Sampling Device Centering Ring Segmentation Jamming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing samplers face issues such as jamming due to narrow gaps between concentric tubes, difficult assembly, cost-intensive production, small sample sizes, and difficulty in cleaning, limiting their ability to handle bulk materials and mixed samples effectively.

Innovation Solution

A sampler designed with a core drill and drill pipe where the handle and centering ring have the same outer diameter, allowing for easy insertion and parallel guidance, along with features like conical tapers, chamfers, and O-ring seals to prevent jamming and ensure fluid-tight sampling, and a method involving separate insertion steps and a rotary drive for efficient sampling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If narrow gaps between concentric tubes are used to enable sampling, then sampling capability is achieved, but tilting and jamming of bulk materials occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling capabilityVSAvoidjamming resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sampler is divided into separate components: an inner tube that can be inserted and removed independently from the outer tube. This segmentation allows the inner tube to be introduced separately, preventing jamming while maintaining the narrow gap configuration needed for sampling bulk materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The inner tube is designed to be movable relative to the outer tube, allowing dynamic adjustment during the sampling process. The inner tube can be inserted, held in position, and removed independently, enabling the system to adapt to different sampling conditions without jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If tight tolerances between inner and outer tubes are used to prevent leakage, then sampling accuracy is improved, but assembly difficulty and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling accuracyVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A centering ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the inner and outer tubes. This centering ring ensures proper alignment and spacing without requiring tight tolerances on the tube surfaces themselves, thereby maintaining sampling accuracy while simplifying assembly and reducing production costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If small sample chamber size is used to avoid jamming, then jamming risk is reduced, but sample quantity becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejamming resistanceVSAvoidsample quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sampling system is segmented into an inner tube that can be fully inserted into the outer tube. When the inner tube is completely inserted, it closes the sample chamber, allowing the chamber volume to be sufficiently large for adequate sample quantity while preventing jamming during the insertion and closing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If complex assembly with tight tolerances is used to achieve precise sampling, then sampling precision is improved, but assembly time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesampling precisionVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The centering ring serves as a mediator that simplifies the assembly process by providing self-aligning features. This allows the inner and outer tubes to be assembled quickly without requiring complex alignment procedures or tight tolerances, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining sampling precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3767273B1Sampling device and method for sampling
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 BURKLE GMBH
  • EP3767273B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3767273B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3767273B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

Sampler (1) which has the following features: a core drill (2) with a drill shaft (21), with a drill head (22) arranged at a first end of the drill shaft (21), with a handle (23) arranged at a second end of the drill shaft (21) and with a centering ring (24) arranged between the two ends of the drill shaft (21) at a predetermined distance from the handle (23), the centering ring having an outer diameter (25), a drill tube (4) with a drill bit (42) arranged at a first end of the drill tube (4), with a handle (43) arranged at a second end of the drill tube (4), wherein the drill tube (4) has an inner diameter (45) which corresponds to the outer diameter (25) of the centering ring (24).