Electromechanical Pulse Generator with Anti-Rebound Protrusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electro-mechanical pulse generators are complex with many parts and lack a mechanism to prevent contact rebound during actuation, which affects their reliability and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A simple electro-mechanical pulse generator design featuring a base with a displaceable resilient contact portion and a rotatable part with projections, where the base includes a protrusion to prevent rebound by guiding the contact portion along the electrical contacts, ensuring reliable engagement and disengagement without false pulses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing electro-mechanical pulse generator designs are used, then the device can generate electrical pulses, but the device complexity increases with a large number of parts and lacks self-cleaning properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure. The base integrates the electrical conductor with displaceable resilient contact portion and two electrical contacts, while the rotatable part combines the surface with projections and valleys. This merging reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining reliable pulse generation function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable part with projections and valleys provides self-cleaning functionality through the relative rotation between the displaceable resilient contact portion and the surface. The projections and valleys create a cleansing action that removes contaminants from the contact surfaces during operation, eliminating the need for separate cleaning mechanisms.
2Reliability
If existing electro-mechanical pulse generator designs are used, then the device can generate electrical pulses, but the device lacks a mechanism to prevent rebound of the displaceable contact portion
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusion on the base is positioned to preemptively contact the displaceable resilient contact portion and prevent rebound before the contact portion can engage the electrical contacts improperly. This preliminary anti-action stops the harmful rebound motion at its source, ensuring reliable contact engagement without requiring complex additional mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusion acts as an intermediary element between the displaceable resilient contact portion and the electrical contacts. It mediates the motion of the contact portion by providing a stopping point that prevents excessive displacement and rebound, thereby protecting the contact engagement process from failures.
3Volume of moving object
If the pulse generator is scaled to a very small size, then the device becomes more compact, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to inevitable manufacturing process variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs resilient materials and elastic deformation to create a contact portion that can adapt to manufacturing variations. The displaceable resilient contact portion uses elastic properties to compensate for dimensional tolerances, allowing the device to be scaled down while maintaining reliable contact engagement despite manufacturing process variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates dynamic elements including the rotatable part with projections and valleys, and the displaceable resilient contact portion that can move and adapt during operation. This dynamic capability allows the system to compensate for manufacturing imperfections and maintain functional reliability in compact dimensions.
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 allows for a compact, reliable pulse generator that prevents contact rebound, ensuring consistent function across manufacturing variations and enabling scalable design for small-sized applications.
Implementation Method 1
The displaceable resilient contact portion or displaceable portion preferably is a bending capability. Also, preferably the resiliency provided by the displaceable portion is a non-permanent or elastic deformation.
Data Source
AI summary
An electromechanical pulse generator and a method of generating electrical pulses are disclosed. The electromechanical pulse generator comprises very few parts and includes an effective mechanism to prevent contact rebound. An upper, user-actuable and rotatable part has a surface with a plurality of projections. A lower part has an electrical conductor with a displaceable resilient contact portion biased against the projections and two electrical contacts positioned, in the plane of rotation, on either side of the displaceable contact portion.