Spherical Tilting Mechanism for Low-Load Spindle Deflection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing deburring tools face difficulty in tilting the spindle body due to moment loads, making it challenging to reduce the required load for tilting.

Innovation Solution

A tilting mechanism with a housing, a body tiltable inside the chamber, an elastic member urging the body towards the distal end, and an anti-rotation member to prevent rotation, allowing the spindle body to tilt even with small moment loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If a piston is used to press the center disk toward the distal end, then the spindle body can be supported, but the moment load makes it difficult for the piston to move

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepiston movement capabilityVSAvoidtilting operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional piston with a spherical body that contacts the receiving surface through a spherical surface. This curvature allows the body to tilt smoothly while maintaining continuous contact, eliminating the sticking problem associated with piston movement under moment load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a receiving surface with a spherical curvature that acts as an intermediary between the elastic member and the body. This receiving surface guides the tilting motion and distributes the moment load, making it easier for the body to tilt without requiring excessive force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the spindle body is tilted against moment load, then the tool can adapt to workpiece contours, but the load required for tilting increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkpiece contour adaptationVSAvoidtilting load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical contact surface between the body and receiving surface enables smooth tilting motion with reduced friction, allowing the spindle body to adapt to workpiece contours with minimal tilting load.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an elastic member (spring) to provide urging force, and in some embodiments, pneumatic or hydraulic pressure is applied to assist the tilting action, reducing the manual load required for adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the body is allowed to tilt freely, then the spindle body can adapt to contours, but rotation of the body occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontour adaptationVSAvoidbody orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an anti-rotation member with an asymmetric configuration that selectively prevents rotation while allowing tilting motion. The anti-rotation pin or protrusion engages with a corresponding feature on the body, creating asymmetry that permits angular adjustment but blocks rotational movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

4Reliability

If the piston is pressed against the center disk, then the spindle body is supported, but the piston becomes difficult to move under moment load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespindle supportVSAvoidpiston movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The spherical body maintains reliable spindle support through continuous contact with the receiving surface while enabling smooth movement during tilting operations, eliminating the sticking issue with conventional pistons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a static piston configuration to a dynamic spherical body that can rotate and tilt, allowing the support mechanism to adapt to varying load conditions and maintain reliability while remaining easy to move.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables smooth tilting of the spindle body with reduced moment loads, maintaining pressure and reducing the load required for tilting, while ensuring alignment and seal integrity.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member disposed in the body chamber, the elastic member configured to urge the body toward a distal end

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a first spherical surface configured to come in contact with the receiving surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpherical contact: Ball

Data Source

PatentUS20250249517A1Tilting mechanism

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 SUGINO MACHINE

AI summary

A tilting mechanism includes: a housing including a body chamber extending along a reference axis, a receiving surface located at a distal end portion of the body chamber, and an abutment surface; a body disposed inside the body chamber in a tiltable manner with respect to the reference axis, the body including a first spherical surface coming in contact with the receiving surface, and a contact surface coming in contact with the abutment surface, an elastic member disposed in the body chamber to urge the body toward a distal end; and an anti-rotation member disposed in the housing to prevent rotation of the body.