Floating Barrel Optical Monitoring for Heat and Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical monitoring devices for chemical reactions are prone to thermal stress and vibration interference due to their proximity to heating stirrers, leading to inaccurate and unreliable measurements.

Innovation Solution

The optical monitoring device incorporates a floating barrel with an insulating material, spaced apart from the heating stirrer by a gap, and features optical components that are isolated from thermal and vibration stress, allowing for precise spectroscopic analysis of chemical reactions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If optical components are placed close to the heating stirrer for in-situ monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but thermal stress and vibration interference increase leading to inaccurate measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectroscopic analysis accuracyVSAvoidthermal stress and vibration interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into distinct functional modules: a heating stirrer module and an optical monitoring module. The optical components (irradiator and light receiver) are housed in a separate floating barrel that can be positioned independently from the heating stirrer, allowing optical measurements without direct thermal and mechanical coupling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An insulating material is introduced as an intermediary between the heating stirrer and the optical components. This intermediary layer blocks thermal energy transfer and mechanical vibration transmission, protecting the optical components from harmful effects while maintaining close proximity for accurate in-situ monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If optical components are isolated from the heating stirrer using insulating material and spacing, then thermal stress and vibration interference are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reliabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protective functions are merged into a single floating barrel structure. The barrel provides mechanical support for optical components, houses insulating material, and creates a floating isolation mechanism all in one integrated component, reducing overall device complexity despite added functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The floating barrel serves multiple purposes: it holds the optical components (irradiator and light receiver), provides thermal insulation through its material composition, creates mechanical isolation via the floating mechanism, and maintains positional stability during stirring operations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration enables accurate, real-time monitoring of chemical reactions by preventing thermal deformation and vibration interference, ensuring reliable spectroscopic data for predicting reaction paths and optimizing reaction conditions.

Implementation Method 1

A device has been developed for analyzing a pattern of light that passes through, or is deflected or scattered from a liquid sample. The device may detect the light that is not absorbed by the liquid sample.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission and absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The optical components of an irradiator transmitting light and a light receiver receiving the light are spaced apart from the heat stirring device such that the optical components are prevented from being receiving thermal stress and are placed in a barrel formed of an insulating material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4385614B1Optical monitoring device
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4385614B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385614B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4385614B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides optical monitoring devices. In some embodiments, the optical monitoring device includes a heating stirrer, a floating barrel, and a support body arranged to support the floating barrel. The floating barrel includes a barrel body facing the heating stirrer and spaced apart from the heating stirrer by a gap, a cavity provided in the barrel body and configured to accommodate at least one of a vessel and a conduit, an irradiator arranged in the barrel body and configured to radiate light to the cavity, and a light receiver arranged in the barrel body, aligned with the irradiator and the cavity, and configured to receive light from the cavity.