquid-filled foams (CCLFF) with viscoelastic polymers and liquid cores, combined with secure attachment mechanisms, to reduce vibration transmission while maintaining grip quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration damping materials are added to power tool grips, then vibration transmission to hands is reduced, but the mass of the tool increases making workers lift heavier loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the damping material by using a foam structure with closed cells filled with liquid. This configuration provides superior vibration damping performance per unit mass compared to traditional solid elastomers, thereby reducing vibration transmission without proportionally increasing tool mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining foam material with liquid-filled closed cells. This composite approach creates a damping system that achieves higher vibration reduction efficiency without the mass penalty of solid damping materials, resolving the contradiction between vibration protection and tool weight.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If custom vibration dampers are manufactured for each power tool, then vibration protection is optimized, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to casting and molding processes
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor is designed as a separable component that can be universally attached to different power tools without requiring custom manufacturing for each tool model. This segmentation allows standardization of the damping solution across multiple applications, eliminating the need for expensive tool-specific molds and casting processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptor design achieves universality by creating a single damping component that can be adapted to multiple power tool types through attachment mechanisms rather than custom manufacturing. This multi-functional adaptor serves various tools without requiring separate production lines or tool-specific molding, dramatically simplifying manufacturing.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If vibration reducing gloves are used, then some vibration isolation is provided, but workers cut off fingertips to maintain tactile feedback, defeating the protective function
Solution Approach 1:
The adaptor acts as an intermediary vibration isolation system positioned between the power tool and the worker's hand. Unlike gloves that attempt to isolate vibration at the skin level (requiring finger tip removal for feedback), the adaptor provides passive isolation through its foam-liquid structure while allowing full tactile contact with the tool, eliminating the need to sacrifice dexterity for protection.
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
Significantly reduces peak accelerations and power spectral density of vibrations experienced by users, providing effective protection against HAVS without compromising tool control.
Implementation Method 1
a core comprising a closed cell liquid-filled foam (CCLFF) including a viscoelastic material and a liquid
Implementation Method 2
reduces the transmission of vibrations from the power tool to the hands
Implementation Method 3
The CCLFF can have the relative cell size, and density of cells, spatially varied throughout the section. In embodiments, the cell size of the CCLFF is about 16 microns tall, about 40 microns wide and about 80 microns long. In some embodiments, the percentage of liquid by volume for vibration absorption is about 25%.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for a vibration dampening system having an adaptor with a user contact surface and a power tool contact surface. The adaptor can include a core to reduce vibration transfer from the tool to the hands of a user. In embodiments, the core comprises a viscoelastic material that lightens a base elastomer to form liquid-filled closed cells structures.