Position Change Measuring Device Using Heat Flux and Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Position change measuring devices face challenges in achieving high response rates and accurate measurements due to the slow recovery of elastic members and the risk of deformation under external forces, which affects reproducibility and measurement accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A position change measuring device is designed with an expandable/contractable member and a resilience force generator made of elastically deformable material, where the resilience force generator assists in quick recovery and minimizes unwanted deformation, enhancing response rate and accuracy by providing additional resilience force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the elastic member is made relatively low in stiffness to enable recovery to original shape, then the response rate is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to accidental deformation under target object weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the resilience function into two separate components: an expandable/contractable member made of low-stiffness material for rapid recovery, and a resilience force generator (spring element) for maintaining measurement accuracy. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the expandable/contractable member and the resilience force generator into a unified measuring device where both components work together. The low-stiffness member provides fast response while the spring element compensates for deformation, achieving both high response rate and measurement accuracy simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If the elastic member is made with high stiffness to prevent deformation under load, then measurement accuracy is improved, but response rate deteriorates due to slow recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the functions of accuracy maintenance and rapid recovery into different components. The resilience force generator (high stiffness spring) maintains measurement accuracy, while the expandable/contractable member (low stiffness) enables rapid recovery, resolving the contradiction between stiffness and response rate.
3Length of moving object
If base plates are located at a distance away from each other to measure strain-crack, then the measurement range is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to positional relation changes affecting the measured size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical strain-crack measuring system with a heat flux-based sensing system. The heat flux sensor detects thermal changes caused by the expandable/contractable member's deformation, eliminating the need for precisely positioned base plates and providing accurate measurements independent of base plate positioning.
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 device achieves a higher response rate and improved accuracy in sensing position changes by combining the forces of the expandable/contractable member and resilience force generator, ensuring stability and reproducibility in measurements.
Implementation Method 1
an expandable/contractable member which is disposed between the base and the follower and made of material which contracts or expands in response to movement of the follower, when contracting the expandable/contractable member producing heat, when expanding, the expandable/contractable member absorbing heat
Implementation Method 2
a heat flux sensor to which the heat is transferred from the expandable/contractable member and which outputs a signal as a function of a rate of heat flux that is a flow of thermal energy transferred inside or outside the expandable/contractable member
Implementation Method 3
a resilience force generator which is made of elastically deformable material... When the expandable/contractable member contracts or expands in response to the movement of the follower, the resilience force generator works to produce a force of resilience in addition to a force of resilience exerted by the expandable/contractable member on the follower, to urge the follower to an initial state thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A position change measuring device which measures a change in position of a target object and includes a base member, a press member which is movable following a change in position of the target object, an elastic member which produces heat when contracting or absorbs heat when expanding, a heat flux sensor which outputs a signal as a function of a rate of heat flux transferred inside or outside the elastic member, and a diaphragm unit which is made of elastically deformable material. The diaphragm unit is retained by the base member in contact with the press member and works to produce force of resilience to recover the elastic member to its initial state when the elastic member contracts or expands in response to movement of the press member. This structure improves a response rate for sensing a change in position of the target object with high accuracy.