Elastic Sensor Engagement for Secure Valve Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control valve structures face challenges in workability and sensor damage due to the difficulty in positioning and securely attaching oil pressure sensors between upper and lower bodies, leading to potential sensor falls during assembly.
Innovation Solution
A sensor attachment structure featuring a columnar oil pressure sensor with an elastic engagement portion that deforms to engage with a stopper on the valve body, preventing downward movement and ensuring secure retention within an accommodation space, thus preventing falls and simplifying the assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the oil pressure sensor is first placed on the lower body and then the upper body is superposed, then the sensor is hidden by the upper body making position adjustment difficult, but this approach also makes insertion difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The upper body is prepared in advance with an accommodation space and stopper structure before sensor attachment. The stopper is pre-positioned to define the exact insertion depth and location, so when the sensor is inserted, it automatically engages at the correct position without requiring complex adjustment during assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If the upper body is turned upside down for sensor attachment, then the sensor can be inserted into the accommodation space, but the sensor may fall due to its own weight when the body is turned right side up
Solution Approach 1:
A stopper is pre-installed in the accommodation space of the upper body to counteract the gravitational force that would cause the sensor to fall. The stopper creates a mechanical barrier that prevents downward movement of the sensor along the central axis, eliminating the risk of sensor fall before the assembly is even completed.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement portion of the sensor is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to dynamically deform during insertion and then maintain a stable engaged state with the stopper. This elastic deformation enables the sensor to securely lock in position while accommodating slight variations in assembly alignment.
3Reliability
If the operator presses the sensor during superposition to prevent falling, then the sensor may not fall, but the workability becomes very low
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper and engagement portion structure is designed to automatically secure the sensor in position during the superposition process. The elastic engagement portion self-deforms to engage with the stopper without requiring external pressing forces, allowing the assembly to proceed freely while the sensor remains securely held in place.
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 solution enhances workability by allowing easy insertion and secure retention of the oil pressure sensor, preventing damage and simplifying the assembly process, thereby improving productivity and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
the engagement portion is elastically deformed toward the central axis
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor casing includes a lower case and an upper case that is fixed to an upper part of the lower case. A valve body includes an upper body including an accommodation space in which a sensor casing is disposed and a lower body in which an oil passage is formed. The upper body includes a stopper that prevents downward movement of the oil pressure sensor along a central axis. The sensor casing includes an engagement portion that engages with the stopper to retain the oil pressure sensor in the accommodation space.