Contactless Motion Sensor for Harsh Environments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for monitoring relative movement between two elements mounted for relative movement lack effective, reliable, and contactless detection methods, especially in harsh environments, and often require complex electrical setups or prone to false triggering.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a transmitter and sensor in a field connection, allowing contactless detection using magnetic, inductive, or capacitive methods, with galvanic separation and hermetic sealing, providing a simple and cost-effective means to determine triggering events, and enabling easy replacement or upgrading of components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contactless field-based detection is used, then reliability in harsh environments is improved, but device complexity increases due to transmitter and sensor components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based detection systems with field-based contactless detection using a transmitter and sensor. The transmitter generates a magnetic field that couples with a magnetic element on the movable component, allowing detection of relative movement without physical contact. This substitution eliminates wear and false triggering associated with mechanical contacts while maintaining detection reliability in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the stationary transmitter and the moving magnetic element. This field-based intermediary enables information transfer about relative position and movement without direct physical contact, solving the contradiction by providing reliable detection while avoiding the complexity of direct mechanical or electrical contacts in harsh environments.
2Device complexity
If mechanical indicators are used for monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to false triggering and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical indicators with a field-based detection system consisting of a transmitter and sensor. The transmitter generates a magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic element on the movable component, and the sensor detects changes in this field to determine triggering events. This substitution eliminates false triggering and wear associated with mechanical indicators while providing precise measurement of relative movement.
3Measurement precision
If electrical monitoring devices are used, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability worsens due to moisture and dust penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a magnetic field as an intermediary that can penetrate non-magnetic barriers such as seals and enclosures. The transmitter and sensor can be hermetically sealed while still detecting triggering events through the magnetic field coupling with the external magnetic element, thus maintaining measurement precision while protecting against moisture and dust penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hermetic seals and enclosures around the transmitter and sensor components to create protective barriers against moisture and dust. These flexible or rigid sealing structures allow the electrical components to remain protected while still enabling magnetic field coupling with external magnetic elements for triggering detection.
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
Enables reliable, contactless monitoring of relative movement in harsh conditions, reducing false triggering and facilitating easy maintenance, while providing a robust and cost-effective solution for detecting triggering events in energy dissipation devices.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic element (125) which can be attached in an integrated manner to one of the elements (115, 120) and a sensor (130) which is set up for contactless detection of the magnetic element (125) on the basis of a magnetic field
Implementation Method 2
The sensor (130) is set up for connection to an electrical evaluation device, in that the sensor (130) provides a signal that indicates the triggering state (triggered or not triggered) or a triggering event
Data Source
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AI summary
Two elements are mounted for motion relative to each other. A device for monitoring relative motion of the two elements comprises an indicating means and a sensor, which are fastened to each other and are in field connection with each other; wherein the sensor is designed to contactlessly detect the indicating means on the basis of the field; wherein the indicating means is designed to be attached to one of the elements; and wherein the sensor has an action surface for the other element in order to be removed from the indicating means by the other element when the elements are moved relative to each other.