Contactless Eddy Current Brake for Camera Carriage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crash simulation systems experience undesired initial shocks and wear due to mechanical braking, which can damage equipment and affect recording quality during high-speed vehicle safety tests.
Innovation Solution
A contactless linear eddy current brake system with permanent magnets and a decoupling device is used to brake camera carriages independently of the main carriage, minimizing wear and avoiding initial shocks, and supplemented with a hydraulic impact damper for complete stoppage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical braking is used to stop the camera carriage, then the camera can be brought to a complete stop, but initial shocks and wear occur that can damage equipment and affect recording quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical friction-based braking with a contactless eddy current brake system. The brake device comprises a permanent magnet and a conductive brake element, where electromagnetic induction generates eddy currents in the conductive element when exposed to the magnetic field, creating a contactless braking force. This eliminates mechanical contact and associated wear, while also avoiding the harmful initial shocks caused by conventional mechanical brakes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conductive brake element as an intermediary between the permanent magnet and the camera carriage. This conductive element mediates the braking process by generating eddy currents when exposed to the magnetic field, thereby transmitting the braking force without direct mechanical contact. The intermediary approach allows for smooth, shock-free deceleration while maintaining complete stop capability.
2Reliability
If contactless braking is used to minimize wear and avoid initial shocks, then equipment durability improves, but the camera carriage requires independent braking system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the eddy current brake device into the existing camera carriage structure, allowing the same system to serve multiple functions: minimizing wear through contactless braking, avoiding initial shocks, and providing smooth deceleration. The brake device is designed to be incorporated within the existing carriage framework, eliminating the need for entirely separate braking systems while maintaining reliability improvements.
3Measurement precision
If the camera carriage is braked independently from the main carriage, then recording quality is maintained, but the system requires decoupling mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the braking function from the main carriage system by providing a dedicated brake device for the camera carriage. The decoupling mechanism allows the camera carriage to be independently braked while maintaining its synchronized movement during the crash test. This segmentation ensures that the camera recording is not affected by the main carriage's braking characteristics, preserving measurement precision without requiring overly complex integration.
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 contactless braking system reduces wear and eliminates harmful acceleration peaks, ensuring precise and reliable data capture during crash simulations by maintaining camera stability and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
The contactless brake preferably is a linear eddy current brake. The electrically conductive brake element can be a fin attached to the camera carriage. The permanent magnets preferably are plates and are at a distance from one another.
Implementation Method 2
The brake device may comprise at least one permanent magnet. The permanent magnet is used to generate a permanent magnetic field by virtue of which an adequate braking action can be provided even in the event of a power cut.
Data Source
AI summary
A crash simulation system has a parallel carriage (4) guided to move in a translatory manner and at least one camera (11-13) with an associated brake device. The brake device includes a contactless brake.