Rotatable Hook Tongue Removal Tool for Tap-Hole Inserts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tongue break-off tools require multiple operations, including breaking off and collecting the tongue, which can lead to pitch deviation and decreased working efficiency due to varying tongue orientations and the need for tool replacement.

Innovation Solution

A tongue break-off tool with an insertion member, movement member, and defining member that allows the hook to rotate and move diagonally relative to the tap hole, ensuring the tongue can be broken off and collected efficiently regardless of orientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the tongue break-off tool is used with a fixed orientation hook, then the tongue can be broken off effectively, but the operator must change body orientation or workpiece orientation to accommodate varying tongue directions, increasing the number of steps and decreasing working efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetongue break-off effectivenessVSAvoidworking efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The hook is made rotatable relative to the insertion member around the extending direction of the tap hole as a rotation axis. This dynamic adjustment allows the operator to orient the hook in any direction to match the tongue orientation without changing body or workpiece orientation, thereby maintaining break-off effectiveness while improving working efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotational degree of freedom of the hook changes the orientation parameter of the tool, enabling it to adapt to various tongue directions. This parameter change allows the same tool configuration to handle different tongue orientations without additional steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional breaking off operation using a steel rod is used, then the tongue can be broken off, but pitch deviation occurs and the broken off tongue remains inside the tap hole requiring collection operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetongue break-off capabilityVSAvoidpitch deviation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The hook acts as an intermediary that engages with the tongue at the notch and applies controlled force to break it off. The insertion member serves as another intermediary that transmits force from the movement member to the hook, enabling precise force application that prevents pitch deviation while breaking off the tongue

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The broken off tongue is extracted from the tap hole by the hook and insertion member combination. The hook catches the tongue at the notch and pulls it out as the insertion member is moved, eliminating the need for a separate collection operation and preventing pitch deviation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If multiple operations (breaking off and collecting) are performed with tool replacement, then the tongue can be removed, but the operations are interrupted and working efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetongue removal completenessVSAvoidoperation interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The breaking off function and collecting function are merged into a single tool system. The hook both breaks off the tongue and holds it for removal, while the insertion member both transmits breaking force and facilitates tongue extraction. This merging eliminates the need for separate collection tools and operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tongue break-off tool performs multiple functions: it breaks off the tongue, holds the broken tongue, and removes it from the tap hole. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate collection tools and operations, preventing workflow interruptions and improving working efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4431240B1Tongue removal tool and tongue removal method
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 SANYU SEIKI CORP
  • EP4431240B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4431240B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4431240B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A movement member is always placed at the hand of an operator at the time of break off of a tongue of an insert inserted in a tap hole even when the tongue faces any direction, thereby making it possible to improve working efficiency. A tongue break-off tool includes: an insertion member (2) including a hook (231) hooks a tongue of a tongued insert inserted into a tap hole; a movement member (4) moves the insertion member (2) in a diagonal direction diagonally intersecting with an extending direction of the tap hole from a deep side of the tap hole to a near side of the tap hole such that the tongue is broken off from the tongued insert; and a defining member (3) including a receiving hole (31) through which the insertion member (2) is passed in the extending direction such that the insertion member (2) is accommodated in the receiving hole (31), and a to-be-gripped section (33) with which the movement member (4) makes contact. The defining member (3) is gripped such that a defining member grip section (45) of the movement member (4) is fitted in the to-be-gripped section (33), and the insertion member (2) is rotatable relative to the movement member (4) around the extending direction as a rotation axis.