Interlocking Device for Shipping Condition Enforcement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge lies in enforcing environmental and handling parameters during the shipping and acclimation of sensitive electronic equipment, as there is no dedicated observer to monitor and ensure compliance throughout the entire process, leading to potential damage and improper acclimation.
Innovation Solution
An interlocking device equipped with a servo motor, locking pins, a battery, and a printed circuit board, which monitors conditions using sensors and prevents removal from a power connector until proper conditions are met, ensuring safe shipping and acclimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shipping and acclimation processes are used without monitoring devices, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of enforcing environmental and handling parameters deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking device autonomously monitors environmental parameters and automatically engages or disengages the locking mechanism based on sensor readings, eliminating the need for human observers throughout the shipping and acclimation process. The device serves itself by making decisions based on pre-programmed criteria
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines multiple functions into a single unit: environmental monitoring, data processing, and mechanical locking control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate observer and control systems, improving reliability while managing complexity
2Reliability
If an interlocking device with multiple sensors and control systems is implemented, then the reliability of condition monitoring improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the microprocessor, sensors, battery, and locking mechanism control into a single enclosed unit. This consolidation improves monitoring reliability by ensuring all components work together as a coordinated system while containing the complexity within a unified device structure
Solution Approach 2:
The device continuously monitors environmental parameters and uses this feedback to automatically control the locking mechanism. This closed-loop feedback system ensures reliable enforcement of acclimation conditions by dynamically adjusting the lock state based on real-time sensor data
3Reliability
If the interlocking device prevents removal until acclimation is complete, then the protection of electronic equipment improves, but the productivity of installation process deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary monitoring of environmental conditions during shipping and acclimation before allowing the installation process to proceed. By enforcing acclimation requirements in advance, the device protects equipment from damage while enabling faster installation once conditions are verified
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 interlocking device effectively monitors and enforces shipping and acclimation conditions, preventing mishandling and ensuring equipment is ready for installation by logging mishandling events and disabling the lock when acclimation requirements are met, thus protecting the equipment and facilitating smooth installation.
Implementation Method 1
The interlocking device includes an enclosure, a servo motor, at least one locking pin, a battery, and a printed circuit board disposed within the enclosure
Implementation Method 2
The servo motor is configurable to engage the at least one locking pin to prevent a removal of the enclosure from the housing of the input power connector
Implementation Method 3
The printed circuit board is configured to control the servo motor based on readings from one or more sensors electrically coupled to the printed circuit board
Data Source
AI summary
An interlocking device for monitoring and enforcing shipping and acclimation conditions includes a servo motor, at least one locking pin, a battery, and a printed circuit board disposed within an enclosure, where the battery is electrically coupled to the servo motor and the printed circuit board. The interlocking device further includes a housing of an input power connector insertable into a first end of the enclosure to prevent the housing of the input power connector from electrically coupling to a power source, where the servo motor is configurable to engage the at least one locking pin to prevent a removal of the housing of the input power connector while inserted in the first end of the enclosure. The interlocking device further includes the printed circuit board configured to control the servo motor based on readings from one or more sensors electrically coupled to the printed circuit board.