Universal Power Head for Interchangeable Outdoor Tool Attachments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered outdoor power equipment requires multiple devices with unique designs, leading to increased production costs and user familiarity challenges due to distinct controls across different tools, even when sharing a common battery.
Innovation Solution
A multi-tool system featuring a common power head with interchangeable tool attachments, where the power head houses the motor, battery, and basic control electronics, providing a universal driving rotary output that can be adapted for various working assemblies, optimizing weight distribution and ergonomics across different tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If each outdoor power tool is designed as a separate device with its own motor and controls, then each tool can be optimized for its specific function, but production costs increase and users must learn different controls for each tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal power head design that can interface with multiple different tool attachments (string trimmer, edger, chainsaw, blower). The power head contains the motor, battery, and control electronics, while separate tool attachments provide different working assemblies. This allows one power head to perform multiple functions by simply changing the attachment, reducing the need for users to own and learn multiple separate tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The outdoor power tool is divided into two main segments: a common power head and interchangeable tool attachments. The power head housing contains the motor and control systems, while the tool attachments contain the working assemblies (blade, trimmer line, chain, blower nozzle). This segmentation allows the power head to be reused across different tools while only the task-specific attachments need to be changed.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If battery-powered motors are used to reduce emissions, then environmental performance improves, but weight and size constraints increase
Solution Approach 1:
By creating a universal power head that can attach to multiple different tool attachments, the weight of the motor and battery is shared across all tools. Instead of having separate motors in each tool, the single motor in the power head is reused, effectively distributing the weight burden and reducing the average weight per tool function.
3Productivity
If a common battery is used across multiple tools, then battery utilization efficiency improves, but the remaining device components must be entirely unique for each tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the battery interoperability concept to the entire power head assembly. Not only is the battery universal, but the entire power head (motor, controls, battery housing) is designed to be universal across multiple tool types. This reverses the traditional approach where only the battery was shared; now both the power source and the motor assembly are shared, while only the lightweight working attachments differ.
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 reduces production costs and enhances user familiarity by allowing a single power head to be used with multiple tools, achieving a balanced and versatile multi-tool that is both lightweight and powerful, while maintaining ergonomic advantages.
Implementation Method 1
a motor disposed in the power head housing, a battery configured to be operably coupled to the motor to selectively power the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-tool (100) includes a power head (120) including a power head housing (122) having a handle (124) operably coupled thereto, a tool attachment (106, 108, 110) configured to perform a work function, the tool attachment (106, 108, 110) being alternately separable from and operably coupled to the power head (120), a motor (140) disposed in the power head housing (122), a battery (130) configured to be operably coupled to the motor (140) to selectively power the motor (140), a drive provider portion (300) disposed at the power head (120), and a drive receiver portion (320) disposed at the tool attachment (106, 108, 110). The drive provider portion (300) includes a driving portion (302) of a shaft (150) operably coupled to the motor (140), and the drive receiver portion (320) includes a driven portion (322) of the shaft (150). The driving portion (302), the drive receiver portion (320), and the motor (140) share a common axis (148). The power head (120) receives the battery (130) at an opposite end of the power head housing (122) relative to an end of the power head housing (122) at which the motor (140) is located, and the handle (124) extends from a first portion of the power head housing (122) above the motor (140) to a second portion of the power head housing (122) above the battery (130).