Power Tool Raking Attachment with Guidance Fin and Vacuum Ports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tools for raking mortar joints in masonry structures are inefficient, causing user fatigue and generating excessive fine dust, while power tools often damage the structure due to lack of control and produce uneven cuts.
Innovation Solution
A tool attachment for a power tool, such as a rotary hammer drill, featuring a hollow shaft, a substantially flat sled with a guidance fin, and a split collar clamp, which stabilizes and guides the tool during joint raking, reducing fatigue and damage by providing better control and capturing debris with vacuum ports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional tools are used for raking mortar joints, then the operation can be performed, but user fatigue increases and the operation is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The tool divides the joint raking operation into controlled segments through the hollow shaft that limits the operating element's travel, creating consistent raking depths and reducing user fatigue from manual control
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow shaft acts as an intermediary between the power tool and the operating element, providing guidance and control to improve efficiency while reducing the physical effort required by the user
2Productivity
If power tools are used for joint raking, then the operation speed increases, but the structure is damaged due to lack of control
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow shaft provides localized control over the operating element's path, ensuring that the high-speed power tool operation is confined to the mortar joint area and prevents damage to adjacent brick units
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow shaft serves as a guiding intermediary that allows power tool speed while maintaining control within the joint, preventing the harmful effect of uncontrolled power tool operation on the masonry structure
3Productivity
If conventional tools are used for joint raking, then the operation can be performed, but excessive fine dust is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow shaft functions as a vacuum port integration system that uses pneumatic suction to capture dust particles at the source, improving efficiency while reducing the harmful effect of dust generation
4Productivity
If an attachment is added to stabilize and guide the power tool, then control and productivity improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow shaft performs multiple functions simultaneously - guiding the operating element, integrating vacuum ports for dust capture, and providing structural support - which improves productivity while minimizing the increase in device complexity through multi-functionality
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to be mounted to a power tool includes a hollow shaft configured to surround an operating element of the power tool; a substantially flat sled, in which a bottom surface of the sled is configured to interface with a working surface; and a guidance fin protruding from the bottom surface of the sled, wherein the guidance fin is configured to guide the apparatus along an operating path. The apparatus may include at least one vacuum port attachment, which can be mounted to a top surface of the sled and/or may be built into a support member of the apparatus. The apparatus may include a clamp configured to mount the apparatus to the power tool. The power tool can be a rotary hammer drill.