Optomechanical Levelling Instrument Diagonal Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing opto-mechanical leveling devices, such as construction lasers, face challenges in maintaining shock absorption consistency across all directions due to direction-dependent damping element performance, which can lead to quality loss under harsh operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves an opto-mechanical leveling device with a support frame elastically damped via damping elements, where all clamping axes are angled between 30° and 60°, preferably 45°, to the floor surface, allowing diagonal bracing and consistent shock absorption, with prestressed damping elements and radially aligned clamping axes for self-stabilization, and using mixed-cell polyetherurethane damping elements for effective shock insulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If damping elements are aligned perpendicular to the floor surface (90° angle), then the installation is simple and the structure is straightforward, but the shock absorption performance becomes direction-dependent and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidshock absorption consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The damping elements are intentionally installed at an asymmetric angle (30-60°) rather than perpendicular to the floor surface. This asymmetric arrangement creates diagonal bracing that distributes shock forces more evenly across all directions, resolving the contradiction by sacrificing installation simplicity for improved shock absorption consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The damping elements are oriented in a diagonal dimension (30-60° angle) rather than purely vertical or horizontal. This dimensional change allows the damping elements to effectively absorb shocks from multiple directions simultaneously, transforming the shock absorption from direction-dependent to direction-independent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If damping elements are arranged with clamping axes at 30-60° angles to the floor surface, then shock absorption becomes comparable in all directions through diagonal bracing, but the installation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorption consistencyVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

3Stability of the object's composition

If damping elements are prestressed under pressure, then the carrier frame maintains a play-free basic position with self-stabilization, but the damping elements require precise pre-adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier frame stabilityVSAvoiddamping element adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The damping elements are pre-adjusted and prestressed during manufacturing or assembly to establish the carrier frame in a play-free basic position. This preliminary action ensures that the damping elements are optimally positioned before use, providing self-stabilization and eliminating the need for field adjustment, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures comparable shock absorption in all directions, maintaining the device's precision and stability by distributing impact forces evenly, preventing quality loss from directional shocks and providing effective shock insulation.

Implementation Method 1

the damping elements each being elastically prestressed along a clamping axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

shock absorption that is comparable in all directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectShock absorption: Damping

Implementation Method 3

using mixed-cell polyetherurethane damping elements for effective shock insulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2071282B1Optomechanical levelling instrument

Publication Date: 2017.05.03 HILTI AG

Figure 1~4

AI summary

An optomechanical leveling device (1) with an outer housing (2) with a base surface (4) and a support frame (6) elastically damped inside the outer housing (2) via damping elements (5), on which an optical carrier (7) is suspended so as to be aligned by the gravitational field (G), wherein the damping elements (5) are each elastically prestressed along a tension axis (S).