Industrial Robot Moisture Intrusion Detection via Pneumatic Humidity Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods fail to accurately detect moisture intrusion within industrial robots, which can lead to issues like electric leakage and poor lubrication due to the complexity of the robot's structure and the need for a space to accumulate water for detection.
Innovation Solution
A moisture intrusion detection system that supplies compressed air into the robot's closed space, uses an air vent passage to guide air out, and employs a humidity sensor to determine moisture presence based on the humidity of the ejected air, allowing for wide-area detection within the robot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a water intrusion chamber is provided inside the industrial robot to accumulate water, then moisture detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases and the robot's complicated structure cannot accommodate such a chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the moisture detection function from the internal structure of the robot by using a humidity sensor that detects moisture in the air flowing through the air vent passage, rather than requiring a water accumulation chamber inside the robot body. This allows moisture detection without adding complex internal structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces air as an intermediary medium to transfer moisture information from the robot's internal closed space to the external humidity sensor. Compressed air is supplied into the closed space, and the humidity sensor detects moisture in this air flow, enabling indirect moisture detection without direct water accumulation.
2Measurement precision
If electrodes are used to detect moisture, then detection sensitivity is improved, but the detection range is limited to only moisture near the sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by supplying compressed air into the closed space and detecting humidity in the air flow. This pneumatic approach allows moisture detection throughout the entire closed space as the air flows through it, rather than being limited to the immediate vicinity of the sensor like electrode-based methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical/electrical electrode-based moisture detection system with a pneumatic humidity sensing system. The humidity sensor detects moisture content in air rather than measuring electrical resistance, enabling wider area detection while maintaining sensitivity.
3Measurement precision
If moisture detection is performed inside the closed space, then detection accuracy is improved, but the sensor installation space is constrained by the robot's compact design
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the humidity sensor from the internal closed space and places it outside the robot body. The sensor detects moisture in the air flow that has been supplied into the closed space and is now flowing through the air vent passage to the external environment, eliminating the need for internal sensor installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions the detection process from a three-dimensional internal space constraint to a one-dimensional air flow path. By using compressed air flow through the air vent passage, the sensor can be positioned externally and still accurately detect moisture throughout the internal closed space via the air flow medium.
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 accurate detection of moisture intrusion across a wide area within the industrial robot, preventing issues like electric leakage and poor lubrication by reflecting humidity changes in the ejected air, even in complex structures.
Implementation Method 1
a humidity sensor that detects a humidity of ejected air that is ejected from the air vent passage to the external space upon supply of the compressed air
Data Source
AI summary
A moisture intrusion detection system includes: an industrial robot that has a closed space defined thereinside; an air supply mechanism that supplies compressed air to the closed space; an air vent passage that is provided in the industrial robot to establish communication between an external space outside the industrial robot and the closed space, and guides, to the external space, air ejected from the closed space upon supply of the compressed air; a humidity sensor that detects a humidity of ejected air that is ejected from the air vent passage to the external space upon supply of the compressed air; and a controller that determines presence or absence of moisture intruding into the closed space based on a detected humidity of the ejected air, the detected humidity being detected by the humidity sensor.