Torque Clutch Spring Holder with Openings for Compact Hand-Held Tools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held machine tools with torque clutches have large dimensions due to the spring-guide section's wall thickness, limiting their applicability in tight and difficult-to-access work environments.
Innovation Solution
A hand-held machine tool with a torque clutch featuring a spring-holding element that includes openings to reduce dimensions, allowing for adjustable spring force via a torque-adjusting device, and a ring-shaped actuating section for safe and reliable axial displacement of the spring element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring-guide section with sufficient wall thickness is used to guide the spring element, then the structural stability and guiding reliability are improved, but the overall dimensions of the torque clutch become larger
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-holding element is divided into multiple functional sections: a guiding section with reduced wall thickness for compactness, and separate support areas that provide structural stability. This segmentation allows different parts to optimize for their specific functions rather than requiring uniform wall thickness throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces openings (through-holes) in the spring-holding element to reduce material usage and overall dimensions. By creating voids in the structure, the external dimensions can be reduced while maintaining sufficient material in critical areas for guiding and support functions.
2Volume of moving object
If the spring-holding element dimensions are reduced to compact the torque clutch, then the hand-held machine tool size is reduced, but the structural stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-holding element features non-uniform wall thickness distribution, with thicker sections at critical locations (such as mounting areas and support zones) and thinner sections in non-critical areas. This local quality variation maintains structural stability where needed while reducing overall dimensions in less critical regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs material distribution optimization within the spring-holding element, potentially using different material densities or composite structures in different zones to achieve high stiffness-to-weight ratio, maintaining stability while reducing overall size.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a torque-adjusting sleeve with large diameter is used to adjust spring force, then the adjustment range and precision are improved, but the overall device dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The torque-adjusting mechanism is designed with nested components where the adjusting sleeve operates within a compact housing, and the spring-holding element with openings is integrated into the same space. This nesting allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping spatial volumes, reducing the overall device envelope while maintaining adjustment capabilities.
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 enables a compact hand-held machine tool with adjustable torque limitation, enhancing usability in confined spaces while maintaining stability and robustness.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring element which is clamped between a limit-transfer element and a spring-holding element and which is designed to apply a predefined spring force to the limit-transfer element axially in the direction of the torque-limiting coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A hand-held machine tool includes a gear unit and a torque clutch that has a torque-limiting coupling allocated to the gear unit and that is assigned at least one spring element which is clamped between a limit-transfer element and a spring-holding element, and which is designed to apply a predefined spring force to the limit-transfer element axially in the direction of the torque-limiting coupling. The spring-holding element includes at least one opening, through which the at least one spring element reaches, at least sectionally.