Ruggedized Sensor Probe with Elastomeric Body and Thermal Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial mobile measurement instruments with external sensors face challenges in protecting these sensors from physical impact and environmental hazards such as humidity and extreme temperatures, as they are often exposed and not encased within the instrument body.
Innovation Solution
A ruggedized probe assembly with a flexible body and protective cap, coupled with a signal cable assembly and pliant plug, is designed to absorb impact, maintain sensor exposure, and prevent thermal interference, allowing for direct environmental contact while ensuring sensor protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the sensor device is mounted in a probe for direct environmental contact, then the measurement capability is improved, but the sensor becomes vulnerable to physical impact and environmental hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The probe body is constructed with elastomeric or flexible material that inherently absorbs and dissipates impact forces before they reach the sensor device. This cushioning effect is built into the probe structure itself, protecting the sensor from physical damage while maintaining its exposure to the environment for accurate measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe body utilizes elastomeric or flexible material that can deform under impact and return to its original shape. This flexibility allows the probe to absorb shock and protect the embedded sensor device while maintaining the probe's functionality and the sensor's exposure to environmental parameters for measurement.
2Reliability
If the sensor device is encased within the industrial measurement instrument, then protection from environmental hazards is improved, but the ability to measure environmental parameters directly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The probe body acts as a flexible protective shell that encases the sensor device while allowing thermal isolation. The elastomeric material provides thermal insulation that prevents heat transfer from the probe body to the sensor, enabling the sensor to accurately measure environmental temperatures even though it is enclosed within the probe rather than directly exposed.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric or flexible probe body serves as an intermediary between the external environment and the sensor device. It provides physical protection and thermal isolation while still allowing the sensor to detect environmental parameters through the flexible material, thus mediating between protection requirements and measurement needs.
3Strength
If a rigid protective structure is used for the probe, then impact resistance is improved, but thermal interference with the sensor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The probe body is constructed from elastomeric or flexible material that provides impact resistance through deformation and energy absorption rather than rigid structural strength. This flexible construction inherently provides thermal insulation, preventing heat conduction from the probe body to the sensor device and thus reducing thermal interference while maintaining protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe utilizes elastomeric or flexible material that combines protective and insulating properties. This material composition provides both impact resistance through flexibility and thermal isolation, creating a composite effect that simultaneously addresses mechanical protection and thermal interference reduction without requiring separate rigid and insulating components.
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 effectively protects sensors from physical and thermal hazards, ensuring accurate measurements by dissipating impact forces and minimizing thermal interference, thus enhancing the durability and reliability of industrial measurement systems.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of the body is formed of an elastically deformable material
Implementation Method 2
a pliant plug for facilitating the coupling of the connector with the sensor assembly, wherein the pliant plug thermally insulates the sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A probe assembly for an instrument of the type having a housing is disclosed. The probe assembly includes a body having an anchor end for attaching to the housing and a sensor end, wherein at least a portion of the body is formed of an elastically deformable material. The probe assembly also includes a sensor assembly at the sensor end with a protective cap that protects the sensor assembly from impact and permits the sensor assembly to be in direct contact with the environment surrounding the probe assembly. The probe assembly further includes a signal cable assembly having a connector for coupling the sensor assembly to the instrument. The probe assembly also includes a pliant plug for facilitating the coupling of the connector with the sensor assembly, wherein the flexible plug thermally insulates the sensor.