Torque Wrench Housing and Guide for Safe Tip Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing torque wrenches for connecting replaceable instrument tips to hand pieces lack effective alignment and identification features, leading to potential user injury and misidentification during handling.
Innovation Solution
A torque wrench with a guiding structure and transparent housing that ensures proper alignment and easy identification of the instrument tip, featuring parallel inner and outer surfaces for clear visibility and a reference marking for status indication, along with individualization options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a structured outer surface is provided on the housing to improve gripping, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to beam displacement and distorted images when looking through the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into two distinct regions: a first region with a structured outer surface for improved gripping, and a second region with a smooth outer surface for clear visual identification. This segmentation allows each region to fulfill its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the housing are given different surface qualities: the first region has a structured surface for gripping, while the second region has a smooth surface for clear viewing. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing the needed gripping texture without compromising visual clarity in the viewing area.
2Device complexity
If no guiding structure is provided, then device complexity is reduced, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to potential user injury during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure performs preliminary alignment of the instrument tip with the handpiece before the actual connection is made. This preliminary action ensures proper orientation and prevents misalignment that could cause injury, without requiring complex control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding structure acts as an intermediary element between the instrument tip and the handpiece, facilitating safe and correct connection. It provides a mechanical guide that ensures proper alignment while limiting excessive forces, thereby preventing injury without adding significant complexity.
3Ease of operation
If the instrument tip is not properly aligned, then ease of operation is improved by allowing free movement, but reliability deteriorates due to improper connection and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding structure utilizes asymmetric geometry with tapered surfaces that naturally guide the instrument tip into the correct alignment position. The asymmetric shape provides mechanical guidance that ensures proper connection while still allowing easy insertion through the self-aligning feature.
Data Source
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AI summary
Torque wrench (1) for connecting a replaceable instrument tip (20) to a hand piece that carries the replaceable instrument tip (20) in operation, comprising - a base element (2) having a receiving region (15) for placing the instrument tip inside the receiving region (15) at least during connecting the instrument tip (20) to the hand piece, - a torque wrench mechanism for applying a certain torque when connecting the instrument tip (20) to the hand piece and - a housing (10) surrounding the instrument tip (20) being arranged in the receiving region (15), the housing being preferably transparent, -- wherein the torque wrench (1) has a guiding structure (4) for aligning the torque wrench (1) relative to the hand piece during arranging the torque wrench (1) on the hand piece, in particular in an interface region of the hand piece, and/or -- wherein the housing (10) has an inner surface (11) and an outer surface (12) being concentric to each other over a complete primary region (31) extending at least from the base element (2) to the end (25) of the instrument tip (20), when the torque wrench (1) is equipped with the instrument tip (20).