Floating-Housing Obstruction Sensor for High-Speed Lifting Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pushbutton switch-type anti-collision systems have low sensitivity, making them unsuitable for high-speed motion mechanisms, as they continue moving due to inertia after detecting an obstruction, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An obstruction detecting apparatus with a rocking element and elastic members that generates an obstruction signal through a small displacement, allowing for quick detection and reversal movement, even at high speeds, by disengaging the pressing end from the switch upon relative movement between housings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical pushbutton switch sensor is used, then the control is reliable without false alerts, but the sensitivity is low causing the motion mechanism to continue moving due to inertia after obstruction detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is divided into two independent housing units (first housing and second housing) that can move relative to each other. The obstruction detection function is segmented between the floating second housing and the rocking element mechanism, allowing the detection threshold to be decoupled from the actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocking element acts as an intermediary mechanical amplifier between the small relative displacement of the housings and the pushbutton switch actuation. It converts minimal movement at the free end into sufficient pressing force at the pressing end to trigger the switch, while the elastic member serves as a mediator that enables the housing separation.
2Ease of manufacture
If a pushbutton switch-type sensor is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the response time is delayed due to the time interval between signal detection and reversal movement
Solution Approach 1:
The second housing is pre-positioned in a floating state relative to the first housing via the elastic member, ready to move immediately upon obstruction detection. The rocking element is pre-configured in the neutral position with its pressing end ready to engage the switch, eliminating the need for complex activation sequences and reducing response time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static pushbutton switch to a dynamic sensor where the second housing can move relative to the first housing. This dynamic configuration allows the sensor to respond to obstructions through relative motion, significantly reducing the detection-to-response time interval while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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
Enhances safety by enabling quick and reliable obstruction detection, preventing further movement and potential damage, and reduces actuation travel errors, making it suitable for high-speed equipment like electric lifting desks.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member, the second housing being floatingly mounted on the first housing via the first elastic member
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic member is provided on the first housing or the second housing, the second elastic member applying, against the rocking element, an elastic force causing the free end to keep abutting against the second housing
Data Source
AI summary
An obstruction detecting apparatus, an obstruction detecting system, an electric lifting desk, and an electric lifting cupboard, which relate to the field of obstruction detection and render a higher obstruction detection sensitivity. The obstruction detecting apparatus includes a first housing and a second housing, the second housing being floatingly mounted on the first housing via a first elastic member, on the first housing being provided a circuit board, an obstruction detecting switch connected to the circuit board, and a rocking element rotatably mounted, one end of the rocking element being a free end abutting against the first housing, opposite end of the rocking element being a pressing end pressing down on the obstruction detecting switch, the free end, when being rotated, driving the pressing end to be disengaged from the obstruction detecting switch, whereby an obstruction signal is generated.