Falling Ball Interception Device for Single-Impact Hardness Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ordinary falling ball impact testers allow the ball to rebound and impact the product multiple times, which affects the accuracy and reliability of the test results due to repeated ball strikes.
Innovation Solution
A falling ball interception device with a sensor, interception plate, and driving member that detects the ball's position and moves the interception plate into the ball's path to catch the ball in a conical or hemispherical groove, preventing further impacts by using a buffer to absorb and retain the ball.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ball is allowed to rebound and impact the product multiple times, then the test can continue without intervention, but the test results become inaccurate and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The interception plate is positioned in advance in the rebound path of the ball before the ball can strike the product multiple times. The plate is pre-set at a location where it will automatically intercept the rebounding ball, preventing further impacts before they can occur. This preliminary positioning ensures that only the first impact is recorded, maintaining test accuracy while allowing continuous operation.
2Reliability
If an interception device is added to prevent ball rebound, then test result accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interception plate is designed to be automatically actuated by the rebounding ball itself. When the ball rebounds, it naturally contacts the interception plate which is positioned to intercept the rebound path. The ball's own rebound motion triggers the interception action without requiring external sensors, motors, or complex control systems. This self-service mechanism maintains simplicity while effectively preventing multiple impacts.
3Reliability
If the interception plate is positioned too early, then the ball is intercepted before rebounding, but the plate may interfere with the initial drop or cause premature activation
Solution Approach 1:
The interception plate is designed with movable positioning capability, allowing it to be dynamically adjusted between a retracted position (during the initial ball drop) and an extended position (to intercept rebounding balls). The plate can be moved out of the way during the initial drop phase to avoid interfering with the ball's first impact, then automatically moves into the rebound path to intercept subsequent rebounds. This dynamic positioning ensures proper operation throughout the test cycle.
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
Ensures accurate and reliable single-impact testing by preventing the ball from rebounding and striking the product multiple times, thereby improving the consistency and validity of the test results.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor to detect a position of the falling ball
Implementation Method 2
using a buffer to absorb and retain the ball
Data Source
AI summary
A device to intercept a falling ball and prevent a second impact in a hardness or other test of a product and a falling ball impact tester including the device are disclosed. The device includes a sensor for detecting a position of the falling ball, an interception plate defining a catching groove, and a driving member connected to the interception plate and the sensor and providing motion. The driving member can move the interception plate to a position where the catching groove is in a falling path of the falling ball or is just outside such path, according to detection by the sensor.