Material Testing Apparatus With Vibration-Canceling Linear Actuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material testing systems using linear actuators face issues with undesirable vibrations that skew test results and require additional components to dampen or compensate for these vibrations, affecting the accuracy of the testing process.
Innovation Solution
A material testing apparatus with a linear actuator that incorporates a unique design featuring armatures and flexures to cancel vibrations, utilizing a stator and permanent magnets with opposing magnetic fields to create an additive linear actuation force, and a microcontroller for precise control, while eliminating the need for a separate rigid core framework.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a linear actuator is used to apply repetitive linear force or displacement to a specimen, then the testing capability is improved, but vibration is generated that skews test results
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs counterweights balanced on gimbels that rotate in opposition to the armature's motion. As the armature moves up and down during actuation, the counterweights rotate to create opposing inertial forces that cancel out the vibrations generated by the linear actuator, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving testing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the principle of vibration cancellation by introducing counter-vibrations through the rotating counterweights. The counterweights are positioned and rotated such that their inertial effects create vibrations equal and opposite to those generated by the linear actuator, effectively neutralizing the harmful vibrations through constructive interference of the vibration fields
2Measurement precision
If additional components are added to dampen or compensate for vibrations, then test result accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The linear actuator system is designed to compensate for its own vibrations using integrated counterweights and gimbels built into the actuator assembly itself. The system serves its own vibration cancellation needs without requiring external dampening components, thereby maintaining measurement precision while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from adding separate vibration mitigation systems
3Stability of the object's composition
If a separate rigid core framework is used to support the linear actuator, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the linear actuator housing and mounting structure to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, houses the electromagnetic components, mounts the counterweights, and facilitates vibration cancellation. By making the actuator assembly multi-functional, the patent eliminates the need for a separate rigid core framework, thereby maintaining structural stability while 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
The apparatus effectively reduces vibrations, providing accurate and controlled linear force or displacement to specimens, enhancing the reliability of test results and allowing for flexible configurations from standalone to multi-station assemblies.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a stator and permanent magnets with opposing magnetic fields to create an additive linear actuation force
Implementation Method 2
stator and permanent magnets with opposing magnetic fields to create an additive linear actuation force
Implementation Method 3
A material testing apparatus with a linear actuator that incorporates a unique design featuring armatures and flexures to cancel vibrations
Data Source
AI summary
A material testing apparatus of the present invention may be used as a stand-alone tester coupled to a single environmental chamber. Alternatively, a plurality of material testing apparatus of the present invention may be coupled to a common frame to form a muti-station material testing system. The material testing apparatus of the present invention includes a linear actuator that provides a repetitive linear load or displacement on an object or specimen while canceling vibrations caused by actuation of the linear actuator.