Ergonomic Tool Cart for Heavy Orbital Drills

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Solution Overview

Problem

Orbital drills are excessively heavy, exceeding ergonomic lifting limits, necessitating a solution for safe and efficient movement within shops for maintenance and metrology purposes.

Innovation Solution

A tool hand cart with retractable handle, vertically oriented channels for side frame members, and wheels for stable rolling transport, allowing ergonomic movement and support of the drill, featuring a resilient nose support for weight distribution and overcenter prevention to prevent tipping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If orbital drills are moved manually by lifting, then mobility between machines and tool crib is achieved, but ergonomic lifting weight limits are exceeded causing operator strain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of movementVSAvoiddrill weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

A cart serves as an intermediary device between the operator and the heavy orbital drill. The cart has a body that receives the drill frame, wheels for mobility, and a handle for control. This mediator allows the operator to move the drill without directly lifting it, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of movement and the excessive weight of the drill.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the cart handle is extended for rolling transport, then leverage and maneuverability are improved, but the handle interferes with drill insertion during loading

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidhandle position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle is made dynamic rather than fixed. It can be repositioned between an extended position for rolling transport (providing leverage and maneuverability) and a retracted position for drill insertion (eliminating interference). This dynamic adjustability resolves the contradiction between maneuverability and device complexity by allowing the handle to adapt to different operational phases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the cart body is tilted for rolling on wheels, then transport efficiency is improved, but stability during drill placement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransport efficiencyVSAvoidcart stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The cart body dynamically transitions between two stable states: an upright position for stable drill placement and a tilted position for efficient rolling transport. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between transport efficiency and cart stability by allowing the cart to adopt the appropriate configuration for each operational phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Ease of operation

If the handle is retracted for drill insertion, then access to the drill frame is improved, but leverage for moving the cart is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrill insertion easeVSAvoidleverage for movement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The handle's position is dynamically adjusted based on the operational phase: retracted during drill insertion to improve access and ease of loading, then extended during transport to provide maximum leverage for movement. This dynamic repositioning resolves the contradiction between drill insertion ease and leverage for movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables safe and efficient transport of heavy orbital drills by distributing weight, providing leverage for easy maneuverability and stability, reducing operator strain and facilitating maintenance operations.

Implementation Method 1

featuring a resilient nose support for weight distribution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the body is configured to tilt from an upright standing position to a canted position in which the body is supported by the pair of wheels and rolled by pulling the handle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the body proximate a lower rear edge of the body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWheel and Axle: Wheel and Axle

Implementation Method 4

A collapsible handle is retractably extendable upward from the body... The handle is retractable to a first position enhancing insertion of the drill and extendible to a second position... and the cart is canted rearwardly on a pair of wheels mounted proximate a lower rear edge of the body for rolling transport

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS10308266B2Ergonomic safety solution for orbital drills

Publication Date: 2019.06.04 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A tool hand cart incorporates a body with a pair of wheels rotatably mounted on opposite sides of the body proximate a lower rear edge of the body. A collapsible handle is retractably extendable upward from the body. A pair of arms having vertically oriented channels extends from a front of the body and are arranged in spaced relation to define opposing first and second slots configured to receive side frame members of a drill. The handle is retractable to a first position enhancing insertion of the drill and extendible to a second position and the body is configured to tilt from an upright standing position to a canted position in which the body is supported by the pair of wheels and rolled by pulling the handle to thereby transport a drill positioned in the first and second slots.