Optical Device for Cylindrical Body Deflection Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to precisely measure bending strains in cylindrical structures like utility poles, leading to potential accidents due to inadequate assessment of long-term bending loads.

Innovation Solution

An optical device equipped with a telescope and a projection plate featuring concentric circular reference scales, along with measurement and calculation means to determine the view angle, elevation angle, and coordinates of the cylindrical body, allowing for precise measurement of bending strains using laser or ultrasonic waves.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional measurement methods are used for cylindrical structures, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision of bending strains is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebending strain measurement precisionVSAvoidoptical device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reference scale on the projection plate is designed with concentric circular arcs that correspond to the cylindrical shape of the utility pole. This curved reference scale allows direct optical measurement of bending strains by comparing the pole's position against the circular reference markers, achieving precise measurement while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new measurement dimension by projecting the cylindrical utility pole onto a 2D projection plate with concentric circular reference scales. This transforms the 3D bending strain measurement problem into a 2D coordinate comparison problem, enabling precise measurement through the relationship between radial distance from the circle center and the pole's position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If traditional surveying methods are used, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement of deflection conditions is not accurate and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement speedVSAvoiddeflection measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces traditional mechanical surveying methods with an optical measurement system. A telescope with a projection plate containing concentric circular reference scales allows operators to visually determine the utility pole's position and deflection by comparing it against the reference circles, significantly improving both measurement speed and precision over conventional mechanical surveying tools.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The projection plate creates an optical copy or representation of the utility pole's cross-section by projecting its image onto the concentric circular reference scales. This optical copying allows rapid assessment of the pole's deflection condition by directly comparing the projected image position against the reference circle patterns, enabling quick and accurate measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

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

Enables accurate and rapid assessment of deflection in cylindrical structures, preventing accidents by providing reliable measurements of bending strains in utility poles and similar structures.

Implementation Method 1

the measurement means (20) has a measurement section using laser or ultrasonic wave

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the measurement means (20) has a measurement section using laser or ultrasonic wave

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic wave: Ultrasound

Data Source

PatentEP2199738B1Optical device and measuring method
Publication Date: 2015.04.08 KANSAI KOUJI SOKURYOU
  • EP2199738B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2199738B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2199738B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An optical device capable of measuring a condition such as deflection of a cylindrical body such as utility pole or cylindrical column precisely and rapidly is provided. The optical device (10) has a telescope (16) with a projection plate (46). The projection plate (46) has a reference scale (50) made of a plurality of full or substantially full circles (51) arranged concentrically about a central axis (18) of the telescope (16) or a plurality of circular arcs (51') arranged symmetrically about the central axis (18).