Shot-Peened Tool Bit Tip With Flexible Shank for Impact Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tool bits lack sufficient wear resistance and impact resistance, leading to reduced operational lifetime and increased stress concentrations, particularly when used with impact drivers.

Innovation Solution

A tool bit design featuring a compressive residual stress layer on the tip formed by blasting, combined with a reduced diameter shank and curved flutes, which increases wear resistance and impact resistance, and a rust preventative coating to enhance durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the tip is made with high hardness to increase wear resistance, then wear resistance is improved, but impact resistance decreases and the tip becomes brittle

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewear resistanceVSAvoidimpact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tool bit applies different surface treatments to different regions: the tip receives shot peening or laser blasting to create a compressive residual stress layer for wear resistance, while the shank maintains original material properties for impact resistance. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The tool bit creates a composite structure with a compressive residual stress layer on the tip surface through blasting processes. This layer has different mechanical properties (higher wear resistance) than the base material, while the bulk material retains its toughness for impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the shank is made with high strength to increase impact resistance, then impact resistance is improved, but the tip cannot twist relative to the drive portion, increasing stress concentrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidstress concentration resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The shank is designed with reduced diameter and appropriate material selection to allow controlled elastic deformation and twisting during impact operations. This dynamic flexibility enables the shank to absorb impact energy through deformation, reducing stress concentrations at the tip-drive portion interface while maintaining overall impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shank diameter is optimized to a specific reduced dimension that balances flexibility and strength. This parameter change allows the shank to twist and absorb impact energy while preventing excessive stress concentrations, resolving the contradiction between impact resistance and stress concentration resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If the outer peripheral surface curvature length is increased to reduce stress concentrations, then stress concentration resistance is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestress concentration resistanceVSAvoidgeometric complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The tool bit incorporates a curved outer peripheral surface on the shank with a specifically optimized radius of curvature. This curvature distributes stress more evenly during bending and twisting operations, reducing stress concentrations without requiring complex geometric features. The simple curved profile maintains manufacturing ease while improving mechanical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 tool bit exhibits improved wear resistance and impact resistance, allowing the tip to twist relative to the drive portion, reducing stress concentrations and prolonging the tool bit's life, while maintaining ductility in the shank.

Implementation Method 1

a compressive residual stress layer formed by blasting to increase a wear resistance of the tip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressive residual stress: Shot Peening

Implementation Method 2

a rust preventative coating applied to the compressive residual stress layer of the tip

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoating: Coatings

Data Source

PatentEP3616842B1Tool bit
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 MILWAUKEE ELECTRIC TOOL CORP
  • EP3616842B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3616842B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3616842B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A tool bit includes a drive portion configured to be engaged by a tool, the drive portion including a first maximum outer dimension, a shank extending from the drive portion and including a reduced outer diameter, and a tip coupled to an end of the shank opposite from the drive portion. The tip includes a compressive residual stress layer formed by blasting to increase a wear resistance of the tip relative to the shank. The tip additionally includes a second maximum outer dimension. The reduced outer diameter of the shank is smaller than the first maximum outer dimension of the drive portion and the second maximum outer dimension of the tip.