Rotating Support Ring for Handheld Cutting Device Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handheld motorized cutting devices for hard materials like tiles and stone slabs struggle to produce perfectly straight cuts due to their lightweight design and lack of lateral guidance, leading to uncontrolled cuts and potential damage from vibrations when attempting to support the tool on the material surface.

Innovation Solution

A support accessory with a rotating bearing and support ring is integrated onto the motor shaft of the cutting device, allowing the tool to be used with the support ring resting on the material surface, providing stability and guidance for the cutting disc without interfering with the tool's rotation or causing scratches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the cutting device is made lightweight for portability, then operator fatigue is reduced and portability is improved, but control precision and cutting straightness deteriorate due to insufficient weight to counteract blade stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice weightVSAvoidcutting straightness
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

A support ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the cutting device and the material surface. This support ring provides the necessary stability and guidance for straight cuts without requiring the entire device to be heavier. The support ring acts as a mediator that enables precise control while maintaining the lightweight design of the main cutting device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the device is designed for freehand operation without support, then portability and ease of use are maintained, but cutting control and straightness deteriorate due to lack of lateral guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefreehand operationVSAvoidcutting control
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is designed to rotate freely around the motor shaft, allowing it to adapt dynamically to the cutting process. This rotational freedom enables the support ring to provide guidance and stability during freehand operation without constraining the operator's movement. The dynamic design maintains ease of operation while improving cutting control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If a support frame is added to guide the cutting blade, then cutting straightness is improved, but the frame vibrations cause micro-scratches on the finished surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting straightnessVSAvoidsurface scratches
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful vibrational support function is extracted from the main cutting device and separated into an independent support ring component. This support ring is specifically designed with low-friction or anti-abrasion material finish to prevent surface scratches while providing the necessary guidance. By separating the support function, the device achieves cutting straightness without transmitting harmful vibrations to the material surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Manufacturing precision

If the support ring is fixed to prevent rotation, then guidance stability is improved, but friction causes surface damage and operator difficulty

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveguidance stabilityVSAvoidsurface damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support ring is designed to rotate freely around the motor shaft, allowing it to adapt dynamically to the cutting process. This rotational freedom enables the support ring to provide guidance and stability during freehand operation without constraining the operator's movement. The dynamic design maintains ease of operation while improving cutting control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables the operator to make controlled, straight cuts by allowing the support ring to remain stationary while the cutting disc rotates, reducing operator effort and preventing surface damage with a low-friction or anti-abrasion material finish.

Implementation Method 1

The bearing 4 is dimensioned in such a way that it can be fit centred on the shaft 1a... the support ring 5 integral with the outer ring of the bearing 4... The support ring 5 has an external radius which is smaller than the radius of the cutting disc 2... The support ring 5 can be used as a support means on the surface of the material to be cut... the support ring 5 remains idle with respect to the rotation of the cutting disc 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3638471B1Improved handheld motorized cutting device and relative accessory
Publication Date: 2022.06.29 BREVETTI MONTOLIT SPA
  • EP3638471B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3638471B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3638471B1 patent drawingFigure 4A

AI summary

It is disclosed an accessory equipment for a motorized handheld cutting device, comprising a hub to be coupled to a motor body of said device, coaxially to a motor shaft (la), and a supporting surface suitable for resting on a surface of a material to be cut, wherein said hub (6, 60) is integral with an inner ring of a rotating bearing (4) having a central hole adapted to be fitted coaxially on said motor shaft (la) of said motorized cutting device, and in that said supporting surface is constituted by a support ring (5) which is integral in rotation to an outer ring of said rotating bearing (4).