Elastomeric Hammer Tip for Clean Impact Excitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing impact excitation techniques face challenges in providing a clean impulse impact to work pieces of varying materials and geometries, as ballistic impactors are not easily adaptable and can generate noise due to multiple contacts and friction, limiting the ability to impact from different sides or directions.
Innovation Solution
An impact device comprising an elongated elastic bendable arm with a programmable actuator that follows a predefined angular velocity profile, allowing for a single elastic bounce impact without multiple contacts, and enabling easy repositioning and adaptation for different work pieces, while reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a ballistic impactor is used to provide an impulse impact, then the impact can be delivered with a very short contact period, but the impactor may generate noise due to multiple contacts with the work piece and friction with the actuator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hammer tip from the ballistic impactor system, using a separate elastomeric hammer tip that can be attached to the arm. This allows the impactor to be optimized for single-contact impulse delivery while the hammer tip absorbs the impact, reducing noise from multiple contacts and friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter of the hammer tip to an elastomeric material with specific durometer range (40-90 Shore A), which provides optimal balance between impulse delivery and noise reduction. The elastomeric material allows for clean impact separation while minimizing friction-related noise.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a ballistic impactor is used, then an impulse impact can be achieved, but the impactor is not easily adaptable to different work pieces and directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the impact device into modular components: an arm, an actuator, and a replaceable hammer tip. This segmentation allows the hammer tip to be easily replaced or repositioned to adapt to different work piece geometries and impact directions while maintaining the impulse impact capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a flexible or bendable arm that can be dynamically positioned at different angles and orientations. This dynamic positioning capability allows the impact device to adapt to various work piece configurations and deliver impulses from different directions without requiring multiple fixed impactors.
3Productivity
If the impactor is recaptured after impact, then the system can be reused, but noise is generated during recapture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cushioning element or damping mechanism as an intermediary between the arm and the actuator/recapture system. This intermediary absorbs the impact energy during recapture, preventing direct mechanical contact that generates noise while allowing the system to be reset for reuse.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is made flexible to enable repositioning, then adaptability improves, but the arm may introduce additional vibration or noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible arm with controlled elasticity, allowing it to bend and reposition while maintaining structural integrity. The flexibility enables repositioning for different work piece configurations, while the controlled elastic properties minimize unwanted vibration and noise during operation.
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 provides a clean and adaptable means for performing impulse excitation measurements on various work pieces, reducing noise and allowing for flexible positioning, thus enhancing the accuracy and versatility of impact excitation techniques.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric hammer tip for mechanically providing an impact to the work piece
Implementation Method 2
a programmable actuator to rotate the arm, wherein the actuator is programmed to provide an angular velocity to the arm
Data Source
AI summary
An impact device for imparting an impulse impact to a work piece during an impact excitation measurement, includes an elongated elastic bendable arm which is elastically deformable around a bending direction, and has a proximal longitudinal end and a distal longitudinal end; a hammer tip for mechanically providing an impact to the work piece, and attached to the distal end of the arm; and a programmable actuator attached to the proximal longitudinal end of the arm. The actuator is programmed to provide an angular velocity to the proximal longitudinal end of the arm by rotating the proximal longitudinal end around an actuator axis, which is essentially parallel to the bending direction of the arm, the angular velocity following a predefined angular velocity profile. The angular velocity profile is configured to provide an impulse impact to the work piece.