Curved Current Sensor Coil for Tight Space Enclosure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current sensors, such as Rogowski coils, face difficulties in enclosing objects to be measured when there is a narrow gap between the object and adjacent members, making it hard to retrieve the sensor's leading end from the back side without manual assistance.
Innovation Solution
A current sensor design with a coil body and a holding portion, where the leading end has a greater curvature than the base end, allowing easier extraction and enclosure of objects, even in confined spaces, by forming a flexible and elastic coil body that can be warped and restored, and a holding portion for user operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the current sensor is made flexible to enclose objects, then the adaptability to different measurement scenarios is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when manual access to the back side is required
Solution Approach 1:
The leading end of the coil body is formed with a curved shape having a radius of curvature smaller than that of the base end. This curvature enables the leading end to be easily pulled out from the back side of the object to the front side by operating the holding portion, eliminating the need for manual access to the back side while maintaining the flexible enclosure capability
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the coil body have different curvature radii: the leading end has a smaller radius of curvature for easy extraction, while the base end has a larger radius for stable attachment to the holding portion. This local differentiation of geometric properties resolves the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coil body is made highly flexible to pass through narrow gaps, then the ability to measure objects in confined spaces is improved, but the difficulty of retrieving the leading end from the back side increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved leading end with small radius of curvature acts as a pull point that can be easily extracted through narrow gaps and retrieved from the back side by operating the holding portion, combining the benefits of flexibility for narrow gap passage with ease of retrieval
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 easy enclosure of objects by the current sensor without manual access to the back side, reducing the risk of damage and improving usability in tight spaces.
Implementation Method 1
a coil body (1) configured to detect electric current flowing through the object to be measured
Data Source
AI summary
A current sensor configured to detect electric current flowing through an object to be measured in a state where the current sensor encloses the object to be measured includes a coil body configured to detect the electric current flowing through the object to be measured, and a holding portion to which a base end portion of the coil body is attached, the holding portion being configured to insert and hold a leading end 1a of the coil body in an insertion port. A part having a greater curvature than a curvature of the base end portion is formed in a leading end portion having the leading end of the coil body.