Spring-Loaded Drilling Assembly for Precise Hole Depth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling machines are not redundant to errors and may experience precision issues when drilling in harder materials, leading to inconsistent hole depths and potential safety concerns in applications like ski binding installation.

Innovation Solution

A drilling system with a drilling drive assembly that includes a holder for the drill bit, a drive unit for rotating the drill bit, and a supporting pillar with a support drive unit for axial movement. The system incorporates a biasing means to allow the drilling drive assembly to move against the biasing force if the drill bit cannot drill quickly enough, reducing stress and wear on the drill bit and ensuring precise hole depth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a robotic arm or automated mechanism is used to position the drill bit according to calculated mounting points, then drilling accuracy and consistency are improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to precision errors when drilling in harder materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling precisionVSAvoidsystem redundancy
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter of drill bit positioning from fixed robotic arm positioning to dynamic spring-loaded positioning. The spring force allows the drill bit to self-adjust its penetration depth based on material hardness, making the system reliable across varying material conditions while maintaining precision through the detection means and control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the support drive unit forces the drilling drive assembly towards the object at high speed, then productivity is improved, but the drill bit may not be able to drill the desired depth into hard materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling speedVSAvoidhole depth accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces dynamics by allowing the drilling drive assembly to move independently along the supporting pillar through the spring mechanism. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to maintain high productivity while adapting to varying material resistance, ensuring the drill bit achieves the desired depth regardless of material hardness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The detection means detects whether the drilling drive assembly has reached the end position and whether the drill bit has contacted the object surface. This feedback is sent to the control unit, which adjusts the support drive unit's operation to ensure precise hole depth is achieved while maintaining high drilling speed through optimized control cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the drilling drive assembly is forced into the object faster than the drill bit can drill, then productivity is improved, but stress and wear on the drill bit increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrilling cycle timeVSAvoiddrill bit durability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-loaded biasing means acts as a cushioning element that absorbs excess force when the support drive unit moves the drilling drive assembly faster than the drill bit can penetrate. This beforehand cushioning prevents force transmission to the drill bit, reducing stress and wear while maintaining high productivity through faster drilling cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 drilling system achieves higher precision and redundancy, ensuring accurate hole depths even in harder materials, thereby enhancing safety and performance in applications like ski binding installation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one biasing means arranged to bias the drilling drive assembly towards an initial position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4545227A1A drilling system
Publication Date: 2025.04.30 NO MORE BOOTS AB
  • EP4545227A1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP4545227A1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP4545227A1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

There is disclosed herein a drilling system (1) comprising a drilling drive assembly (10) comprising a drill bit (4). The drilling system further comprises a supporting pillar (20) comprising a support drive unit (22). The support drive unit drives the drilling drive assembly in a primary axial movement, between a start position and an end position. The drilling system further comprises at least one biasing means (30) arranged to bias the drilling drive assembly towards an initial position, a detection means (40) configured to detect if the drilling drive assembly is in the initial position, and a control unit (50) configured to control the support drive unit, such that the drilling of the hole in the object is finished when the drilling drive assembly has reached the end position and is detected in the initial position. The present disclosure further relates to a ski drilling arrangement and a method.