Toggle Fixing Mechanism for Electric Trimmer Base
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric trimmers with lever-type fixing releasing mechanisms are bulky, deteriorate operability, are prone to damage, and have high maintenance costs due to integrated cam mechanisms that require replacement when worn.
Innovation Solution
A compact toggle-type fixing releasing mechanism with three support points and two links, featuring an adjusting mechanism and an operating lever with a convex marker, which reduces the distance between slit ends for clamping and allows for easy operation, impact resistance, and modular maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lever type fixing releasing mechanism is provided to the base surrounding a trimmer main body, then the trimmer main body can be fixed at an arbitrary position, but the external form becomes extremely large and operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing releasing mechanism is divided into separate functional components: a lever for operation, a cam mechanism for force amplification, and a fixing member for clamping. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, resulting in a compact overall structure that maintains fixing capability while improving operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism is disposed inside the lever, and the fixing member is disposed inside the cam mechanism, creating a nested structure. This nesting eliminates the need for separate housings for each component, significantly reducing the external form and improving operability while maintaining the fixing function.
2Reliability
If a lever type fixing releasing mechanism with large operating angle is used, then fixing capability is achieved, but operability deteriorates due to large operating angle
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism transforms the operating parameters by converting a small lever rotation angle into a large linear displacement of the fixing member. This parameter transformation allows the lever to have a small operating angle while still achieving the necessary clamping action, thereby improving operability.
3Ease of operation
If the lever protrudes from the trunk portion in released state, then fixing releasing function is achieved, but the lever is prone to damage from external impact
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed with a resilient portion that can elastically deform to absorb external impacts. This beforehand cushioning through elastic deformation protects the lever from damage while maintaining its fixing releasing function, as the resilient portion returns to its original position after absorbing the impact energy.
4Device complexity
If the cam mechanism is formed integrally with the lever, then structure is simplified, but maintenance cost increases due to replacement requirement when abrasion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The cam mechanism is designed as a separate, replaceable component from the lever, allowing the cam to be replaced independently when worn. This segmentation increases structural complexity slightly but dramatically improves maintainability and reduces long-term maintenance costs by enabling selective replacement of only the worn cam component rather than the entire lever assembly.
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
Improves operability by compacting the mechanism, enhances resistance to external impacts, and provides excellent maintenance properties by allowing individual component replacement, thus reducing maintenance costs and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
the fixing releasing mechanism being formed as a toggle mechanism that is configured by a combination of three support points and two links
Implementation Method 2
a resilient portion that has an elastic force and that protects the lever from external impact
Implementation Method 3
a bit which can be attached/detached to/from the trimmer main body and which is rotatably driven by the drive motor
Implementation Method 4
An inner peripheral surface of the ring has formed thereon a screw thread or a thread groove. On the other hand, an outer peripheral surface of the trimmer main body has formed thereon a thread groove or a screw thread that threads with the screw thread or the thread groove of the ring
Data Source
AI summary
An electric trimmer includes: a base; and a trimmer main body configured capable of sliding movement in an axial direction of the base. The base includes a slit that extends in the axial direction and is open, and the base also includes a fixing releasing mechanism disposed so as to straddle both end portions of the slit. Operating the fixing releasing mechanism to reduce a distance between the both end portions of the slit enables clamping of the trimmer main body by the base to be performed. The fixing releasing mechanism is formed as a toggle mechanism that is configured by a combination of three support points and two links, and the fixing releasing mechanism has a shape which follows an outer peripheral surface of the base. Therefore, this electric trimmer includes high operability, strong impact resistance characteristics, and excellent maintenance properties.