Spring-Damper Hammer Assembly for Reduced Impact Vibration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hammers do not adequately address the issue of work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSD) caused by vibration, particularly in the construction industry, leading to conditions such as tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, hand-arm vibration syndrome, and muscle strain.
Innovation Solution
A vibration reducing spring damper hammer incorporating a mass-spring-damper system and low-friction sleeves to mitigate vibration impact, maintaining the hammer's strike and recoil mechanics while reducing vibrational forces by up to 65%.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional hammer design is used, then hammering function is maintained, but vibration exposure is high causing WMSD
Solution Approach 1:
A mass-spring-damper system is introduced as an intermediary between the hammer head and handle. The spring component absorbs and dissipates vibration energy through elastic deformation, while the damper reduces oscillations through viscous damping. This intermediary system filters harmful vibrations before they reach the user's hand, reducing vibration exposure by up to 65% while maintaining hammering effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical parameters of the hammer are modified by incorporating a mass-spring-damper system with specific mass, spring constant, and damping coefficient values. These parameter changes create a vibration filtering effect that reduces the transmission of harmful frequencies to the user's hand, thereby decreasing vibration exposure while preserving the hammer's striking capability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If mass-spring-damper system is added, then vibration is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mass-spring-damper system is nested within the existing hammer structure. The spring and damper components are housed inside the hammer handle, with the mass element positioned within the hollow cavity of the handle. This nesting approach integrates the vibration reduction system into the conventional hammer design without requiring external attachments or significantly increasing overall device complexity.
3Loss of energy
If strike spot is made flat, then impact loss is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The strike spot is designed with a flat geometry specifically at the contact surface where impact occurs. This local modification to the strike spot geometry improves energy transfer efficiency by reducing shear and impact loss. The flat strike spot is precisely formed during the hammer head manufacturing process, concentrating the manufacturing precision requirement to a specific local area rather than the entire hammer head.
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 hammer significantly reduces vibration exposure by up to 65%, improving user comfort and reducing the risk of WMSD through enhanced ergonomic design.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring positioned inside said impact hammer head
Implementation Method 2
a front damper and a rear damper made of a viscoelastic material such as Sorbothane
Implementation Method 3
VRSD mechanism assembly consisting of an impact hammer head, a compression spring, a front washer, a front damper, a rear damper, a rear washer and a retaining ring
Implementation Method 4
large and small friction reducing sleeves
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a hammer that employs a Vibration Reducing Spring Damper (VRSD) assembly mechanism that dampens the vibration impact using a mass-spring-damper system connected in series while the release and catch mechanics of expert hammer users at the moment of impact with an object is maintained. The invention improves on the conventional hammer strike and recoil mechanics, while still maintaining the kinematic and kinetic performance of the hammer.