Hollow-Body Measuring Device with Adaptive Press-In Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in securely and cost-effectively attaching torque sensors or deformation bodies to tubular hollow bodies with manufacturing tolerances, limiting their placement to areas accessible from both sides and increasing production complexity and costs.
Innovation Solution
A deformation body with elastically deformable press-in ring elements at both ends, adapting to the inner wall of the hollow body with a thickness of 3-25% of the ring element diameter, allowing force-fitting attachment without precise interference fits, and a sensor device to detect mechanical stress through deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sleeve-shaped torque sensor is pressed into a cylindrical interior of a hollow body, then the sensor can be securely attached, but high manufacturing precision is required for both the fit and the sensor body, resulting in high manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the press-in element by providing protrusions that extend beyond the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow body. This parameter change allows the press-in element to be securely attached without requiring high manufacturing precision of the fit, as the protrusions can engage with the surrounding material even with tolerance variations.
2Reliability
If a press-in sensor is secured in a recess accessible from both sides, then reliable fastening is achieved, but the sensor can only be placed in areas directly accessible from the outside, limiting spatial arrangement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the press-in element into a main body and protrusions that extend from the cylindrical inner surface. This segmentation allows the press-in element to be inserted from one side only, as the protrusions provide anchoring engagement with the surrounding material, eliminating the need for bidirectional access while maintaining fastening reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a tubular hollow body is manufactured with special processes and tools to secure a torque sensor in the interior, then the sensor can be arranged in the hollow body, but the production process becomes very complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the securing function directly into the press-in element design, with protrusions that extend beyond the cylindrical inner surface. This preliminary design of the press-in element allows it to be securely attached during the normal manufacturing process without requiring special processes or tools, thereby reducing production complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If the inner wall of a welded, drawn or pressed pipe is used, then the hollow body can be manufactured with standard tolerances, but the shape is not specified with sufficient precision for a force-fitting attachment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometry of the press-in element by adding protrusions that extend beyond the cylindrical inner surface. This parameter change allows the press-in element to accommodate variations in the inner wall shape while still achieving reliable attachment, making it compatible with standard manufacturing tolerances for welded, drawn, or pressed pipes.
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 enables robust, cost-effective attachment of deformation bodies to tubular cavities with manufacturing tolerances, ensuring accurate stress detection and reducing production complexity while maintaining measurement integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically deformable press-in ring element is arranged at each of two opposite ends of the deformation body and the press-in ring element has, at least in sections, such a small ring element thickness that the press-in ring element adapts to an inner wall of the hollow body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a measuring device (1) for arranging in tubular cavities (2) of machine elements (3), comprising a deformation body (4) which has a deformation region (13). A respective press-in ring element (6) is secured to two opposite ends (5) of the deformation body (4), and the deformation body can be introduced into a tubular cavity (2) of a machine element (3) through a press-in opening (10) using a press-in force such that mechanical effects acting on the machine element (3) can extend to the deformation region (13) of the deformation body (4) by means of the press-in ring elements (6) and can be detected by a sensor device (15) secured to the deformation region (13). The press-in ring elements (6) have a degree of strength (11) in at least some regions which is so low that the deformation body (4) can be reliably introduced into the tubular cavity (2) and can be stored therein in a force-fitting manner while the circumference (9) of the tubular cavity (2) is designed to have an oval or elliptical shape, or a non-circular shape, or has high tolerance variations, such as those found in pipes for example.