Vacuum Gripper Drill With Balanced Holding and Driving Forces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drilling systems require manual adjustment of holding and driving forces, leading to operator fatigue and unreliable self-holding on varying object surfaces, with existing self-holding devices failing to account for opposing forces during drilling.

Innovation Solution

A self-holding and self-driving drill system with a vacuum gripper base and air extraction mechanism, featuring a peripheral and inner seal, and a drilling assembly with piston tubes, which maintains a holding force greater than the driving force through differential pressure across distinct volumes, ensuring the system remains securely attached to the object surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a vacuum gripper is used to hold the drill against the object surface, then the holding force is automatically generated, but the drill pushing force can lift the gripper away from the surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic holding force applicationVSAvoidmaintaining contact with object surface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vacuum chamber is divided into two distinct volumes: a first volume between the vacuum gripper base and object surface for holding force, and a second volume within the piston tube for driving force. This segmentation allows independent control of holding and driving forces, preventing the drill pushing force from compromising the seal while maintaining automatic holding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the system are assigned different pressure characteristics: the first volume maintains vacuum pressure for holding, while the second volume uses atmospheric or pressurized air for driving. The sealing element creates localized vacuum zones that maintain holding force regardless of drill pushing forces elsewhere in the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If manual drilling operation is used, then the operator can adjust holding and driving forces, but the operator experiences fatigue and the task is tedious

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistent force applicationVSAvoidoperator physical effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-holding and self-driving operations automatically. The vacuum gripper base automatically generates holding force through vacuum pressure, and the piston tube automatically generates driving force through pneumatic pressure, eliminating the need for continuous manual force application and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Pneumatic systems are used to automatically generate both holding force (via vacuum extraction in the first volume) and driving force (via pressure differential in the second volume). This replaces manual mechanical force application with automated pneumatic actuation, reducing operator fatigue while maintaining consistent force application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If existing self-holding devices are used, then they can hold against different object surfaces, but they fail to account for opposing forces during drilling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different object surfacesVSAvoidmaintaining holding force during drilling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 system provides reliable, autonomous operation by maintaining a consistent holding force greater than the driving force, preventing the drill from lifting off the surface, thus reducing operator fatigue and ensuring safe, fail-proof operation across different materials.

Implementation Method 1

The activity of the air extraction means creates a low-pressure environment in a first volume contained by the sealing element, the vacuum gripper base, and an object surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum: Vacuum

Implementation Method 2

A delta pressure between the first volume and the immediate environment generates a holding force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

a driving force is exerted upon the drilling apparatus by a low-pressure environment in the second volume

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11167396B1Self-holding and self-driving drilling system

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 GRABO LIMITED

AI summary

A self-holding drilling system utilizes a vacuum gripping base and an air extraction pump to apply a holding force toward an object surface while maintaining surface-ward pressure on a drilling apparatus mounted therein. The pump extracts air from two discrete, but coupled volumes: a volume associated with the vacuum gripping base and a volume related to one or more piston tubes mounted transversely to the vacuum gripping element and movably coupled to the drilling apparatus. The surface area of the piston tubes is less than the surface area of the vacuum gripping base, which ensures the holding force is sufficient to prevent the drilling system from lifting from the object surface while also ensuring a driving force on the drilling apparatus is always less than the holding force. Thus, the operation of the drilling apparatus automatically drills into an object surface without requiring manual pressure on the drilling apparatus.