Rope Tension Sensor Housing for Protected Multi-Directional Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rope tension sensors are often exposed to the environment, leading to potential damage and reduced accuracy due to exposure to harmful matter, and they require multiple sensors for comprehensive force direction detection.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly with a resiliently deflectable housing containing a strain gauge and adjustable chassis, allowing the strain gauge to be protected within the housing while accurately detecting forces from various directions, using a multi-axis gyroscope for angular deviation measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the force sensor is exposed to the environment for direct force detection, then the sensor can detect forces from various directions, but the sensor is vulnerable to environmental damage and has reduced accuracy due to exposure to harmful matter
Solution Approach 1:
The force sensor is nested inside a protective housing that allows it to detect forces while being shielded from environmental damage. The housing contains the sensor and provides a barrier against harmful factors while maintaining force sensing capability through the resiliently deflectable portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The resiliently deflectable portion of the housing acts as an intermediary between the external force and the force sensor. It transmits force information to the sensor while protecting the sensor from direct environmental exposure, allowing accurate force detection without vulnerability to environmental damage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple force sensors are used for comprehensive force direction detection, then directional force detection is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resiliently deflectable portion of the housing is designed to deflect in multiple directions depending on the direction of applied force. This dynamic response allows a single force sensor to detect forces from various directions by measuring the housing's deflection in different orientations, eliminating the need for multiple sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing's resiliently deflectable portion changes its physical state (deflection direction and magnitude) in response to forces from different directions. This parameter change allows a single sensor to capture multi-directional force information by measuring variations in the housing's deflection characteristics.
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 provides accurate, protected, and repeatable tension sensing within the rope, enabling real-time load monitoring and extended sensor life, with improved resistance to environmental factors and enhanced directional force detection.
Implementation Method 1
a housing, the housing defining an interior comprising inner walling, and in which at least a portion of the housing is resiliently deflectable
Implementation Method 2
a force sensor for sensing a mechanical force applied to a resiliently deflectable portion of the housing, the force sensor located within the interior of the housing
Implementation Method 3
the force sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the inner walling by an adjustable chassis, the adjustable chassis located within the interior of the housing
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
Sensing Tension in a Rope A sensor assembly (106) for sensing tension in a rope (102) comprises a housing (301), a force sensor (302), and a controller (303) for controlling the force sensor (302). The force sensor (302) is arranged for sensing a mechanical force applied to a resiliently deflectable portion (307) of the housing (301). The force sensor (302) is located within an interior (305) of the housing (301) and non-fixedly held in contact with inner walling (306) of the interior (305), in the region of the resiliently deflectable portion (307) of the housing (301). A tethering assembly (101) comprising a rope (102) and a sensor system (103) that comprises the sensor assembly (106). A method of sensing tension in a rope comprising locating the sensor assembly (106) within the rope (102) and operating the sensor assembly (106) to sense tension in the rope (102).