Floating Transport Modules for Thermal Expansion Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing modular transport planes for laboratory distribution systems are susceptible to high forces caused by thermal expansion and contraction, which can disrupt the movement and alignment of specimen containers.
Innovation Solution
A modular transport plane design with transport module units that are floatingly connected to an infrastructure system via back irons, allowing two degrees of freedom for horizontal movement and horizontal force transmission between neighboring units, using a floating connection with defined play or elastic deformability to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If transport module units are rigidly connected to the infrastructure system, then structural stability is improved, but thermal expansion and contraction forces cause high stresses and disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing rigid connections with floating connections that allow dynamic adjustment. The transport module units are connected to the infrastructure system through floating connections with defined play, enabling the system to adapt to thermal expansion and contraction forces while maintaining operational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing controlled play (gap) in the floating connections between transport module units and the infrastructure system. This parameter change allows the system to accommodate thermal dimensional changes without generating high stresses, effectively resolving the contradiction between stability and thermal force accommodation.
2Force
If transport module units are floatingly connected to allow thermal movement, then thermal expansion forces are reduced, but horizontal force transmission between neighboring units becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the merging principle by integrating the force transmission function directly into the floating connection structure itself. The back irons of neighboring transport module units are designed to interact through the floating connections, combining the thermal accommodation function with the force transmission function in a single integrated mechanism, thereby avoiding additional complex force transmission components.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If floating connections with defined play are used, then thermal expansion accommodation is improved, but alignment precision of specimen containers may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the connection characteristics at different locations. The floating connections with defined play are provided at specific locations (between transport module units and infrastructure system) where thermal accommodation is needed, while maintaining precise alignment mechanisms at critical locations for specimen container movement and positioning, thus resolving the contradiction between thermal accommodation and alignment precision.
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 design minimizes disruptions from thermal forces, maintaining accurate movement and alignment of specimen containers while accommodating thermal changes, ensuring reliable operation of the laboratory distribution system.
Implementation Method 1
high forces caused by thermal expansion and/or contraction
Implementation Method 2
floating connection with defined play or elastic deformability to compensate for thermal expansion and contraction
Implementation Method 3
each comprise at least one magnetically active element such as, for example, at least one permanent magnet
Implementation Method 4
the electromagnetic actuators can be controlled to move a carrier placed on the driving surface by applying a magnetic force to the carrier
Data Source
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AI summary
Modular transport plane (10) with a plurality of transport module units (1), each transport module unit (1) comprising an actuator assembly (3) with a back iron (37), and with an infrastructure system (11) arranged below the transport module units (1) and supporting the transport module units (1) on a floor, characterized in that the transport module units (1) are floatingly connected to the infrastructure system (2) to allow a relative horizontal movement between the transport module units (1) and the infrastructure system (2), wherein neighboring transport module units (1) are connected via the back irons (37) for a horizontal force transmission between neighboring transport module units (1) in response to a relative horizontal movement between neighboring transport module units (1).