Permanently Magnetisable Chuck Control Device Fault Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling permanently magnetisable chucks lack effective protection against faulty connections and defective parts, leading to potential damage and safety risks for the control device and operating personnel.

Innovation Solution

A method that verifies electrical characteristics before energizing the coil, using a test pulse to detect faults such as short-circuits or supply voltage presence, and inhibiting energizing if issues are detected, ensuring safe operation by preventing high currents from being applied.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If overcurrent protection is used to protect the control device and chuck, then some protection is provided, but the protection is insufficient because the maximum current needed to energise the coil is very high and the cut-off current cannot be chosen low enough to achieve sufficient protection of operating personnel and equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of control device and chuckVSAvoiddanger to operating personnel and potential damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing verification of electrical characteristics (checking for short-circuits, incorrect connections, defective parts) before energizing the coil with high current. The control device verifies the electrical state of the chuck and connection via a connector prior to power delivery, preventing dangerous conditions from developing into harmful events. This proactive verification approach addresses the insufficiency of reactive overcurrent protection by eliminating faults before they can cause damage or danger.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If a connector is used to enable a single control device to operate multiple chucks, then versatility is improved, but the risk of faulty connection increases due to metallic chips being inserted causing short-circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to operate multiple chucksVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary verification of the electrical connection through the connector before energizing the coil. This includes checking for short-circuits, incorrect connections, and defective parts in the chuck and connection. By verifying electrical characteristics prior to power delivery, the system detects potential faults introduced by the connector and metallic chip contamination, preventing faulty connections from causing damage while maintaining the versatility of operating multiple chucks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Power

If high current is applied to energise the coil for magnetising or demagnetising the chuck, then the magnetisation change is achieved, but the risk of damage and danger to operating personnel increases due to faulty connections or defective parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecurrent to energise coilVSAvoiddamage to control device, chuck and danger to personnel
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary verification of electrical characteristics including checking for short-circuits, incorrect connections, and defective parts before applying high current to energize the coil. This pre-verification step ensures that the chuck and connection are in a safe state prior to power delivery, preventing high current from causing damage or danger. The system only energizes the coil after confirming electrical integrity, thus eliminating the harmful effects associated with faulty connections while maintaining the necessary power delivery capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

This approach effectively prevents damage to the control device and chuck by identifying and mitigating faults before high energizing currents are applied, enhancing safety and reliability in the operation of permanently magnetisable chucks.

Implementation Method 1

energising the coil by means of said power supply circuitry to modify the magnetisation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2175459B1Method to operate a control device for energising at least one coil of a permanently magnetisable chuck and corresponding control device
Publication Date: 2012.07.25 SCHUNK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2175459B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2175459B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2175459B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention refers to a method (61) to operate a control device (13) for energising (97) at least one coil (33) of an permanently magnetisable chuck (15) to modify a magnetisation of the chuck (15), wherein the control device (13) comprises an electrical connection (17) having at least one conductor (C1-A,C1-B,C1-C,C1-D,C1-F) to connect power supply circuitry (25) of the control device (13) with the coil (33). In order to provide such a method (61) which is safe and protects the control device (13) and/or the chuck (15) from being damaged due to a faulty connection (17) between the control device (13) and the chuck (15) it is suggested that the method (61) further comprises verifying (63,65) electrical characteristics at the at least one conductor (C1-A,C1-B,C1-C,C1-D,C1-F) and/or electrical characteristics (i) of the power supply circuitry (25), wherein said verifying (63,65) is performed before said energising (97).