Cable Pulling System with Guide Bushing for Accurate Weight Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for measuring the weight of an object suspended from a cable are inaccurate due to orbital and pendular motion of the cable, which affects force measurement and restricts the growth of silicon ingots in a straight direction, necessitating more costly and less accurate methods for determining ingot diameter.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a frame with a vertical and horizontal axis, a cable connected to the object, and a force measurement device coupled to a cylinder, with an arm restraining movement and position sensors to actively dampen pendular motion, ensuring accurate weight measurement and controlled ingot growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a cable is routed over a pulley and wrapped around a drum driven by a drive to pull an object upward, then the object can be pulled upward, but orbital and pendular motion of the cable occurs which affects force measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
A guide bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the cable and the pulling system. The guide bushing constrains the cable's orbital and pendular motion, serving as a mediator that eliminates harmful cable movements while allowing the cable to pass through for force transmission to the load cell
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the force measurement function (load cell) from the cable guidance function (guide bushing). By dividing these functions into distinct components, the cable motion is controlled independently from the force sensing mechanism, improving measurement accuracy
2Ease of operation
If the cable is allowed to move freely during pulling, then the pulling operation is simpler, but the ingot cannot grow in a straight direction and rotation rate is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bushing acts as an intermediary that provides directional guidance to the cable without complicating the pulling operation. It ensures the cable moves in a controlled path, allowing the ingot to grow straight while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide bushing creates a constrained path for the cable that maintains consistent alignment throughout the pulling process, ensuring the ingot grows in a straight direction by providing uniform guidance conditions
3Measurement precision
If a traditional load cell system is used to measure cable force, then force measurement is possible, but cable motion causes inaccurate measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The guide bushing is positioned between the cable and the external environment, mediating the cable's motion to eliminate orbital and pendular movements that would otherwise directly affect the load cell measurements, ensuring consistent and accurate force readings
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 accurate weight measurement of the object, allowing for precise determination of silicon ingot diameter and growth control, reducing errors and costs associated with previous methods.
Implementation Method 1
The weight of the object is determined by analyzing the force applied to the load cell by the pulley
Implementation Method 2
An arm has a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to at least one of the frame and the second cylinder and the second end coupled to the first cylinder. The arm has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the cable path and connecting the first and second ends, wherein the arm substantially restrains the first cylinder from movement parallel to the horizontal axis
Data Source
AI summary
Pulling systems are disclosed for measuring the weight of an object coupled to a first end of a cable. The cable is routed over a pulley suspended from a load cell. The force exerted by the cable on the pulley is used to calculate the weight of the object. The second end of the cable is coupled to a drum which when rotated pulls the object by wrapping the cable around the drum. An arm is coupled to the pulley at one end and to a frame at another end. A path travelled by the cable between the pulley and the drum is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the arm. Horizontal force components are transmitted by the arm to the frame and do not affect a force component measured by the load cell, thus increasing the accuracy of the calculated weight of the object.