Wall Stencil with Suction Fields for Precise Drilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Creating multiple aligned openings in a wall for electrical installations, such as socket or light switch boxes, is challenging due to difficulties in marking correct drilling positions and accurately placing a center drill.
Innovation Solution
A stencil with through openings and suction areas on its rear side for attaching to the wall without damaging it, allowing for drilling without a center drill, featuring a recess to accommodate drill teeth and a seal for air extraction to maintain adhesion, along with optional features like fluid suction connections, air ducts, and spirit levels for alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a center drill is used to create openings in a wall, then openings can be made, but it is difficult to mark the correct drilling position and create openings in the right place
Solution Approach 1:
The stencil is placed against the wall before drilling to pre-establish the correct drilling positions through its through-openings. This preliminary positioning action eliminates the need for separate marking steps and ensures accurate drill placement by guiding the drill bit directly through the stencil openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The stencil acts as an intermediary tool between the wall surface and the drill bit. It provides a physical guide structure with through-openings that mediate the positioning process, making it easy to transfer precise drilling locations from the stencil to the wall without complex marking procedures.
2Productivity
If a stencil is held on the wall by manual holding, then the stencil can be positioned, but the user has to continuously hold the stencil which reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The stencil incorporates suction areas that utilize negative pressure (vacuum) to adhere to the wall surface. By connecting to a vacuum source, the stencil is held firmly in position without requiring manual support, allowing the user to work hands-free and significantly improving operational efficiency and productivity.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If the stencil lies directly against the wall in the area of the through-opening, then the stencil is protected, but the drill teeth cannot be accommodated and the stencil is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The stencil features a recess specifically in the area of the through-opening, creating a localized variation in the surface geometry. This recess provides the necessary clearance for drill teeth to engage the wall material while the rest of the stencil maintains direct contact with the wall for stability and protection. This local modification allows the stencil to be reused multiple times without damage.
4Productivity
If multiple through-openings are provided in the stencil, then multiple openings can be made efficiently, but the stencil requires larger suction areas to maintain adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The suction area is divided into multiple separate suction fields, each corresponding to a through-opening. This segmentation allows the vacuum force to be distributed across multiple localized zones, maintaining effective adhesion even when multiple openings are present. Each suction field independently contributes to holding the stencil, enabling the use of multiple through-openings without requiring a proportionally larger total suction area.
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
Facilitates precise and damage-free creation of openings in walls, allowing for efficient alignment and prolonged stencil use by preventing damage and dirt accumulation, while enabling easy evacuation of debris and improved adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
the stencil body has at least one suction area on its rear side for fastening the stencil to a wall... the stencil can be held on the wall by negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
The suction field can be limited by a seal protruding from the back of the template body... Air can be extracted from this cavity so that the stencil adheres to the wall
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A template (1) for producing openings in a wall comprises a template body (2) which has at least one through-opening (3, 4, 5) for guiding a tool, wherein the template body (2) has at least one suction field (20, 21) on its rear side for attaching the template (1) to a wall, wherein the template body has a recess (50) on its rear side in the area of the through-opening (3, 4, 5).