External Optical Liquid Sensor Mounting Without Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional liquid sensors require a sealing structure for attachment to machines, leading to low workability in installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A liquid sensor design that allows attachment to the outside of an accommodation unit without a need for a seal, utilizing a light receiver that receives light through or reflected by the liquid, with integral light emitter and receiver, and a rechargeable power source for simplified wiring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional liquid sensor is installed by screw connection, then the sensor can be securely mounted, but a sealing structure is required which reduces workability of attachment work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light receiver from the accommodation unit and positions it externally, eliminating the need for sealing structures while maintaining secure mounting through attachment to the translucent accommodation unit. This resolves the contradiction by removing the sealing requirement that hindered workability while preserving reliable sensor mounting.
2Reliability
If a seal structure is added to prevent hydraulic oil leakage, then reliability of sealing is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The light receiver is extracted and positioned outside the accommodation unit, eliminating the need for seal structures entirely. This resolves the contradiction by removing both the sealing reliability concern and the associated structural complexity, achieving a simpler design without compromising functionality.
3Ease of operation
If a transmission type sensor design is used with external light emitter and receiver, then workability of attachment is improved, but wiring complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light emitter and light receiver into an integrated sensor unit that attaches externally to the accommodation unit. This merging approach simplifies the overall wiring structure compared to separate components, while maintaining the attachment workability benefits of the external transmission type design.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor unit is designed to be self-contained with integrated power and signal handling, reducing external wiring requirements. The external attachment design allows the sensor to serve itself without complex internal sealing or wiring structures.
4Ease of operation
If integral light emitter and receiver are used, then optical axis adjustment is eliminated improving workability, but manufacturing precision requirements may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitter and receiver are merged into an integral sensor unit with pre-aligned optical components. This eliminates the need for field optical axis adjustment while the manufacturing process ensures precise internal alignment, resolving the contradiction by transferring the precision requirement to manufacturing rather than installation.
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
Improves installation workability by eliminating the need for a sealing structure and simplifying wiring, enabling reliable detection and notification of liquid properties through visual light emission.
Implementation Method 1
The light receiver receives light that has passed through the liquid in the accommodation unit or light reflected by the liquid
Implementation Method 2
The light receiver receives light that has passed through the liquid in the accommodation unit or light reflected by the liquid
Implementation Method 3
a thermoelectric conversion element configured to generate electric power for charging the power source
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid sensor includes a light receiver configured to receive light. The light receiver is attachable to an outside of an accommodation unit into which a liquid is introduced and which has translucency. The light receiver receives light that has passed through the liquid in the accommodation unit or light reflected by the liquid, and outputs a signal related to a physical quantity of the liquid.