Socket Damping Component for Vibration Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sockets for impact tools experience high hand-arm vibration (HAV) due to undampened hard contact between the socket, impact tool, and application base material, leading to potential damage to the impact tool and increased HAV values for users.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a damping component with an axially elastically deformable first elastic element in the workpiece hole and optionally a second elastic element in the shaft holder hole to buffer hard contacts, thereby reducing vibration transmission to the impact tool.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the socket is in hard contact with the application base material to ensure stable fastening, then the fastening reliability is improved, but the vibration and reaction force increase causing high HAV values and potential tool damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening reliabilityVSAvoidvibration and HAV
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a damping component as an intermediary element between the socket and the application base material. This damping component absorbs and dissipates vibration energy, reducing the reaction force transmitted to the impact tool and user, while still maintaining sufficient contact stability for effective fastening operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the contact interface by changing the physical parameters of the socket - specifically by adding damping material that alters the stiffness and vibration characteristics of the contact interface. This allows the system to maintain contact stability while reducing vibration transmission through parameter modification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the socket structure is simplified to reduce complexity, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the vibration damping capability is insufficient leading to high HAV values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesocket structure complexityVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The damping component serves as a mediator that adds vibration damping functionality without requiring a complete redesign of the socket structure. It can be integrated as a separate element or layer, maintaining the basic socket geometry while improving vibration performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite construction by combining the socket material with damping material. This creates a composite structure that leverages the strength and rigidity of the socket material while incorporating the vibration-absorbing properties of the damping material, achieving both structural integrity and vibration reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the damping component is positioned to fully contact the workpiece head, then the vibration buffering is maximized, but the workpiece head may be damaged or the socket may not fit properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration bufferingVSAvoidworkpiece head integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The damping component is designed with non-uniform properties - it has higher damping capability in regions where vibration occurs but is positioned or structured to avoid concentrating excessive force on localized areas of the workpiece head. This ensures vibration buffering without compromising workpiece integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The damping component provides vibration buffering through partial contact rather than full contact with the workpiece head. This partial action is sufficient to absorb vibration energy while avoiding excessive force that could damage the workpiece head or interfere with proper socket fit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 damping components effectively suppress reaction forces from vibrations, reducing the risk of impact tool damage and meeting HAV requirements by minimizing vibration transfer to the user.

Implementation Method 1

a damping component, which is axially elastically deformable along the working axis, being provided in the workpiece hole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a second elastic element in the shaft holder hole to buffer hard contacts, thereby reducing vibration transmission to the impact tool

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4541512A1Socket for fastening a workpiece
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 HILTI AG
  • EP4541512A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4541512A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4541512A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A socket for fastening a workpiece, the socket including a main body extending along a working axis, the main body including a working end and an opposite drive end, the working end having a workpiece hole adapted to receive a workpiece head, the drive end having a shaft holder hole adapted to receive an output shaft of an impact tool, and a damping component, which is axially elastically deformable along the working axis, being provided in the workpiece hole, wherein an axial distance from a front end surface of the damping component adjacent to the workpiece head to a front end edge of the working end is less than an axial length of the workpiece head. In this way, when the impact tool performs fastening application operations, the damping component can buffer the hard contact between the working end of the socket and an application base material to suppress the vibration of the socket caused thereby.