Ultrasonic Hand Tool Blade Coupling for Precision Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cutting tools, including ultrasonic and mechanically oscillating knives, fail to provide precise and efficient cutting or atomization of large process items like bread, meat, cheese, and vegetables, especially in manual handling scenarios, and often require excessive energy and space.

Innovation Solution

A compact hand tool utilizing a hollow-cylindrical housing with an ultrasonic transducer and piezo elements that efficiently transfers ultrasonic energy to a blade, featuring a coupling rod and pressure elements for stable energy transmission, allowing for precise cutting and atomization with minimal effort and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional knives are used for cutting process items, then the tool is simple and easy to handle, but the cutting precision and quality are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidtool complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical cutting with ultrasonic vibration cutting. The blade is excited by ultrasonic vibrations at frequencies between 10-60 kHz with amplitudes of 20 μm to 200 μm, allowing precise cutting of mechanically strong process materials without requiring complex mechanical force transmission mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes mechanical vibration in the ultrasonic frequency range to enable precise cutting. The blade undergoes high-frequency oscillations that facilitate clean separation of process materials, achieving superior cutting quality while maintaining a relatively simple handheld tool structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

2Manufacturing precision

If ultrasonic cutting tools are used for precise cutting, then cutting precision is improved, but the tool requires complex holding and guide devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidholding and guide device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the ultrasonic generation capability into a compact integrated module within the handheld tool, eliminating the need for external ultrasonic generators and complex holding devices. The tool includes an ultrasonic transducer that directly excites the blade, simplifying the overall system while maintaining precise cutting capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The handheld tool is designed as a multi-functional device that combines ultrasonic generation, blade excitation, and cutting functions in a single integrated unit. This universal design allows the tool to perform precise cutting operations without requiring separate complex holding and guide mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If mechanically oscillating knives are used to process process items, then the tool can be operated manually, but the desired cutting quality cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting qualityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic ultrasonic vibrations at high frequency (10-60 kHz) to achieve precise cutting with reduced energy consumption. The periodic oscillations create optimal cutting conditions during each cycle, enabling high-quality cuts while consuming less energy compared to continuous mechanical oscillation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operating parameters from low-frequency mechanical oscillation to high-frequency ultrasonic vibration. This parameter change enables precise cutting of process materials while reducing the energy required for each cutting operation, as the ultrasonic vibrations facilitate easier material separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Loss of energy

If ultrasonic transducer with piezo elements is used, then ultrasonic energy transfer is efficient, but the tool structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveultrasonic energy transfer lossVSAvoidtransducer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the ultrasonic transducer, piezoelectric elements, and blade excitation mechanism into a single integrated assembly. The piezoelectric elements are directly coupled to the blade through a coupling rod, eliminating intermediate components and reducing structural complexity while maintaining efficient ultrasonic energy transfer with minimal losses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 hand tool enables precise cutting and efficient atomization of large process items with minimal effort and energy, maintaining performance over time without wear, and can be adapted for various cutting processes.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic transducer (15) having at least one piezo element (154), which emits ultrasonic energy to a blade (11)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

Ultrasonic signals are applied to a blade, which are in the frequency range between 10kHz and 60kHz and have amplitudes in the range between 20pm and 200μm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3049220B1Handheld tool for machining a process material
Publication Date: 2017.12.06 A O SCHALLINOX GMBH
  • EP3049220B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3049220B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3049220B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The hand tool (10) comprises a tool part (1), which is retained in a preferably hollow cylindrical housing body (21) of a housing part (2) and which comprises an ultrasonic transducer (15), which has at least one piezoelectric element (154) and which is used to output ultrasound energy to a blade (11) provided on the tool part (1). According to the invention, a plurality of piezoelectric elements (154) separated from each other by contact elements (155) are provided, which piezoelectric elements each have a transfer opening (1541), through which a transducer rod (151) is fed, which is connected integrally or directly or indirectly to a coupling rod (12), which is connected integrally to the blade (11), and a pressing element (152) connected to the transducer rod (151) is provided, which pressing element presses the piezoelectric elements (154) against a stop surface (A) of an element connected directly or indirectly to the coupling rod (12) and mechanically couples the piezoelectric elements to the coupling rod (12).