Cutting Roller Bearing Part With Hermetic Load Sensor Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cutting roller bearing components for tunnel boring machines lack accurate and stable load measurement due to exposure to outside atmosphere, which affects the reliability and durability of load sensors.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating strain gauge arrangements as load sensors within a hermetically sealed sensor receiving space, with signal processing electronics encapsulated and connected to form a gas- and watertight unit, ensuring direct connection and long-term stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If load measuring units are exposed to the outside atmosphere, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability and durability of load measurement deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The strain gauge arrangement is nested within a hermetically sealed sensor receiving space that is integrated into the bearing part structure. The receiving space arrangement contains the load measuring unit, which is further protected by hermetic sealing, creating nested protective layers that shield the sensitive measurement components from the harsh tunnel boring environment while maintaining measurement reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetic sealing is achieved through sealing elements that form gas-tight and watertight barriers around the sensor receiving space. These sealing structures protect the strain gauge arrangement from moisture, dust, and other atmospheric contaminants present in tunnel boring operations, ensuring long-term durability and consistent measurement performance.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If strain gauge arrangement is hermetically sealed, then the durability of load sensor improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hermetic sealing structure is merged with the bearing part geometry, integrating the protective function into the load-bearing structure itself. The sensor receiving space is formed as an integral part of the bearing component, with sealing elements incorporated into the same manufacturing process, thereby achieving durability enhancement without proportionally increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The design accommodates hermetic sealing requirements by optimizing the geometric parameters of the sensor receiving space and sealing element interfaces. By carefully designing the shape, size, and positioning of sealing features, the patent achieves gas-tight and watertight protection while maintaining manufacturability through standard machining and assembly processes.
3Measurement precision
If signal processing electronics are encapsulated hermetically, then the reproducibility of load measurement improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing electronics are encapsulated within the same hermetically sealed sensor receiving space that protects the strain gauge arrangement. This unified encapsulation approach protects both the sensing and processing components together, improving measurement reproducibility by shielding electronic signals from environmental interference while avoiding the need for separate protective structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The hermetic sealing acts as an intermediary barrier between the sensitive electronics and the harsh external environment. This sealing layer protects the encapsulated electronics from moisture, dust, and temperature extremes, ensuring stable and reproducible signal processing performance throughout the service life of the cutting roller bearing part.
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
Provides high reproducibility and durability in load measurement, allowing reliable determination of loads acting on the cutting roller bearing part with sufficient sensitivity.
Implementation Method 1
the load measuring unit or each load measuring unit (408) has a strain gauge arrangement (612, 615) as a load sensor
Data Source
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AI summary
In a cutting roller bearing part (306) as a component of a cutting roller holder for a cutting wheel of a tunnel boring machine, a load measuring unit (612, 615) is arranged in a receiving space assembly (603, 606, 618, 621), which is hermetically sealed against the external atmosphere by external closures (509, 512, 515, 518, 521) and a sealing element (636) surrounding through-lines. In this way, a proportionally high level of accuracy and long-term stability is provided for load measurements.