Rotatable Power Equipment Handles with Orientation-Based Motor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power equipment handles that are rotatably mounted can collapse to a storage position, allowing operators to be dangerously close to the work implement when activated, posing a safety risk.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of first and second orientation sensors to detect the positions of elements relative to each other and gravity, with a controller disabling the motor if either element is outside predefined safe ranges, ensuring safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is rotatably mounted to allow movement between work position and storage position, then the ease of operation and storage is improved, but the safety risk increases when the handle is in unexpected positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the handle orientation using sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, or Hall effect sensors) and provides feedback to the controller. The controller compares the detected orientation with predefined safe ranges and adjusts motor operation accordingly, enabling real-time safety monitoring while maintaining handle flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system between the operator's actions and the motor operation. This intermediary system uses sensors and a controller to mediate whether the motor should operate based on handle position, preventing direct coupling between handle position and motor activation and thereby eliminating the safety hazard.
2Productivity
If the motor is enabled whenever the trigger is pulled, then the productivity and responsiveness is improved, but the risk of unintended operation increases when equipment is in unsafe positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary checks of handle orientation before allowing motor operation. The sensors continuously monitor position and the controller pre-assesses whether the current configuration is safe for operation, preventing unintended activation before it can occur while maintaining quick response when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control where motor enablement is not static but changes based on real-time handle position. The system transitions between enabled and disabled states dynamically according to sensor feedback, allowing productive operation when safe while preventing unintended operation when unsafe conditions exist.
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
Prevents unintended operation of power equipment by maintaining operator safety distance from the work implement, preventing harm by disabling the motor when unsafe positions are detected.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the first element, wherein the first sensor is configured to output a first signal corresponding to the detected orientation of the first element to the controller
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the second element, wherein the second sensor is configured to output a second signal corresponding to the detected orientation of the second element to the controller
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E
AI summary
A power equipment may include a controller, a motor to actuate a work implement, a first element, a second element housing the motor, in which the first element is rotatably mounted to the second element. The power equipment may also include a first sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the first element and a second sensor positioned to detect an orientation of the second element. The first sensor outputs a first signal corresponding to the detected orientation of the first element to the controller and the second sensor outputs a second signal corresponding to the detected orientation of the second element to the controller. In addition, the controller may enable or disable the motor based on both the first signal and the second signal.