Optical Rotary Transmitter Membrane Pressure Equalization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Optical rotary transmitters face challenges in maintaining stable and error-free optical signal transmission under high pressure conditions, especially in underwater applications where large pressure differences can deform housing parts and disrupt fluid-tight seals, leading to mechanical instability and potential impairment of optical signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A tubular membrane surrounds the interior space of the optical rotary transmitter, providing a fluid-tight seal and instantaneous pressure equalization, minimizing deformation forces by evenly distributing ambient pressure through a large, elastomeric or metal membrane that encloses the axis of rotation, ensuring reliable operation under extreme pressures up to 1000 bar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid fluid-tight seal is used to enclose the interior space, then sealing reliability is improved, but mechanical stability deteriorates under high pressure loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane instead of a rigid seal to enclose the interior space. This membrane can elastically deform under high pressure loads (up to 1000 bar) while maintaining fluid-tight sealing. The flexibility allows the seal to adapt to pressure changes without compromising mechanical stability or optical component alignment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If pressure equalization is implemented to reduce deformation forces, then mechanical stability is improved, but fluid-tight sealing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane serves dual functions: it maintains fluid-tight sealing while simultaneously enabling pressure equalization between the interior and exterior environments. The membrane's elasticity allows it to deform and accommodate pressure differences without compromising either sealing reliability or mechanical stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a large membrane area is used for pressure equalization, then deformation forces are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple yet effective flexible membrane structure that provides large surface area for pressure equalization without adding significant complexity. The membrane is integrated into the housing design, allowing it to distribute ambient pressure evenly across the interior space and minimize deformation forces on optical components.
4Reliability
If the membrane is made elastomeric for flexibility, then pressure equalization is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric membrane is designed with sufficient thickness to maintain structural integrity and achieve fluid-tight sealing while remaining flexible enough for effective pressure equalization. The material properties and dimensional tolerances are selected to balance flexibility requirements with manufacturing feasibility.
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 solution ensures stable and error-free optical signal transmission by reducing pressure-related deformation forces and maintaining a fluid-tight seal, allowing the optical rotary transmitter to operate reliably and safely in pressurized underwater environments.
Implementation Method 1
the interior, together with the at least two housing parts, is fluid-tightly enclosed by a tubular membrane which completely encloses the interior along a section along the axis of rotation in the circumferential direction around the axis of rotation... the tubular membrane with its surface facing away from the interior is arranged to be freely accessible at least in sections... in direct, unimpeded contact with the medium surrounding the optical rotary transmitter... the ambient pressure conditions are transmitted via the membrane to the interior
Implementation Method 2
the collimator optics at the ends of both optical waveguides define an intermediate gap on both sides oriented along the axis of rotation, through which the optical light transmission between the two optical waveguides takes place
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention describes an optical rotary transmitter (1) comprising at least two housing parts (2, 3), which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to one another about a common rotation axis (D) and which directly or indirectly surround an interior (I) in a fluid-tight manner at least in regions, and at least two optical waveguides (4, 5), each of which protrude in a fluid-tight manner through a housing part and end in the interior with an optical collimator system (9, 10) on their respective end faces such that the optical collimator systems at the ends of both optical waveguides delimit on either side an intermediate gap (11) that is oriented along the rotation axis. The invention is characterised in that the interior is enclosed in a fluid-tight manner by a membrane (7) together with the at least two housing parts, in that the membrane completely encloses the interior along at least one portion (a) along the rotation axis in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis, and in that the surface of the membrane facing away from the interior is arranged at least in portions so as to be freely accessible.