Guide Carriage Deformation Sensor Cantilevered Track Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing guide carriages lack effective methods to determine the total load and remaining service life, especially when loads are off-center or applied as torque, which complicates the determination of individual loads on supporting rolling elements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating deformation sensors, such as strain gauges or piezoelectric films, at cantilever sections of the raceway element, connected to an evaluation device, to measure deformation and calculate total loads, including force and torque components, and using distance sensors to precisely measure the deformation of cantilevered sections, allowing for accurate determination of remaining service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If deformation sensors are installed on the cantilevered section to measure individual loads, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide carriage is divided into multiple measurement sections, with deformation sensors installed on cantilevered sections of track elements. Each sensor measures local deformation at specific positions, enabling segmentation of the total load into individual rolling element loads through evaluation of distributed measurement data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cantilevered section of the track element serves as an intermediary structure that transmits the load from rolling elements to the deformation sensor. The sensor measures deformation of this intermediary component, which then serves as a proxy for determining the individual load on rolling elements without directly instrumenting the rolling elements themselves.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple deformation sensors are used to determine total load and torque, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple deformation sensors positioned at different locations on the guide carriage are combined in an evaluation device. The evaluation device integrates signals from all sensors to simultaneously determine total load, torque, and individual rolling element loads, merging multiple measurement functions into a unified evaluation system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The deformation sensor system is designed with multi-functionality, where the same sensor network serves multiple purposes: measuring individual rolling element loads, determining total load on the carriage, calculating torque when off-center loads occur, and monitoring carriage position. This universal measurement system eliminates the need for separate sensors for each function.

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

3Ease of manufacture

If deformation sensors are integrated into the track element, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmeasurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The deformation sensor is nested within or integrated into the structure of the track element, with the sensor becoming part of the cantilevered section itself. This integration ensures that the sensor moves and deforms exactly with the track element, eliminating relative motion errors and ensuring that measured deformation accurately reflects the true mechanical deformation of the load-bearing structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables precise determination of total loads and remaining service life by measuring deformation and combining individual loads, effectively addressing the challenges of off-center and torque loads, and providing comprehensive load analysis.

Implementation Method 1

at least one deformation sensor comprises a strain gauge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectStrain gauge measurement: Piezoresistive Effect

Implementation Method 2

at least one deformation sensor comprises a piezoelectric film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

The distance sensor can operate capacitively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapacitive sensing: Capacitance

Implementation Method 4

The distance sensor can operate capacitively, inductively, optically, or mechanically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive sensing: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 5

The distance sensor can operate capacitively, inductively, optically, or mechanically

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical sensing: Light

Implementation Method 6

a linear rolling bearing with a guide carriage, which is equipped with a deformation sensor in the form of a strain gauge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling contact: Roller

Implementation Method 7

The rolling elements 21 rotate in an endless orbital channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3440368B1Guide carriage having deformation sensor on track element
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3440368B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3440368B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3440368B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a guide carriage, which comprises at least one row of endlessly revolving roller elements, which roll off on an associated carriage track (42) in a load-transmitting manner, wherein the carriage track (42) extends parallel to a longitudinal axis, wherein the carriage track (42) is arranged on a separate track element (40), which is connected to a separate main body (30) of the guide carriage, wherein the track element (40) has at least one self-supporting section (41), which is arranged on one end of the track element (40) in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the self-supporting section (41) is not supported on the main body (30). According to the invention, at least one deformation sensor (60) is provided, which is arranged in the region of a respectively associated self-supporting section (41) on the guide carriage, wherein a deformation of the associated self-supporting section (41) of the track element (40) is measurable by the at least one deformation sensor (60), wherein the at least one deformation sensor is connected to an evaluating device.