In-Situ Fluid-State Sensor With Compressed-Fluid Surface Refresh

Solution Overview

Problem

Sensors face challenges in effectively refreshing the sensing surface for viscoelastic substances like grease and gel due to their viscoelasticity, leading to accumulation and difficulty in cleaning, which hinders data acquisition, and existing mechanical cleaning methods increase design complexity and risk of damage.

Innovation Solution

A sensor design that uses a compressed fluid nozzle to eject fluid from a side wall to force substances off the sensing surface, allowing new samples to be sensed without mechanical parts, thus reducing the risk of damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a mechanical rotary scraper is used to clean the sensing surface, then the sensing surface can be cleaned, but the design complexity increases and the risk of mechanical damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing surface cleaningVSAvoidmechanical driving parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotary scraper system with a pneumatic or hydraulic jet system that uses compressed fluid to remove substances from the sensing surface. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact, reducing design complexity and the risk of mechanical damage while maintaining effective cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs compressed fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic jet) to clean the sensing surface by forcing substances off through the opening. This approach uses fluid pressure instead of mechanical force, avoiding the need for mechanical driving parts and reducing the risk of abrasion or scratch damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Ease of operation

If a mechanical rotary scraper is used to clean the sensing surface, then the sensing surface can be cleaned, but the risk of sensing surface damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing surface cleaningVSAvoidsensing surface damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical rotary scraper system with a pneumatic or hydraulic jet system that uses compressed fluid to remove substances from the sensing surface. This substitution eliminates mechanical contact, reducing design complexity and the risk of mechanical damage while maintaining effective cleaning capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs compressed fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic jet) to clean the sensing surface by forcing substances off through the opening. This approach uses fluid pressure instead of mechanical force, avoiding the need for mechanical driving parts and reducing the risk of abrasion or scratch damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Device complexity

If the sensor is positioned to use inherent fluid flow for refreshing, then no additional mechanical parts are needed, but the refreshing effectiveness is insufficient due to yield and adhesive properties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical partsVSAvoidsensing surface refreshing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs compressed fluid (pneumatic or hydraulic jet) to clean the sensing surface by forcing substances off through the opening. This approach uses fluid pressure instead of mechanical force, avoiding the need for mechanical driving parts and reducing the risk of abrasion or scratch damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of the fluid flow by using compressed fluid with higher pressure and velocity. This transforms the insufficient inherent flow into an effective cleaning jet that can overcome the yield and adhesive properties of viscoelastic materials, achieving effective sensing surface refreshing without mechanical parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design efficiently refreshes the sensing surface, enabling effective data capture of updated samples while minimizing mechanical wear and damage risks.

Implementation Method 1

a compressed fluid nozzle is provided in the at least one side wall, to eject a compressed fluid from the compressed fluid nozzle, to force a substance on the sensing surface to leave from the opening

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompressed fluid ejection: Jet

Data Source

PatentUS12403509B2In-situ state of fluid sensor

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

The invention provides a sensor, which includes a sensing surface; a housing including a recess, the sensing surface is located at the bottom of the recess, and the recess includes at least one side wall and an opening circumferentially surrounding the sensing surface. A compressed fluid nozzle is provided in the at least one side wall to nozzle compressed fluid from the compressed fluid nozzle to force the substance on the sensing surface to leave from the opening. This design makes it possible to refresh in situ with good efficiency without involving additional mechanical parts, thus reducing the risk of sensing surface damage, such as scratch wear, in the presence of wear particles.