Portable Rheometer Bob Design for Shipping Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional viscometers require disassembly during shipping, leading to potential damage of internal components and increased maintenance costs, and have a limited lifespan, necessitating frequent shipping to and from repair centers.
Innovation Solution
A portable rheology unit with a viscometer design that includes a bob and sleeve configuration made from durable, lightweight materials, such as stainless steel and plastic, which remains assembled during shipping, minimizing stress on bearings and allowing for efficient viscosity measurements without the need for disassembly, and features a motor-driven mechanism for precise rotational speed control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the viscometer is shipped assembled, then the lifespan and reliability are improved, but the stress on bearings during transportation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing a bob assembly with a bob support that provides structural protection and stress distribution for the bearings during transportation. The bob support acts as a cushioning element that prevents direct transmission of shipping stresses to the fragile bearing components, allowing the viscometer to be shipped in an assembled state without damaging the bearings.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the bob assembly into distinct components: the bob itself, the bob support, and the bearing elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the bob support can be designed specifically to protect the bearings during shipping while the bob maintains its measurement function, thus improving reliability without compromising bearing strength.
2Strength
If the viscometer is disassembled for shipping, then the stress on bearings is reduced, but the device complexity and time required for reassembly increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by integrating the bob, bob support, and bearing elements into a unified bob assembly that remains together during shipping. This merging eliminates the need for disassembly and reassembly operations, reducing device complexity and saving time while the internal structure of the bob assembly continues to protect the bearings from transportation stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the bob assembly with the bob support and bearing elements in their correct positions before shipping. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the bearings are already protected and the assembly is ready for immediate use upon arrival, eliminating the need for complex reassembly operations and reducing overall device complexity.
3Loss of time
If conventional viscometers are shipped assembled, then shipping time is reduced, but component damage during transportation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by designing the bob support structure to provide protective stress distribution for the bearings and other internal components during transportation. This cushioning design allows the viscometer to be shipped in an assembled state (reducing shipping time) while the bob support prevents component damage (maintaining reliability and integrity).
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 extends the lifespan of viscometers, reduces shipping costs, and enables quicker and more accurate viscosity testing by preventing damage during transportation and allowing for rapid temperature stabilization of drilling fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a strain gauge configured to measure a torsion resistance of fluid interacting on an exterior portion of the bob
Implementation Method 2
a driving mechanism connected to the bob and the motor, wherein the driving mechanism conveys rotational movement from the motor to the bob to rotate the bob
Data Source
AI summary
A bob for a viscometer in a portable rheology unit is provided. The bob may include a bob portion having a cylindrical portion and a first end portion, the cylindrical portion defining a first end of the bob. The bob may also include a plastic portion interfacing with an interior surface of the first end portion, wherein the plastic portion includes a conical area extending from a conical area first end to a conical area second end, and the conical second end is connected to an interior surface of the cylindrical portion. The bob may also include a sleeve portion connected to the plastic portion and a bob second end portion connected to the sleeve portion.