Sensor-equipped Dust Hood for Angle Grinder Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Angle grinders are often used with or without dust extraction, leading to operating errors due to incorrect rotational directions of the cutting wheel, which can result in undesirable dust exposure for the user, especially when the suction hose is not connected or the flap is open.
Innovation Solution
A dust hood equipped with a sensor unit that detects the connection of the suction hose and the state of the flap, automatically predefining the rotational direction of the cutting wheel based on these conditions, ensuring safe operation by preventing rotation if unsafe conditions are detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the suction hose is not connected or the flap is open during dust extraction operation, then the cutting wheel may rotate in the wrong direction, but this leads to dust exposure and operating errors for the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through sensor units that continuously monitor the connection status of the suction hose and the position of the flap. These sensors provide real-time information to the control unit, which automatically adjusts the rotational direction of the cutting wheel based on the detected conditions, ensuring safe operation without requiring manual user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting unsafe conditions (open flap or disconnected suction hose) and autonomously correcting the rotational direction of the cutting wheel. The control unit uses sensor inputs to predefined safe rotational directions, eliminating the need for user awareness or manual adjustment of operational parameters.
2Reliability
If the sensor unit and control system are added to automatically detect suction hose connection and flap position, then operational safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the safety monitoring function into separate, modular sensor units that are integrated into the dust hood assembly. This allows the sensor units to be independently positioned and maintained, simplifying the overall system architecture while ensuring reliable detection of suction hose connection and flap position without complicating the motor control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A dust hood (100), including a flange (90) for fastening the dust hood (100) to a transmission extension housing (210) of an angle grinder (200), and including a hood body (10) for covering a circular cutting wheel (220) on both sides, at least in sections, and including a suction connecting piece (40) for connecting a suction hose (400), via which removed substrate material (UG) may be extracted from the hood body (10), the dust hood (100) including a sensor unit (20), with the aid of which it is possible to detect whether the suction hose (20) is connected to the suction connecting piece (40) and/or whether a flap (45) of the suction connecting piece (40) is open.