Deformable Sensor Liquid Containment via Flexible Shells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Acoustic emission sensors face instability due to liquid leakage from gaps between deformable parts, leading to fluctuating characteristics and reduced sensitivity in detecting ultrasonic vibrations and cracks.
Innovation Solution
The sensor design incorporates a first and second deformable part with varying dimensions and properties, such as length, width, thickness, Young's modulus, and spring constant, with a liquid held between them, and includes a second counter deformable part to minimize gap size and prevent liquid outflow, enhancing stability and sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a liquid is provided between the first structure body and the second structure body to detect vibrations, then the sensor can detect ultrasonic vibrations and crack propagation, but the liquid may leak from gaps between deformable parts causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs deformable parts with specific dimensional relationships (length, width, thickness) that act as flexible barriers to contain the liquid while allowing vibration detection. The deformable parts function as thin film structures that maintain liquid containment through their geometric configuration and elastic properties, preventing leakage while transmitting vibrational energy for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the dimensional parameters of the deformable parts (length L, width W, thickness T) to establish specific ratios that simultaneously achieve liquid retention and vibration transmission. By carefully controlling these geometric parameters, the system maintains stable characteristics while preserving detection sensitivity across different operating conditions.
2Reliability
If the gap between deformable parts is reduced to prevent liquid leakage, then liquid outflow is suppressed, but the deformable parts may become too rigid to detect vibrations effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable parts are designed as thin film structures with optimized thickness-to-width ratios that maintain flexibility even when gaps are minimized. This allows the parts to act as both liquid barriers and vibration transducers, achieving reliable liquid retention while preserving vibration detection capability through their inherent flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes materials with specific elastic properties (Young's modulus E) that combine sufficient rigidity for liquid containment with adequate flexibility for vibration detection. The composite structure of the deformable parts, with controlled material properties and geometric configuration, enables simultaneous achievement of liquid retention and vibration sensitivity.
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 effectively suppresses liquid outflow, stabilizes sensor characteristics, and improves impact resistance, enabling more reliable detection of ultrasonic vibrations and crack propagation.
Implementation Method 1
a first deformable part supported by the supporter, the first deformable part having a first length, a first width, and a first thickness... a second deformable part supported by the supporter... the second deformable part having at least one of a second length less than the first length, a second width greater than the first width, a second thickness greater than the first thickness, a second Young's modulus greater than a first Young's modulus of the first deformable part, or a second spring constant greater than a first spring constant of the first deformable part
Implementation Method 2
A liquid is provided between the first structure body and the second structure body... the detector outputs a signal corresponding to a deformation of at least one of the first deformable part or the second deformable part
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a sensor includes first and second structure bodies, and a detector. The first structure body includes a supporter, and first and second deformable parts supported by the supporter. The second deformable part has at least one of a second length less than a first length of the first deformable part, a second width greater than a first width of the first deformable part, a second thickness greater than a first thickness of the first deformable part, a second Young's modulus greater than a first Young's modulus of the first deformable part, or a second spring constant greater than a first spring constant of the first deformable part. The second structure body is connected to the first structure body. A liquid is provided between the first and second structure bodies. The detector outputs a signal corresponding to a deformation of the first or second deformable part.