Shovel Attachment Mechanism for Reducing Digging Effort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shovels require significant effort and can cause stress and injury when digging through tough soil, particularly affecting users with less strength and increasing the risk of long-term injuries.
Innovation Solution
A shovel with an attachment mechanism that includes a foot pedal and a triggering mechanism with springs, which compresses to amplify force and reduce user effort, allowing for efficient digging without direct electrical reliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional hand shovel is used, then the tool is simple and easily manufactured, but it inflicts a lot of stress on the user's body and consumes a lot of energy and effort
Solution Approach 1:
The shovel is divided into distinct functional segments: a handle for user input, a triggering mechanism with springs for force amplification, and a blade for soil engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall user effort while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The triggering mechanism incorporates springs that dynamically store and release energy during the digging cycle. When the user activates the trigger, the compressed springs release stored energy to amplify the force applied to the blade, reducing the continuous effort required from the user.
2Device complexity
If a conventional hand shovel is used, then the tool structure is simple, but it consumes a lot of energy and effort to dig through tough soil
Solution Approach 1:
The springs in the triggering mechanism are pre-compressed and store energy before use. When the trigger is activated, this pre-stored energy is released to assist with blade penetration, reducing the instantaneous energy demand from the user during tough digging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The digging action is transformed into a periodic cycle: the user applies force to compress the springs, releases the trigger to allow spring expansion that amplifies the digging force, then resets for the next cycle. This periodic action with energy storage phases reduces average energy consumption compared to continuous manual forcing.
3Device complexity
If a conventional hand shovel is used, then the tool is basic and simple, but it takes a lot of time to dig through tough soil
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic spring mechanism enables rapid force delivery to the blade during each triggering cycle. The elastic energy release occurs quickly, allowing the blade to penetrate tough soil faster than sustained manual pressure could achieve, thereby reducing total digging time despite the added mechanism complexity.
4Device complexity
If a conventional hand shovel is used, then the tool structure is simple, but it increases the probability of long-term injuries
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the force amplification function into a dedicated triggering mechanism with springs, the design isolates the high-force generation from the user's direct body contact. The user interacts only with the trigger and handle, while the spring mechanism handles the strenuous force multiplication, reducing stress on the user's muscles and joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-based triggering mechanism acts as an intermediary between the user's input force and the blade's force on the soil. This intermediary amplifies the user's effort through elastic energy storage and release, reducing the direct mechanical stress that would otherwise be transmitted to the user's body during tough digging operations.
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
The shovel reduces the time and effort needed to dig through tough soil, minimizing the risk of long-term injuries and improving usability for users with less strength.
Implementation Method 1
a hammer spring located in the upper portion of the housing; a punch pin spring, wherein the punch pin spring is coiled around the punch pin
Implementation Method 2
The shovel includes an attachment mechanism that imparts force on soil and reduces the effort and stress on a user
Data Source
AI summary
A shovel includes a handgrip and a shaft. The shaft has a proximal end and a distal end, the handgrip is attached to the shaft at the proximal end. The shovel includes an attachment mechanism attached to the shaft at the distal end. The attachment mechanism includes: a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion; and a triggering mechanism located within the housing. The triggering mechanism includes: a hammer spring and a hammer located in the upper portion of the housing, the top portion of the hammer abutting the hammer spring, and the bottom portion of the hammer including a recess. The triggering mechanism also includes a punch pin located in the bottom portion of the housing, the top of the punch pin contacting the bottom of the hammer adjacent to the recess. The triggering mechanism further includes a punch pin spring coiled around the punch pin.