Transverse Air Guide Unit Cooling in Hand-Held Screwdrivers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hand-held power tools, such as screwdrivers, face challenges in efficiently cooling their drive units, which can affect the stability and performance of the tool.

Innovation Solution

The air guide unit is arranged transversely to the tool housing axis, forming an optimized airflow path within the hand-held power tool housing to cool the drive unit, with ventilation openings and guide elements ensuring continuous airflow and heat dissipation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the air guide unit is arranged longitudinally to the tool housing axis, then the structural design is simplified, but the cooling efficiency of the drive unit is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidair guide unit arrangement
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air guide unit is arranged transversely to the tool housing axis, changing the cooling airflow direction from longitudinal to transverse. This dimensional change allows the cooling air to flow perpendicular to the main tool axis, improving heat dissipation efficiency from the drive unit without significantly complicating the overall structural design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If the housing is completely sealed, then protection against environmental factors is improved, but heat dissipation from the drive unit is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against environmental factorsVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The housing employs a selectively permeable design where specific regions (air guide unit areas) are designed to be permeable to airflow while maintaining structural integrity and environmental protection. This allows the housing to function as a flexible barrier that permits necessary cooling airflow while blocking harmful environmental factors in other areas

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The housing is divided into sealed regions and non-sealed regions. The air guide unit areas are specifically designated as non-sealed to allow cooling airflow, while other housing portions remain sealed for environmental protection. This segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of both protection and heat dissipation functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Temperature

If ventilation openings are increased in size, then cooling efficiency is improved, but structural strength and sealing are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling efficiencyVSAvoidhousing structural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The housing exhibits different structural qualities in different regions. The air guide unit areas are designed with localized non-sealed characteristics to permit cooling airflow, while the majority of the housing maintains full sealing and structural strength. This local quality differentiation allows ventilation functionality without compromising overall housing integrity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This configuration enhances the stability and performance of the drive unit by maintaining optimal cooling, even with user interference, while maintaining a compact design.

Implementation Method 1

at least one air guide unit for directing an airflow for cooling at least the drive unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3639979B1Hand machine tool
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3639979B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3639979B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP3639979B1 patent drawingFigure 3b

AI summary

A hand-held power tool (100), in particular a screwdriver, is disclosed, comprising a hand-held power tool housing (110), in particular a screwdriver housing, with at least two housing elements (113) that at least partially enclose a drive unit (120) of the hand-held power tool (100), in particular the screwdriver, with at least one tool housing axis (112) and with at least one air guide unit (130) for directing an airflow for cooling at least the drive unit (120). It is proposed that the air guide unit (130) be arranged transversely to the tool housing axis (112).