Displacement Magnification Device Segmentation for Milling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional displacement magnification devices with piezoelectric elements face challenges in productivity due to the difficulty in creating small-width elastic hinges using general machining methods like milling, which complicates the manufacturing process.

Innovation Solution

The device employs a displacement magnification mechanism with a first rigid body and plate springs acting as elastic hinges, eliminating the need for small-width elastic hinges, allowing for the use of general machining methods such as milling, by utilizing a pair of parallel link portions where one link portion includes a first rigid body with a pressure receiving surface and a plate spring coupling it to the supporting and movable portions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If small-width elastic hinges are created in an integrated component, then displacement magnification function is achieved, but manufacturing difficulty increases and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplacement magnification functionVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The link portion is divided into separate components: the rigid body and the plate spring. This segmentation eliminates the need to create small-width elastic hinges in an integrated component, allowing standard machining methods to be used for both parts while maintaining the displacement magnification function through their combined operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If special machining methods like wire-cutting are used, then small-width elastic hinges can be created, but workability deteriorates and productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelastic hinge precisionVSAvoidmachining workability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the elastic hinge function into a dedicated plate spring component, the rigid body can be manufactured using easy-to-use milling methods, while the plate spring can be separately fabricated with appropriate techniques. This eliminates the need for difficult wire-cutting operations on integrated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of creating small-width elastic hinges within an integrated component (traditional approach), the invention inverts the approach by making the elastic hinge a separate plate spring component that couples to the rigid body, thereby simplifying the machining of the main structural components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 approach simplifies the manufacturing process, improves productivity by enabling the use of standard machining techniques, and maintains effective displacement magnification, achieving a displacement magnification ratio of approximately 2.2 fold with easy force transmission and reduced bending.

Implementation Method 1

a piezoelectric element (1); and a displacement magnification mechanism (2) configured to magnify an amount of displacement of the piezoelectric element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

a first plate spring (9) that couples the first rigid body to the supporting portion and the movable portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the displacement magnification mechanism (2) configured to magnify an amount of displacement of the piezoelectric element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical advantage: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentUS11476406B2Displacement magnification device

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 AZBIL CORP

AI summary

A displacement magnification device has a first link portion including a first rigid body and a first plate spring that couples the first rigid body to a supporting portion and a movable portion. A second link portion includes a second rigid body and a second plate spring that couples the second rigid body to the supporting portion and the movable portion. In this structure, the first rigid body and the second rigid body play roles to suppress the bending of the first plate spring and the second plate spring. In addition, a connection portion between the first plate spring and the supporting portion, a connection portion between the second plate spring and the supporting portion, a connection portion between the first plate spring and the movable portion, and a connection portion between the second plate spring and the movable portion play roles of elastic hinges.