Utility Vehicle Contact Sensor Plate Displacement Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing utility vehicle contact sensors are complex and have a high number of components due to the use of multiple shafts and guides, which complicates the structure and increases the number of parts.

Innovation Solution

A contact sensor configuration using a plate attached to the cover and extending horizontally between the chassis and cover, with elastic members like coil springs and wires to detect displacement, eliminating the need for multiple shafts and guides, and utilizing detection elements such as Hall effect sensors to detect obstacles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple shafts and guides are used to detect displacement, then the detection function is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated and the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection functionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the shafts and guides from the detection system, replacing them with a simplified plate structure that directly detects displacement through elastic deformation, thereby removing unnecessary components while maintaining the detection function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical shaft-and-guide system with an elastic plate structure that uses elastic deformation to detect displacement, substituting a complex mechanical linkage system with a simpler elastic element-based system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple shafts and guides are used to detect displacement, then the detection function is achieved, but the number of component parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection functionVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of multiple shafts and guides into a single integrated elastic plate structure, combining multiple detection functions into one component and thereby reducing the total number of parts while maintaining detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the shafts and guides from the component list, extracting only the essential detection function and implementing it through a simplified plate structure, thereby reducing component quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 simplifies the structure, reduces the number of components, enhances accuracy in detecting obstacles, and prevents damage by restricting movement within the elastic limits of the wires, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the contact sensor system.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic members comprise wires that loosely connect the plate to the chassis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

utilizing detection elements such as Hall effect sensors to detect obstacles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHall effect: Hall Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3316067B1Contact sensor for utility robotic vehicle
Publication Date: 2020.09.09 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3316067B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3316067B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3316067B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A utility vehicle equipped with a contact sensor (40) that detect contact with an obstacle from displacement between a chassis (12a) and a cover attached to the chassis. The contact sensor (40) has a plate (80) attached to the cover and disposed in a space formed between the chassis and cover to extend horizontally, the plate (80) being attached to the chassis (12a) though elastic members (86). Further, the contact sensor has a detection element (82) disposed between the plate and chassis to generate an output indicating the displacement between the plate and chassis, and a detector (84) electrically connected to the detection element to detect the contact with the obstacle based on the outputs of the detection element.