Pipette Adjustable Dosing Volume Gearbox Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pipettes with adjustable dosing volumes face structural complexity and increased space requirements due to complex mechanical and electronic components, limiting the ability for both slow and fine adjustments as well as coarse or quick adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A pipette design featuring a catch sleeve connected to the threaded spindle and an adjusting sleeve, integrated within the housing, allows for two-speed level adjustments through a gearbox with shifting stages, reducing structural complexity and space requirements by eliminating the need for additional components and providing a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex mechanical and electronic components are added to enable both slow and fine adjustments as well as coarse or quick adjustments, then adjustment functionality is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple adjustment functions (coarse adjustment, fine adjustment, quick adjustment, and slow adjustment) into a single integrated adjusting device. The adjusting sleeve integrates a first adjusting mechanism with a second adjusting mechanism, where the first mechanism provides coarse/quick adjustment through direct coupling to the threaded spindle, and the second mechanism provides fine/slow adjustment through gear train coupling. This merging of functions into one device eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining full adjustment versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting device is designed as a universal mechanism that can perform multiple types of adjustments (coarse, fine, quick, and slow) through a single integrated structure. The adjusting sleeve universally handles all adjustment requirements by switching between direct coupling mode (for quick/coarse adjustment) and gear train coupling mode (for slow/fine adjustment), eliminating the need for multiple specialized adjustment devices and reducing structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate adjustment mechanisms are used to provide different adjustment speeds, then adjustment versatility is improved, but the space required in the housing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the second adjusting mechanism (providing fine/slow adjustment) is integrated within the adjusting sleeve that also contains the first adjusting mechanism (providing coarse/quick adjustment). The gear train of the second mechanism is nested within the same adjusting sleeve housing, allowing both adjustment mechanisms to occupy the same spatial envelope. This nesting arrangement enables multiple adjustment speed options without increasing the overall housing volume.
3Measurement precision
If additional components are added to enable two-speed level adjustments, then adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two adjusting mechanisms with different precision characteristics into a single integrated adjusting device. The first adjusting mechanism provides coarse adjustment for quick positioning, while the second adjusting mechanism with gear train provides fine adjustment for precise dosing volume setting. By combining these mechanisms in one device rather than using separate components, the patent achieves high measurement precision for dosing volume while minimizing the number of discrete components and overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A pipette with an adjustable dosing volume comprises a housing connected to at least one seat configured to releasably hold a pipette tip. A displacement device is positioned within the housing and configured to aspirate and discharge liquid from the pipette tip. A stroke rod is coupled to the displacement element and configured to be longitudinally displaced relative to the housing to displace the displacement device. A catch sleeve is rotatably mounted within the housing and is connected to the stroke rod. An adjusting sleeve configured to engage a transducer shaft that is rotatably mounted within the housing and comprises a countershaft of a gearbox that is configured to be shifted between different shift stages. Each shift stage comprises different gear ratios between a rotational speed of the adjusting sleeve and a rotational speed of the catch sleeve. The different gear ratios enable coarse volume adjustment and fine volume adjustment.