Ball-and-Socket Joint With Pin-Groove Rotation Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ball and socket joints in sensor installations, particularly for 2D or 3D space scanning, face challenges in controlling the movement of sensors to optimize performance and reduce human error during positioning, as existing solutions do not effectively restrict axial rotation, leading to potential distortion in sensor readings.
Innovation Solution
A ball and socket joint design featuring a pin and groove arrangement that prevents rotation about a specific axis while allowing movement in other directions, combined with a tamper circuit for secure sensor positioning and detection of unauthorized tampering, and a locking mechanism to fix the ball in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ball and socket joint allows free movement for sensor positioning, then the sensor can be adjusted to face any direction, but the sensor may rotate unintentionally causing distortion in readings
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the rotational freedom of the ball and socket joint by introducing a pin that fits into a groove on the ball. This segmentation restricts rotation about the groove's normal axis while preserving rotational freedom about other axes, allowing sensor positioning flexibility without unintentional rotation that would cause reading distortion.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove on the ball creates an asymmetric constraint that selectively prevents rotation about one specific axis (the normal to the groove plane) while allowing rotation about other axes. This asymmetric design maintains the necessary positioning flexibility while eliminating the harmful rotational degree of freedom.
2Ease of manufacture
If the ball and socket joint structure is simplified, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but control over sensor movement is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention adds a simple pin-groove segmentation to the ball and socket joint. This minimal structural addition provides reliable control over sensor movement by preventing rotation about the groove's normal axis, while keeping the overall structure simple and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin acts as an intermediary element between the ball and socket joint components. This simple intermediary provides the necessary control over sensor movement by engaging with the groove, preventing unwanted rotation while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rotation about all axes is allowed for positioning, then the sensor can be oriented in any direction, but axial rotation cannot be prevented leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The pin-groove arrangement segments the rotational degrees of freedom, allowing rotation about axes that enable sensor orientation in any direction while preventing rotation about the groove's normal axis, thus maintaining adaptability while ensuring measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric groove geometry provides selective rotational constraint, permitting orientation capability through rotation about permitted axes while preventing axial rotation that would cause measurement errors.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a ball and socket joint, wherein a pin is located on either the socket or the ball and a groove is located on the other of the socket or ball, wherein the pin is configured to engage the groove and can translate along the length of the groove when the ball is located in the socket. An attachment surface for attaching a device to the ball and socket joint is also provided, and the pin and groove are arranged to prevent rotation of the ball about an axis that is parallel to the plane of the groove and extends through the attachment surface when the ball is located in the socket. The invention also relates to a ball and socket joint comprising a locking nut, wherein the locking nut comprises a partly circular internal cross section and a second flat surface, and wherein the locking nut is sized such that when a first flat surface on the ball and the second flat surface of the locking nut are aligned the ball is able to pass through the opening, and such that when the first flat surface and the second flat surface are offset from each other the ball is not able to pass through the opening.