Recessed Backing Pad Structure for Low-Vibration Sanding Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional backing pads for power tools have a central region that protrudes or is at the same level as the surrounding region, leading to a high center of gravity and unsteady operation with significant vibrations due to the distance between the center of gravity of the backing pad and the counterweights.
Innovation Solution
The backing pad design features a recessed central region with the attachment member positioned lower, allowing closer placement of counterweights to the center of gravity, reducing the distance between moving masses and enhancing stability and reducing vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the central region protrudes or is at the same level as the surrounding region, then the attachment member can be easily positioned, but the center of gravity is high causing unsteady operation with significant vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of protruding the central region upward to position the attachment member, the patent inverts the approach by recessing the central region downward. This allows the attachment member to be positioned lower on the backing pad, which lowers the center of gravity and reduces vibrations during operation, thereby improving operational stability while still providing easy attachment member positioning.
2Ease of manufacture
If the attachment member is positioned higher on the backing pad, then attachment is easier, but the distance between center of gravity and counterweights increases causing more vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by recessing the central region downward instead of protruding it upward. This positioning strategy places the attachment member lower on the backing pad, which lowers the center of gravity and reduces the distance to counterweights, thereby minimizing vibrations generated during operation.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the central region is recessed, then the center of gravity is lowered reducing vibrations, but the attachment member positioning becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backing pad surface into a recessed central region and a surrounding elevated region. This segmentation allows the attachment member to be precisely positioned in the recessed central region while maintaining simple attachment geometry. The clear distinction between regions simplifies rather than complicates the positioning process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recessed central region with specific geometric properties that facilitate attachment member positioning. The recessed geometry provides a natural seat for the attachment member, making positioning intuitive and simple despite the overall lowered center of gravity design.
Data Source
AI summary
A plate-like backing pad (20) for releasable attachment to a hand-held polishing/sanding power tool (2) includes a center axis (34), a top surface (50) having a resilient plastic damping layer (52) attached thereto, an even bottom layer (22) attached to a bottom surface (56) of the damping layer (52) and adapted for releasable attachment of a polishing/sanding member (24), and an attachment member (38) adapted on the top surface for releasable attachment to a corresponding attachment element (32) of the power tool (2). The top surface has a central region (58) extending around the center axis and an external region (60) surrounding the central region recessed with respect to the external region. The attachment member adapted in the recessed central region with the center axis extending through the attachment member and part of the central region surrounding the attachment member.