Slide Switch Recess Inclination for Electric Tool

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional slide switches for electric power tools often experience issues with the slider failing to stop in the correct recess during switching operations, requiring excessive force and leading to incorrect step adjustments.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates varying inclination angles for the ascending slant surfaces of the recesses along the rails, with smaller angles for positioning units further from the final unit, reducing the force required for slider movement and minimizing the likelihood of incorrect transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If identical recesses with uniform slant surfaces are used in all positioning units, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the slider requires excessive force to move and may fail to stop correctly in the recesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidsliding operation smoothness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by varying the inclination angles of slant surfaces in different positioning units. Specifically, positioning units farther from the final position have smaller inclination angles, while those closer to the final position have larger inclination angles. This localized differentiation optimizes the sliding operation at each position without requiring complete structural redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameter (inclination angle) of the slant surfaces across different positioning units. By adjusting this parameter based on position, the system achieves smoother sliding operations and proper stopping behavior while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a systematic parameter variation approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If larger force is applied to move the slider to ensure it reaches the next recess, then the switching can be completed, but the slider may skip positions or fail to stop correctly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching operation completionVSAvoidstep adjustment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses reliability by making each positioning unit have tailored slant surface inclination angles suited to its specific position. This localized optimization ensures that the slider experiences appropriate resistance and guidance at each position, preventing skipping or incorrect stopping even when larger forces are applied during switching operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 approach allows for smoother and more precise sequential switching of the slide switch, reducing the likelihood of failure to adjust steps even with increased force application.

Implementation Method 1

a spring for bringing spring pieces 33a and 33b formed in the opposite end portions thereof into contact with the arm portions 32a and 32b and biasing the respective projections 31 toward the rails 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2759380B1Slide switch for electric tool
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2759380B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP2759380B1 patent drawingFigure 1D~1E
  • EP2759380B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A slide switch for an electric tool is provided with a pair of rails (2) and a slide part (3) for sliding sandwiched between said rails, and said rails (2) are provided with a positioning region for determining the position in the sliding direction of the slide part. The positioning region, comprising a plurality of concave parts (23) formed in a line on the slide part side, has at least three positioning units formed so as to be centered around one of the concave parts (23). The angle of inclination (α) of an ascending inclined face (27) of the positioning unit which is two units or more in front of the positioning unit which is in the final position at the tip end in the sliding direction is smaller than the angle of inclination (β) of an ascending inclined face (25) of the positioning unit adjacent to said positioning unit in the tip end direction.