The Extractor

With the unacceptable difficulty that is found when attempting to remove nails from a surface, our group came up with a genius solution to the problem. When removing nails, the operator finds that not only is it difficult to remove a nail, after struggling for a long time, it is also very damaging to the building surface which it is being removed from. Finally, after removing the nail, it can be seen that it has done much, possibly costly, damage to whatever material it may have been inside. This should not be the case. A nail should be painlessly and easily removed. With that idea in mind, Colton Brennan, Joel Banzhaf, and Jack Watson came together and drafted a new power tool that would remove nails painlessly and efficiently. Not only did this power tool save the wall and the actual structure of the nail, it also effectively saved time for those using the tool. Saving time means a reduce in labor cost and preventing damage to the wall saves money on repairs. This mechanism is known as, The Extractor and will efficiently change the world of hardware. We had many design ideas before we came up with The Extractor such as a large non vibrating jack hammer, a powered multi-tool, and an electronic hammer. However, none compare to the efficiency and impact that The Extractor has on the world of power tools and hardware. Starting with the front assembly, designed by Joel Banzhaf, the product was ingeniously thought out. The front assembly holds the main working components of The Extractor. The components on the front assembly include the magnet, the arms, the light housing, and the LED bulb. The magnet starts by pulling the head of the nail a small distance from the surface. This then allows the next part, the arms to slip under the head. Then, the arms are used for removing the rest of the nail. Part of the genius of the arm design is that they are allowed to swivel; this allows easy operation of the magnet, as well as proper function of the arms. Mounted on the top of the magnet is a light housing, allowing for a LED light to be installed. Being powered by the battery pack, the LED allows for product use in tight spaces and in dark environments. All of the front assembly then connects to the main body of The Extractor. Colton Brennan assembled and designed the body, and also handled the assembly of merging the body, front, and back together. The body is the core connection to the front and bottom assembly. The body holds multiple key parts known as the vent, level, power switch, power outlet, and prongs. The vent fluctuates air through the machine as the magnet is powered. It is necessary to fluctuate air so that the Extractor does not overheat and can maintain the charge needed to operate the magnet. The level is a non-electric addition to the Extractor. Furthermore, the level supports the angle needed to be perpendicular to the surface in which the nail is connected to. In addition to the level there is also a power switch located on the right side of the Extractor. The power switch is a key electronic addition to the whole system, it delegates the distribution of power from the battery to the main vent and the magnet. The green button turns on the Extractor while the red one acts as a kill switch in case of emergency. The power outlet is a very necessary adaptation missing in most main stream power tools. When a power tool relies solely on it is battery it can become useless because of a lack of charge; however, if it does not have a battery it would be useless to its lack of mobility. We have engineered a solution for both by incorporating a power outlet and a battery. The prongs are a side addition to the Extractor and help to wound up the chord used from the power outlet. The body houses all of the internal structures in our design and is the crucial supporting part for both ends of our design. The rear assemblies; designed by Jack Watson Include a traditional battery pack similar to most contemporary drill battery packs, and two EZ Leverage Handles for adjustable leverage. As our drill in unconventionally shaped, the traditionally shaped battery is inserted into the battery port at the rear end of The Extractor allowing for power to flow through all parts of the machine: including the magnet and the vent. However, the button on the body of the drill toggles the power on and off. The EZ Leverage Handles are comprised of one ratchet assembly per handle which allows for great range of motion which in turn allows for greater leverage depending on the orientation of The Extractor. The ratchet assembly also includes an inner handle which is pulled so that the handles can be reset to the original straight back and forth position. In a world where removing screws and nails can result in costly damage to building materials; we aim to change that world to one where removing a nail or screw becomes a simple and stress-free process. This task would require a revolutionary product to accomplish it, but it would also need to be something that is affordable, cost effective, and efficient, without compromising ease of use. So with user friendliness in mind we engineered The Extractor to be just that: easy to use, but also a functional product