Magnetic Sensor Housing Locking for Reversible Leakproof Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor housings with adhesive bonding face difficulties in easy opening and maintenance, risking damage to sensitive components and unintentional opening due to environmental influences.
Innovation Solution
A sensor housing design featuring a magnetizable locking element that moves between locking and release positions using magnetic fields, allowing easy removal of the sensor cover without damage and preventing unintentional opening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adhesive bonding is used to connect sensor body and sensor cover, then the sensor housing is protected against unintentional opening, but the sensor housing can only be opened with difficulty for maintenance and may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent locking elements distributed around the connection between sensor body and sensor cover. Each locking element can be independently actuated by a magnetic field, allowing the housing to be opened without requiring complete disassembly of adhesive bonds. This segmentation enables selective engagement/disengagement of locking points while maintaining overall structural integrity during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical adhesive bonding system with a hybrid system that incorporates magnetic field-actuated locking elements. These locking elements provide a non-contact actuation mechanism that substitutes for mechanical prying or forceful separation, allowing the sensor housing to be opened easily through magnetic field application without damaging the adhesive bonds or components.
2Reliability
If adhesive bonding is used to connect sensor body and sensor cover, then the sensor housing is protected against unintentional opening, but the sensitive sensor components may be damaged by gases released by the adhesive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the primary sealing and locking function from the adhesive bonding system and assigns it to dedicated locking elements. These locking elements provide the necessary mechanical connection and seal without requiring aggressive adhesive chemicals, thereby eliminating the source of harmful gases while maintaining protection against unintentional opening.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements act as intermediary components between the sensor body and sensor cover, providing a mechanical connection that eliminates the need for harmful adhesive chemicals. These intermediaries perform the sealing and locking functions that previously required adhesive bonding, thereby removing the source of harmful emissions while maintaining structural integrity.
3Ease of operation
If a magnetic field is applied to move the locking element, then the sensor cover can be easily removed, but additional components (magnetic field source) are required
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are designed to be actuated by external magnetic fields that can be applied through the sensor housing walls without requiring internal magnetic field sources. This self-service approach allows the locking mechanism to be operated from the outside, eliminating the need for additional internal components while maintaining easy opening capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking elements are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as mechanical locks during normal operation and as responsive elements to external magnetic fields for opening. This universal design allows a single component to perform multiple functions without requiring separate actuation mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
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
Ensures easy and reliable access for maintenance while protecting against unintentional opening, maintaining a leakproof and secure environment for sensitive components.
Implementation Method 1
The locking element can be moved between the locking position and the release position by means of an applied magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor housing includes: a sensor body with at least one primary retainer arranged in the sensor body; a sensor cover with at least one secondary retainer, the sensor cover configured for arrangement on the sensor body such that the primary retainer and the secondary retainer are enclosed in the sensor body; and a locking unit including at least one locking element configured for releasably connecting the primary retainer and the secondary retainer, wherein the locking element includes a magnetizable material or a magnetic material and is mounted movably between a locking position, in which the locking element locks the primary retainer with the secondary retainer, and an opposing release position, such that the locking element can be moved between the locking position and the release position by an applied magnetic field.