Pivoting Hardness Tester Carriage With Reliable Accessory Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hardness testers face limitations in powering and data transfer for accessories due to hard wiring and slip rings, which restrict movement and are prone to wear, leading to reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A pivoting carriage system with an electrical contact block that enables flexible and reliable power and data connections without continuous hard wiring, using offset electrical contacts and spring plungers to maintain contact with accessories during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard wiring is used to power accessories, then power supply is reliable, but movement of objectives and indenters is limited and wiring wears out after large number of movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the hard wiring from the system entirely, extracting the power transmission function from the mechanical movement components. This allows objectives and indenters to move freely without being constrained by physical wire connections, resolving the contradiction between reliable power supply and movement versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical hard wiring system with an optical wireless power transmission system. Instead of using physical electrical wires that limit movement, the system uses optical signals to transmit power wirelessly, eliminating the mechanical constraints while maintaining power supply reliability.
2Reliability
If slip rings are used to maintain electrical contact with moving accessories, then power and data transfer is maintained during rotation, but the system becomes expensive and subject to rapid wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electrical contact components (slip rings, brushes, and contacts) from the system entirely. By removing these mechanical contact elements, the system eliminates the complexity and wear issues associated with maintaining electrical contact during rotation, while still achieving reliable power and data transfer through wireless optical communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical electrical contact system with an optical wireless transmission system. This substitution eliminates the need for sliding contacts and physical electrical connections, thereby removing the sources of wear and complexity while maintaining the ability to transmit power and data during rotation.
3Reliability
If continuous hard wiring is used for rotating accessories, then power supply is maintained, but the system size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the continuous hard wiring system from the rotating accessories. By extracting the physical electrical connections, the system reduces size and complexity while maintaining continuous power supply through wireless optical transmission that follows the rotating components without physical constraint.
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 continuous rotation of accessories while providing power and data transfer, improving serviceability, reducing size and complexity, and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical contact block including a plurality of electrical contacts configured to make electrical contact with a counterpart electrical contact block of at least one accessory coupled to the objective when the at least one objective or the at least one accessory is positioned in an operative position
Data Source
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AI summary
Hardness testers having a pivoting body and capable of providing power to accessories on the pivoting body are disclosed. An example hardness testing device includes: a rotating carriage configured to: hold at least one of an indenter or an objective and at least one accessory; and rotate to selectively place the at least one indenter or objective or the at least one accessory in an operative position to operate the at least one indenter or objective or the at least one accessory; a carriage mount configured to support the rotating carriage; and an electrical contact block mounted stationary with respect to the carriage mount, the electrical contact block comprising a plurality of electrical contacts configured to make electrical contact with a counterpart electrical contact block of the at least one accessory coupled to the rotating carriage when the at least one accessory is positioned in the operative position.