Threaded Cut-Out Tool for Housing Wall Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for creating openings in housing walls, such as knock-out areas, risk damaging the housing and causing sealing issues due to brittle materials and restricted motion, leading to potential cable insulation damage and malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A severing tool with a threaded section for screwing into a housing wall, featuring a multiple cutting edge and actuation area compatible with standard tools, allowing for controlled and chip-free cutting with radial or axial drive options, and a modular design for easy replacement and adaptation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a knock-out area is removed using a screwdriver or similar tool, then an opening can be created in the housing wall, but there is a risk of unintentional damage to the enclosure, sealing surfaces, and retention of fragments inside the enclosure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of creating openingVSAvoiddamage-free operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional mechanical knocking-out method with a threaded cutting tool that screws into the housing wall and cuts the opening through controlled rotation. This substitution of the mechanical system from impact-based to cutting-based eliminates the harmful effects of brittle material failure while maintaining ease of operation through simple threading engagement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters from impact force and restricted motion to controlled rotational screwing motion. The cutting tool engages via threads that convert rotational motion into precise linear advancement, allowing the cutting edge to gradually remove material in a controlled manner rather than through sudden impact, thereby preventing damage and fragment retention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If the wall is made sufficiently thin and material sufficiently brittle to allow knock-out removal, then the opening can be created, but the broken edge becomes sharp and can damage cable insulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of opening removalVSAvoidsharp edges damaging cable insulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the brittle fracture mechanism with a controlled cutting process. The threaded cutting tool gradually removes material through shearing action, producing a smooth, rounded edge rather than sharp fragments. This eliminates the harmful effect of sharp edges on cable insulation while maintaining ease of opening creation through simple threading

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the range of motion for striking out the knockout area is severely restricted, then the tool can be used in confined spaces, but significant practical problems arise in operating the removal tool

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility in confined spacesVSAvoidoperability of removal tool
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of designing a tool that pushes or strikes outward from the front, the invention inverts the approach by having the tool screw into the housing wall from the outside. The cutting edge is positioned at the leading end of the threaded portion, allowing the tool to advance by rotating into the wall rather than requiring outward striking motion. This inversion enables operation in confined spaces while maintaining ease of operation through simple screwing motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded engagement acts as an intermediary mechanism that converts rotational motion into linear advancement. This intermediary allows the tool to progress through the housing wall material in a controlled manner, overcoming the limitations of restricted motion in confined spaces while maintaining operational simplicity through the self-advancing threaded mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If a threaded cutting tool is screwed into the housing wall to create an opening, then damage-free and chip-free work is achieved, but the tool requires controlled screwing motion with appropriate force

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage-free and chip-free operationVSAvoidcontrolled screwing operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional knocking-out mechanism with a threaded cutting system. The cutting tool features external threads that engage with corresponding internal threads in the housing wall, converting rotational motion into controlled linear advancement. This substitution enables damage-free and chip-free operation through gradual material removal while the threaded engagement provides natural mechanical advantage for controlled screwing motion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded cutting tool combines multiple functions: the threaded portion provides both the driving mechanism for controlled advancement and the means for securing the tool during operation. The cutting edge performs the opening creation while the threading system simultaneously controls the motion and force application, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and simplifying operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3551403B1Cut-out tool
Publication Date: 2020.12.23 PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3551403B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3551403B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3551403B1 patent drawingFigure 2D~2F

AI summary

The invention relates to a cut-out tool (100) for cutting an opening into a housing wall, comprising a cut-out device (105), which is arranged on an end-face section of the cut-out tool (100), and a thread (107) for screwing the cut-out tool (100) into a threaded connecting piece in or on a housing wall in order to introduce an opening into a housing wall.