Torque-Sensitive Adjustable Locking Grinder Guard
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional grinder guards often interfere with operators' work and pose safety hazards due to their fixed or retractable designs, which can lead to accidents and non-compliance with safety regulations, as they require awkward positions and can be bypassed, causing risks from debris and unguarded blades.
Innovation Solution
A dialable grinder guard assembly with indexed and chamfered holes, an annulus, and torque-sensitive conical pins or bumps that adjustably lock into place relative to the grinder, allowing for customizable torque-based positioning to balance spring force, preventing debris retention and external intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring return mechanism is used to retract the grinder guard, then the guard automatically returns to the full guard position, but the spring force creates interference with the operator's work and craftsmanship
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring return mechanism entirely from the grinder guard system. Instead, the guard is held in place by friction between the guard flange and the grinder body, allowing the operator to easily move the guard without fighting spring tension while still providing automatic return when the workpiece is removed.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using active spring force to push the guard into position, the invention uses passive friction to hold the guard in place. The guard naturally wants to move away from the wheel due to gravity and operator manipulation, and friction prevents it from moving too far, creating the opposite effect of spring return mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a retractable grinder guard is used, then the guard can be pushed aside by workpiece, but the spring tension creates temptation for operator to bypass the guard completely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism that creates the retractable effect, eliminating the source of operator frustration and bypass temptation. The guard remains in place through friction alone, providing flexibility when needed but maintaining constant presence for safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The friction-based system is self-regulating, providing just enough holding force to maintain safety without creating the aggressive spring tension that leads to bypass behavior. The system adapts to operator needs automatically without mechanical assistance.
3Reliability
If a fixed grinder guard is used, then the guard provides constant protection, but the operator must get into backward or dangerous body positions to accomplish certain work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamically adjustable guard system where the guard can be easily moved to different positions around the grinder wheel by the operator. The friction-based holding allows the guard to stay in position once placed, providing protection, but can be repositioned when the operator needs access for specific work requirements.
4Force
If limiters are added to restrict guard retraction, then spring force and tension on workpiece is reduced, but the retracting guard and associated issues are not completely alleviated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the spring mechanism entirely, eliminating the source of force and tension problems. Limiters become unnecessary because there is no spring force to limit. The guard operates purely on friction, creating no force interference with the workpiece or operator.
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 provides a safe, adjustable, and customizable guard that minimizes interference with the operator's work, enhancing safety and compliance by allowing easy adjustment of the guard's position to suit various tasks without compromising safety, thus reducing the risk of accidents and regulatory non-compliance.
Implementation Method 1
torque sensitive conical pins or bumps mounted from the outside washer. The conical pins or bumps (protrusions) are configured to lock with the chamfered holes of the indexed grinder guard and retract therefrom based a torque on the indexed grinder guard relative to the annulus
Implementation Method 2
The grinder guard assembly therefore adjustably locks into place relative to the grinder and may be dialed into various placements according to a torque force in balance with a spring force or torsion in opposition thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A grinder guard assembly disclosed for a grinder blade includes a rotatable and adjustable indexed grinder guard defining a plurality of indexed and chamfered holes adjacent to an inner ring thereof and an “L” edge configured on an outer circumference thereof to form a guard by retaining grinding debris and preventing outside intervention. The grinder guard assembly also includes an annulus forming a single member with an inside washer and an outside washer and a space there between configured to slidably retain the indexed grinder guard in a common plane with the washers, the annulus configured to axially attach to a hub of the grinder. The grinder guard assembly further includes torque sensitive protrusions mounted from the outside washer, the protrusions configured to lock with the chamfered holes of the indexed grinder guard and retract therefrom based on a torque force applied to the indexed grinder guard relative to the annulus.