Removable Climate Module for Air-Buoyancy-Corrected Mass Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-resolution electronic comparator balances face challenges in achieving improved measurement accuracy with reduced effort, particularly in accurately compensating for environmental factors like air buoyancy, temperature, humidity, and pressure, which require external sensors and complex calibration processes.
Innovation Solution
A compact comparator balance with a draft shield and integrated climate module containing air pressure, humidity, and temperature sensors, coupled with a processor that determines air buoyancy and correction factors directly, eliminating the need for external sensors and enabling metrologically traceable climate values for accurate weighing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external sensors and complex calibration processes are used to compensate for environmental factors, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple environmental sensors (temperature, humidity, pressure) and the calibration system into an integrated climate module that attaches directly to the balance. This merging eliminates the need for separate external sensors and complex external calibration processes, thereby improving measurement accuracy while reducing device complexity and user effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The climate module enables the balance to automatically perform buoyancy compensation and environmental correction without requiring external intervention. The system self-calibrates using the integrated sensors to monitor and adjust for environmental factors, eliminating the need for manual calibration efforts while maintaining high measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If integrated climate module with sensors is used, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The climate module with its multiple sensors is designed as a compact, nested unit that attaches to the existing balance structure. The module contains temperature, humidity, and pressure sensors in a space-efficient arrangement, allowing the balance to gain enhanced measurement capabilities without significantly increasing overall device volume.
3Ease of repair
If climate module is detachable, then ease of calibration and repair is improved, but connection reliability may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The climate module is designed as a detachable, segmented component that can be easily removed and replaced. This segmentation allows the module to be calibrated separately by removing it from the balance and connecting it to external calibration equipment, significantly improving ease of calibration and repair while maintaining connection reliability through proper connector design.
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
This solution provides enhanced measurement accuracy by determining exact air density relevant to buoyancy within the weighing chamber, reducing transmission errors, and allowing for easy calibration and retrofitting of older scales, while maintaining a compact and transportable design.
Implementation Method 1
a climate module (34) which contains an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor and an air temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
a climate module (34) which contains an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor and an air temperature sensor
Implementation Method 3
a climate module (34) which contains an air pressure sensor, an air humidity sensor and an air temperature sensor
Implementation Method 4
the processor is designed in such a way that it determines the air buoyancy of at least the test item and the buoyancy correction factor based on the density of the item to be weighed from the air pressure, the air humidity and the air temperature in the weighing chamber
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a mass comparator comprising: a weighing chamber (16); a draught shield (18, 20, 22) surrounding the weighing chamber (16); a climate module (34) removably arranged in the weighing chamber (16); a processor (32) arranged in the mass comparator; a data input unit arranged on the mass comparator; and a data transmission path via which data can be exchanged between the climate module (34) and the processor (32), said processor (32) being designed in such a way that, based on the density of the item to be weighed, the processor can identify the air buoyancy of at least the test item and/or the buoyancy correction factor from the air pressure, the air humidity, and the air temperature in the weighing chamber (16). The invention also relates to a climate module for electrically coupling to a mass comparator in a detachable manner, said climate module (34) forming a complete sub-assembly and comprising an air pressure sensor (62), an air humidity sensor (54), and an air temperature sensor (52), as well as a portion of a data transmission path via which data can be sent to a processor external to the climate module. The invention further relates to a method for operating a mass comparator having a weighing chamber (16) separated from the surrounding area by a draught shield, and in which chamber an air pressure sensor (62), an air humidity sensor (54), and an air temperature sensor (52) are arranged, wherein said sensors (52, 54, 62) are coupled to a processor (32), and wherein an item to be weighed, in the form of a test item (B), and at least one reference weight (A) are weighed, said method being characterised by the following steps: identifying the air pressure, the air humidity and the air temperature in the weighing chamber (16), using the sensors (52, 54, 62); inputting the density of the item to be weighed into the mass comparator, the mass of which item is to be determined; identifying the air buoyancy of at least the test item (B) and/or the buoyancy correction factor from the air pressure, the air humidity, the air temperature and the density of the item to be weighed; and determining the corrected, conventional weight value of the test item (B).