Sharpening Machine Contouring Tools for Ice Skate Blade Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ice skate blade sharpening technologies are limited by circular, concave profiles, which restrict the range of edge angles and depths, compromising turning ability and glide speed, and alternative profiles with irregular edges or unstable designs offer poor performance.
Innovation Solution
A sharpening machine with a rotatable grinding wheel and adjustable contouring tools that allow for various cross-sectional profiles, including flat bottom vee and elliptical shapes, enabling greater variation in edge angles and depths, and interchangeable contouring tools with different radii and geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a circular, concave blade profile is used, then the blade can be manufactured with a simple grinding process, but the range of edge angles and depths is restricted, compromising turning ability and glide speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the grinding wheel contour adjustable and interchangeable. Instead of a fixed circular profile, the system allows dynamic changes in blade profile geometry through interchangeable grinding wheels with different contours (flat bottom, Vee, rounded, etc.), enabling adaptation to various skating performance requirements while maintaining manufacturing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by varying the geometric parameters of the blade profile. Different grinding wheel contours produce different blade profiles with varying edge angles, depths, and shapes. This allows optimization of turning ability and glide speed by selecting appropriate profile parameters without changing the fundamental manufacturing process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If alternative profiles with irregular edges or unstable designs are used, then greater variation in edge angles and depths can be achieved, but stability and control during skating deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific profile geometries optimized for different functional requirements. Different sections of the blade can have different profile characteristics (e.g., flat bottom for stability, Vee for cutting edge definition), allowing simultaneous optimization of stability and adaptability through spatial variation of profile quality along the blade length and width.
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
This solution provides ice skate blades with enhanced performance by allowing for a wider range of edge angles and depths, improving turning ability and glide speed, while maintaining stability and control during skating.
Implementation Method 1
a perimeter of the grinding wheel (2312) that is rotatable about a first axis... facilitate dressing of the perimeter of the grinding wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A sharpening machine generally includes a grinding wheel having a perimeter that is rotatable about a first axis. The sharpening machine includes an adjustment device adapted to be coupled to a structure of the sharpening machine. A shaft, mounted to the adjustment device, defines a second axis that is generally parallel to the first axis when the adjustment device is coupled to the structure and is movable along a predetermined feed axis toward the grinding wheel. A carousel is rotatably connected to the shaft of the adjustment device. A contouring tool having a counter surface is rotatably connected to the carousel. Movement of the shaft of the adjustment device along the feed axis is configured to translate the carousel and move the contouring tool into and out of engagement with the grinding wheel to facilitate dressing of the perimeter of the grinding wheel to a grinding wheel contour.