Self-lubricating Hand Tamper with Integrated Reservoir

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Solution Overview

Problem

Hand tampers used for compacting asphalt often have issues with asphalt sticking to the tool, requiring frequent cleaning, increasing user effort and affecting surface smoothness, and existing solutions like release agents are cumbersome to apply and store.

Innovation Solution

A hand tamper with an integrated reservoir and valve system that dispenses a release agent onto the tamping surface, preventing asphalt buildup, featuring a handle with a cavity, inlet, and outlet, and a tamping head with apertures for fluid distribution, allowing for convenient and efficient application of the release agent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If a release agent is applied to the tamper to prevent asphalt from sticking, then the asphalt buildup is prevented, but the device complexity increases and the ease of operation decreases due to the need for separate containers and application steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasphalt buildup on tamperVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the release agent storage reservoir and dispensing mechanism directly into the tamper head, combining what were previously separate components (tamper and release agent container) into a single unified tool. This eliminates the need for separate containers and application steps, resolving the contradiction by maintaining the benefit of asphalt prevention while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tamper is designed to apply its own release agent through an integrated dispensing system activated by the user during operation. The system automatically delivers the release agent to the tamping surface without requiring separate manual application, making the tool self-sufficient and eliminating additional operational steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If a separate container for release agent is carried, then the release agent is available for application, but the ease of operation decreases and the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease agent availabilityVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reservoir is integrated into the tamper head structure, merging the release agent storage function with the tamping tool itself. This eliminates the need to carry separate containers while ensuring release agent availability, directly resolving the contradiction by improving ease of operation while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The tamper head serves multiple functions: it performs the primary tamping function while also storing and dispensing release agent. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated release agent containers, improving ease of operation while ensuring continuous availability of the release agent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the worker stops to apply release agent from a distant location, then the release agent is applied, but the productivity decreases and the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveasphalt buildup preventionVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The release agent is pre-loaded into the reservoir integrated in the tamper head, allowing the worker to have immediate access to the release agent at the work location. This eliminates the need to stop and travel to a distant storage location, maintaining asphalt buildup prevention while preserving productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

By integrating the release agent storage and dispensing system into the tamper itself, the worker can apply release agent continuously during operation without leaving the work area. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the protective function while eliminating productivity losses from travel and work stoppages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If release agent is stored at a distance from the worker, then the release agent is preserved, but the ease of operation decreases and the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelease agent preservationVSAvoidloss of time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The release agent is stored in a reservoir integrated into the tamper head, eliminating the distance between the worker and the release agent. This resolves the contradiction by providing immediate access during operation (reducing time loss) while maintaining preservation through the sealed integrated system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated reservoir system acts as an intermediary that brings the release agent directly to the worker's hand tool, eliminating the need to travel to distant storage locations. This maintains release agent preservation while eliminating time loss through the intermediary storage mechanism built into the tool itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10927511B2Self-lubricating hand tamper

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 DELLARIO MICHAEL S

AI summary

A hand tamper includes a handle and a tamping head. The handle has a cavity to hold a fluid. The tamping head includes apertures in the bottom. Fluid can flow from the handle through the apertures of the tamping head to coat a tamping surface on the bottom of the hand tamper. The fluid can, for example, prevent asphalt from sticking to the tamping head.