Suction Device Wireless Communication for Power Tool Dust Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing suction devices for hand-held power tools often face usability issues due to clogged filters, leading to inadequate particle removal, which can result in unsatisfactory performance and potential health hazards from dust accumulation.

Innovation Solution

An external communication device is integrated between the suction device and the hand-held power tool, enabling wireless communication to monitor the suction device's operating status and adjust the tool's operation, such as reducing power or blocking operation if suction is insufficient, and vice versa, to ensure optimal particle removal and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the suction device operates autonomously without communication with the power tool, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of particle removal deteriorates when the filter is clogged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device communicates its operating status (particularly filter clogging conditions) to the power tool, enabling the power tool to receive feedback about suction effectiveness. This allows the power tool to adjust its operation or alert the user when suction performance deteriorates, thereby maintaining reliable particle removal without requiring complex autonomous control in the suction device itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the suction device and the power tool. This intermediary transmits status information (such as filter clogging alerts) from the suction device to the power tool, enabling coordinated operation and maintaining particle removal reliability without adding complex control systems to either component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the suction device monitors and controls power tool operation to maintain suction performance, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional communication components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power tool utilizes the communication interface to autonomously adjust its own operation based on feedback from the suction device. When the suction device detects filter clogging or performance degradation, it communicates this status to the power tool, which then self-adjusts its running state or alerts the user, thereby maintaining high particle removal efficiency without requiring complex control systems in the suction device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The operating parameters of the power tool are dynamically adjusted based on real-time communication with the suction device. The power tool can change its running state (such as reducing speed or pausing operation) in response to suction performance conditions, thereby maintaining optimal particle removal efficiency while using a relatively simple communication interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the power tool operates without feedback from the suction device, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety deteriorates due to insufficient particle removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoiddust accumulation hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The suction device provides feedback to the power tool about its operating status and suction performance. When filter clogging or insufficient suction is detected, this information is communicated to the power tool, which can then alert the user or adjust its operation to prevent harmful dust accumulation, thereby maintaining safety without complicating the user interface

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

A communication interface serves as an intermediary that transmits safety-critical information from the suction device to the power tool. This intermediary enables the power tool to receive alerts about filter clogging or insufficient suction performance and take appropriate action (such as warning the user or reducing operation) to prevent harmful dust accumulation, while keeping the operation simple for the user

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2628427B2Suction device with a suction device transmitter and external communication device thereof
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 FESTOOL GMBH
  • EP2628427B2 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2628427B2 patent drawingFigure 2~5
  • EP2628427B2 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The device (10) has a suction motor (19) and a dust collecting chamber (15) arranged in a suction housing (11). A suction device-communication unit (40) communicates with external communication units (50, 150, 250) that form a component of a hand-held power tool (80). The external communication units are operated at a distance to the housing in connection with the tool. The suction device-communication unit includes a suction device transmitter (41s) for transmitting a control signal (108) and/or a status signal (105) to the external communication units. An independent claim is also included for an external communication unit for cooperation with a hand-held power tool.