Self-Aligning Tool Coupling for Reliable Torque Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling arrangements for power tools often require complex alignment procedures for tool heads, which can be difficult for users and may result in improper mating, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A coupling arrangement featuring a drive part and a driven part with complementary profiles, along with an aligning arrangement that forces relative rotation between the parts, ensuring seamless alignment and mating during a single continuous axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual alignment of hexagonal drive and driven parts is used, then the coupling arrangement can be simple in structure, but the ease of operation deteriorates and manufacturing precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning arrangement performs preliminary rotational alignment of the drive profile and driven profile before they engage. The aligning features (such as protrusions and grooves) automatically orient the components correctly as they approach each other during axial movement, eliminating the need for manual rotational alignment by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling arrangement performs self-alignment through its own structural features. The aligning arrangement includes complementary geometric features on the drive and driven parts that automatically guide rotational orientation during the coupling process, making the system self-aligning without external intervention or complex alignment procedures.
2Device complexity
If manual alignment of hexagonal drive and driven parts is used, then the coupling arrangement can be simple in structure, but the manufacturing precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The aligning arrangement establishes correct rotational orientation before the mating surfaces engage. By providing aligning features that contact first during the coupling process, the system ensures that the drive and driven profiles are properly oriented before load is transferred, preventing improper mating and ensuring precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The geometric features of the aligning arrangement (protrusions, grooves, or other complementary shapes) automatically ensure precise rotational alignment through self-centering and self-orienting mechanisms during assembly, eliminating dependence on user skill and ensuring consistent manufacturing precision.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex alignment procedures are used, then the manufacturing precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling arrangement uses simple self-aligning geometric features integrated into the drive and driven parts. These features automatically perform the alignment function through basic mechanical interaction during assembly, achieving precise mating without requiring complex alignment mechanisms, procedures, or additional components.
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling arrangement for a tool, the coupling arrangement comprising a drive part rotatable about a rotation axis, the drive part comprising a drive profile; a driven part rotatable about the rotation axis, the driven part comprising a driven profile complementary to the drive profile, the driven profile being arranged to mate with the drive profile in a coupled position for torque transfer between the drive part and the driven part; and an aligning arrangement arranged to force a relative rotation between the drive part and the driven part about the rotation axis from a nonaligned state of the coupling arrangement, where the drive profile is not rotationally aligned with the driven profile, towards an aligned state of the coupling arrangement, where the drive profile is rotationally aligned with the driven profile.