Modular Gravimetric Balance Top Units for Flexible Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gravimetric measuring devices lack flexibility for customization and are susceptible to contamination, with additional auxiliary devices requiring costly retrofitting and occupying valuable space.
Innovation Solution
A gravimetric measuring device with a balance base body featuring multiple optical, magnetic, tactile, radio-technical, thermal, electrical, and/or electronic interfaces on the base body wall, allowing interchangeable top units with active auxiliary devices to be easily connected and configured, enabling quick adaptation to different applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If auxiliary devices are integrated during manufacture, then functionality is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The balance system is divided into modular components: a base body and interchangeable top units. Each top unit can be independently manufactured and then attached to the base body, allowing functionality to be segmented into separate modules rather than integrating all features into a single complex device.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body is designed with universal interfaces that can accommodate multiple different top units, each providing different auxiliary functions. This allows a single base body to serve multiple weighing tasks by simply changing the top unit, achieving multi-functionality without increasing the complexity of the base body itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If auxiliary devices are integrated during manufacture, then functionality is improved, but production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the balance into a base body and separate top units, each component can be manufactured independently using standardized processes. This reduces production costs compared to manufacturing complete customized balances for each function, as the base body can be produced in large quantities as a standard component.
Solution Approach 2:
The base body is pre-equipped with standardized interfaces during manufacture, allowing top units to be easily attached later. This preliminary preparation enables cost-effective customization without requiring expensive retrofitting processes, as the interface structure is already in place during the base manufacturing stage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rail-like holding device with mechanical interfaces is used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and contamination risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical interface elements that protrude into the weighing chamber are eliminated. Instead, the connection interface is integrated into the balance base body wall itself, with the top unit attaching from above. This extracts the problematic mechanical interfaces from the weighing chamber space, reducing structural complexity within the chamber and eliminating contamination risks.
4Ease of manufacture
If conventional fixed design is used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The balance is segmented into a standardized base body and interchangeable top units. This segmentation allows the base body to be manufactured once with simple standardized interfaces, while customization is achieved by attaching different top units, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while enabling adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A gravimetric measuring device (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″) includes a balance base body (12) and a top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″), wherein the balance base body (12) has a balance base body wall (20), to which the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) can be reversibly fixed, and a weighing system with a load receptor (22) passing through the balance base body wall (20) and the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″). A plurality of optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical and/or electronic interfaces (201) coupled to a balance electronics are arranged on the balance base body wall (20), at least one of which interfaces is connected to a corresponding interface of the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) to form an optical, magnetic, tactile, radio, thermal, electrical or electronic connection between the top unit (14, 14′, 14″, 14′″) and the balance electronics.