Measuring Probe With Non-Circular Bore Clamping
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Solution Overview
Problem
State-of-the-art measuring probes face issues with alignment and reliability due to play or loosening of the guide within the base body, leading to increased scrap rates and failure under vibration and shock loads.
Innovation Solution
A measuring probe design featuring a non-circular bore with a groove and clamping body that allows for a self-locking, axially parallel connection between components, using a clamping mechanism to align and secure the guide without external holding means, facilitated by a rotating clamping body that engages and disengages through different sections of the groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the guide is glued to the base body through a through-hole, then the guide can be easily assembled, but the guide develops play within the hole leading to misalignment and increased scrap rate
Solution Approach 1:
The connection is segmented into multiple contact surfaces (first contact surface and second contact surface) distributed around the circumference of the guide, rather than relying on a single adhesive bond. This segmentation allows the guide to be precisely positioned at multiple points, eliminating play while maintaining ease of assembly through the modular contact surface design.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection surfaces are preliminarily prepared with specific geometric configurations (flat surfaces on the guide and corresponding surfaces in the base body) that ensure precise alignment before final assembly. The guide's cylindrical surface is preliminarily shaped to create predetermined contact points, so that when assembled, the alignment precision is automatically achieved without requiring post-assembly adjustment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the guide is press-fitted into the base body, then the guide axis is aligned with the bore axis, but the press fit becomes loose under vibration and shock loads in the medium and long term
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a uniform press fit around the entire circumference, the connection uses localized contact surfaces positioned at specific locations (first and second contact surfaces at different angular positions). This local quality approach concentrates the connection force at precise points, maintaining alignment precision while reducing stress concentration that would cause loosening under vibration and shock loads.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than forcing the guide into the base body with a press fit, the design inverts the approach by having the base body's connection surfaces actively engage the guide's cylindrical surface through precisely positioned contact surfaces. This inverted engagement mechanism provides more reliable mechanical interlocking that resists loosening under dynamic loads while maintaining alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple contact surfaces are used to reduce play, then alignment precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cylindrical surface of the guide serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the connection surface for the first contact surface, provides the second contact surface, and serves as the guiding surface for alignment. This multi-functionality reduces structural complexity while achieving precise alignment through multiple contact points, as the same geometric feature performs multiple connection roles.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection transitions from a single-point or single-surface connection to a multi-surface connection distributed in the circumferential dimension. By utilizing the cylindrical geometry of the guide, contact surfaces are distributed around the circumference (adding a circumferential dimension to the connection), which improves alignment precision without significantly increasing overall structural complexity, as the cylindrical form naturally accommodates multiple contact points.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a measuring probe (1) comprising a first component (2) and a second component (3), wherein the first component (2) comprises a non-circular bore (4) with a first axis (A). The second component (3) is cylindrical and has a second axis (B) which extends into the non-circular bore (4) of the first component (2). The non-circular bore (4) comprises at least two contact surfaces (2.1, 2.2) within the non-circular bore (4) and a groove (7) which runs in a circumferential direction (U) of the non-circular bore (4). The measuring probe (1) has at least one clamping body (8) which is arranged in the groove (7). By rotating the second component (3) relative to the first component (2), the clamping body (8) causes a releasable fixation of the second component (3) and at the same time the second axis (B) of the second component (3) is aligned parallel to the first axis (A) of the non-circular bore (4).