Trigger Switch Housing Segmentation for Dust Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional trigger switches for electric tools face operational failures due to dust and debris entry, which can be exacerbated by complex designs and require frequent filter cleaning or mechanisms to convert linear motion to rotational motion, increasing the risk of adhesion and operational issues.

Innovation Solution

A trigger switch design with a housing divided into a high-capacity region for main electric current and a signal circuit region, featuring an air vent on the outer surface of the high-capacity region to guide dust and debris away from the contact mechanism, reducing the likelihood of operational failures and maintaining a simple structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a mechanism for changing linear motion to rotational motion is added to suppress air flow, then air flow into the trigger switch is reduced, but the structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow into trigger switchVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a first region (housing chamber) and a second region (contact mechanism chamber) separated by a partition wall. This segmentation allows dust to be directed to the first region while protecting the contact mechanism in the second region, resolving the contradiction by simplifying the structure compared to rotational mechanisms while still suppressing harmful air flow effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A partition wall acts as an intermediary structure between the housing chamber and contact mechanism chamber. It includes a dust discharge hole that allows controlled dust ejection while maintaining separation, thereby suppressing harmful air flow without requiring complex rotational mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a filter is added to cover the venthole, then dust entry is prevented, but the filter requires cleaning with due time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust entryVSAvoidmaintenance requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dust discharge hole in the partition wall enables self-cleaning functionality. Dust that enters the housing chamber is automatically discharged through the hole due to pressure differential during trigger operation, eliminating the need for manual filter cleaning and maintenance while still preventing dust from reaching the contact mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The dust discharge hole extracts dust from the housing chamber and directs it outward, separating the dust removal function from the main trigger mechanism. This eliminates the need for filters that require cleaning, as dust is continuously extracted and discharged without obstructing the trigger operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the structure becomes complicated, then air flow control is improved, but operational failure is more easily caused by adhesion of dust

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow controlVSAvoidoperational failure resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the housing into two regions with a partition wall, the structure remains simple while effectively controlling air flow. The partition wall with dust discharge hole provides a straightforward mechanism to prevent dust adhesion to the contact mechanism, thereby maintaining reliability without complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The partition wall with dust discharge hole converts the harmful effect of dust entry into a beneficial self-cleaning mechanism. Dust that enters the housing chamber is redirected through the discharge hole and ejected, transforming potential operational failure into a protective feature that enhances reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP2600369B1Trigger switch
Publication Date: 2016.08.31 OMRON CORP
  • EP2600369B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1D
  • EP2600369B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2600369B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide a trigger switch (1) in which a trigger (11) is pulled into a housing (5) so as to operate a contact mechanism, thereby driving a motor of an electric drill (10). The inside of the housing (5) is divided into a first region (201) including a circuit in which a main electric current for driving the motor flows, and a second region (202) including the contact mechanism of a signal circuit which controls a rotation of the motor. An air vent (100) is disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the first region (201) of the housing (5). The trigger switch (1) can reduce operational failure due to dust and the like without making the structure thereof complicated.