Pivotable Sensor Scanning Head for Variable Diameter Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning heads for detecting rotation or linear parameters on large, rotatable components require high design effort and are costly due to the need for custom manufacturing for each diameter, as they often rely on material measures that do not extend 360°, necessitating multiple sensor surfaces and complex setups.
Innovation Solution
A scanning head design featuring pivotable sensor units with adjustable sensor surfaces that can be configured to accommodate different diameters and linear sections, allowing for adaptable measurement without replacing parts, by altering the angular positions of the sensor surfaces to maintain consistent distance and optimize gap alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If scanning heads are individually custom-made for each diameter of rotatable component, then measurement precision for specific diameter is improved, but manufacturing cost and design effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal scanning head design where the sensor unit can be adjusted to measure rotatable components of different diameters. The sensor unit is mounted on a sensor carrier that can be positioned at different locations, and the sensor surfaces can be oriented at different angles, allowing a single scanning head to serve multiple measurement purposes across various component sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the scanning head system. The sensor unit can be moved to different positions on the sensor carrier, and the sensor surfaces can be rotated to different orientations. This dynamic configuration allows the same physical scanning head to adapt to different measurement requirements, eliminating the need for custom-made scanning heads for each diameter.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sensor surfaces are used to bridge gaps in material measures, then measurement capability across gaps is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the sensor unit dynamically adjustable on the sensor carrier. The sensor unit can be positioned at different locations and oriented at different angles, allowing a single sensor unit to effectively perform the function of multiple fixed sensor surfaces. This dynamic adjustment capability provides measurement versatility while maintaining simpler device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing capabilities into a single adjustable sensor unit. Instead of having multiple fixed sensor surfaces distributed around the scanning head, the invention merges their functionality into one sensor unit that can be dynamically positioned and oriented to cover various measurement scenarios, including gap bridging.
3Ease of manufacture
If sensor surfaces are fixed in position, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different diameters and linear sections deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability to the sensor unit mounting. The sensor unit can be moved to different positions on the sensor carrier and the sensor surfaces can be oriented at different angles. This dynamic capability allows the same manufactured scanning head to adapt to different diameters and linear sections without requiring multiple specialized designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal scanning head through the adjustable sensor unit. The sensor carrier provides multiple mounting locations and orientation options, enabling a single manufactured device to serve multiple measurement applications across different component types and sizes, thereby achieving versatility without sacrificing manufacturing simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing head (1) for a transducer for capturing rotation or linear parameters, of a rotatable or linearly movable component, in particular of a shaft (13), includes a housing (2), a first sensor unit (3) and a second sensor unit (5) arranged on the housing (2) and arranged in a circumferential direction (U) of the rotatable component offset in relation to each other. The first sensor unit has a first sensor surface (4) and the second sensor unit has a second sensor surface (6). Each of the sensor units (3, 5) can be rotated about a rotation axis (7, 30) such that the sensor surfaces (4, 6) are pivotable to each other in at least two different angular positions. The rotation axes (7, 30) of the sensor units (3, 5) are located on the sides (34, 36) of the sensor units (3, 5); forming the sensor surfaces (4, 6).