Machine Tool Switchgear With Adjustable Travel Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machine tool switching devices for electric drive units in garden tools and other handheld power tools lack a compact and user-friendly solution for adjusting the relationship between actuation and switching paths, especially when transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric motors, leading to inefficiencies and compatibility issues with various machine tools.
Innovation Solution
A machine tool switching device with a mechanical translation unit incorporating pressure and tension elements, such as springs, to adjust the actuation path and switching path, allowing for a compact design that can be easily installed on different machine tools with varying operating elements, and providing a shorter switching path relative to the actuation path, enabling efficient electronic control of electric drive units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical translation unit is added to adjust the ratio between actuating travel and switching travel, then the adaptability to different machine tools is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a mechanically adjustable translation unit where the ratio between actuating travel and switching travel can be dynamically changed by selecting different cam profiles or adjusting the cam follower position. This allows the switching device to adapt to different machine tools with varying actuating travel requirements while maintaining a compact structure through mechanical adjustability rather than multiple fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The translation unit changes the critical parameter of travel ratio between actuating and switching motions. By modifying the cam profile geometry or the position of the cam follower on the cam shaft, the system can adjust the switching travel relative to the actuating travel, enabling compatibility with different machine tools without requiring complete redesign of the switching mechanism.
2Productivity
If the switching path is made shorter relative to the actuating path, then the productivity is improved, but the manufacturing precision of the translation unit must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cam mechanism as an intermediary element between the actuating unit and the switching device. The cam profile acts as a mediator that transforms the longer actuating travel into a shorter switching travel through its geometric profile. This intermediary mechanism allows for significant reduction in switching path length while the cam manufacturing precision can be controlled through standard machining processes, balancing productivity improvement with manufacturability.
3Ease of operation
If the switching device is designed to be compact and easily installable, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the translation unit may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The switching device is segmented into modular components: a housing unit containing the translation mechanism, an actuating unit with cam mechanism, and a switching unit with electrical contacts. This segmentation allows the compact device to be pre-assembled and tested as a complete unit, then easily installed on different machine tools as a replaceable module. The modular design maintains reliability by allowing each component to be optimized independently while ensuring proper integration through standardized mounting interfaces.
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 provides a compact, easy-to-install, and user-friendly machine tool switching device that can be adapted to various machine tools, ensuring efficient electronic control of electric drive units, improving user comfort and multifunctionality by adjusting the switching path to be significantly shorter than the actuation path, thus enhancing operational efficiency and compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
at least one second compression and/or tension element is designed as a compression spring
Implementation Method 2
at least one first compression and/or tension element is designed as a tension spring
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a machine tool switchgear, in particular for pushable gardening tools, for electronic control of at least one electric drive unit (12) at least of a machine tool, having at least one mechanical actuating unit (16; 16') and having at least one electronic unit (18), which is designed to output at least one signal, in particular at least one control signal, in dependence on an actuation by the actuating unit (16; 16'). According to the invention, the machine tool switchgear comprises at least one translation unit (20; 20'), operatively connected to the acutating unit (16; 16'), which translation unit is provided for an in particular mechanical adjustment of a ratio between an actuating path of the actuating unit (16; 6') and a switching path of the actuating unit (16; 16').