Spring-Mounted Angle Grinder Dust Hood Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing angle grinder dust hoods fail to prevent the sealing element from falling out axially and struggle to maintain a seal when used overhead due to gravity pulling the brush curtain down, creating gaps and requiring excessive force to press the grinding wheel against the workpiece, especially with worn brushes.

Innovation Solution

A spring-mounted sealing element with a base web and retaining bracket is integrated into the hood body, ensuring the sealing element remains pressed against the workpiece and compensates for radial displacements, preventing axial displacement and enhancing stability with multiple spring elements and a design that allows easy replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the sealing element is rigidly attached to the hood body, then the structure is simple and stable, but the sealing element falls out axially and cannot maintain seal during overhead operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidattachment structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is spring-mounted instead of rigidly attached, allowing it to dynamically adapt to radial displacements and maintain contact pressure against the workpiece surface during overhead operation, preventing axial displacement and maintaining sealing effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The spring element counteracts the gravitational force pulling the brush curtain downward during overhead operation, maintaining constant contact pressure between the sealing element and workpiece surface, preventing gap formation and maintaining seal integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Reliability

If the brush curtain is spring-loaded to maintain seal, then sealing is improved during overhead operation, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing stabilityVSAvoidspring mounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spring-mounted sealing element is designed as a modular assembly that can be independently installed and replaced, with the spring element, base web, and retaining bracket forming separable components that simplify maintenance and reduce overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brush curtain and spring element are designed for easy replacement when worn, with the retaining bracket enabling quick release and reattachment, allowing users to replace consumable sealing elements without replacing the entire hood assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If multiple spring elements are used to enhance stability, then sealing and retention are improved, but manufacturing and assembly become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing and retention reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple spring elements are distributed around the hood body, each independently mounted on its own base web with retaining bracket, allowing modular manufacturing and assembly where individual spring assemblies can be produced separately and installed in sequence, simplifying the overall manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution effectively maintains a seal during overhead operation, reduces the need for excessive force, and allows for easy replacement of the brush curtain, improving user convenience and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the sealing element in the hood body is spring-mounted in the axial direction, relative to the axis of rotation of the grinding wheel, by at least one spring element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring force: Spring

Implementation Method 2

The angle grinder dust hood has a suction connection through which surface abrasion can be sucked out of the hood body

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP3416779B1Angle grinder dust hood
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 HILTI AG
  • EP3416779B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3416779B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3416779B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a dust collector (100) for an angle grinder, comprising a collector body (10) for covering a circular grinding wheel, and a sealing element (30) extending along an outer periphery (U) of the collector body (10) for at least partially sealing the collector body (10) against a surface to be machined by means of the grinding wheel, and comprising a suction connection (40), by way of which material removed from the surface can be suction out of the collector body (10). In an axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation (R) of the grinding wheel, the sealing element (30) is spring-mounted in the collector body (10) by means of at least one spring element (50).