Segmented Metal Shaft Stroke Sensor for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stroke sensors face challenges in maintaining high detection accuracy due to size accuracy issues with plastic holders and thermal deformation, especially in applications with significant temperature changes, leading to axial displacement and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
A stroke sensor design featuring a shaft composed of multiple metal shaft members connected along an axial line, with slide parts that regulate movement and prevent thermal deformation, allowing for improved size accuracy and detection precision without the need for complex molding processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the holder is made of plastic and components are integrally molded, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but size accuracy deteriorates due to molding errors and thermal deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into multiple shaft members (first shaft member and second shaft member) connected together, allowing each component to be manufactured separately with high precision metal machining rather than complex plastic molding, thereby improving size accuracy while maintaining manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses metal materials for the shaft members instead of plastic, combining the advantages of metal (high size accuracy, thermal stability) with a structured design that avoids the need for complex integrally molded plastic components
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple plastic components are assembled, then device flexibility is improved, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to accumulation of size errors and axial displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is segmented into multiple metal shaft members connected by connection parts, maintaining assembly flexibility while using metal material to eliminate accumulation of size errors that occurs with plastic components
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the material parameter from plastic to metal for the shaft members, which fundamentally alters the dimensional stability and eliminates the accumulation of size errors while preserving the segmented structure's assembly flexibility
3Weight of moving object
If the holder is made of plastic, then weight is reduced, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to thermal deformation in high temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses metal material for the shaft members to replace plastic, eliminating thermal deformation issues in high temperature environments while maintaining a lightweight design through the segmented structure and appropriate metal selection
4Device complexity
If integrally molded plastic components are used, then device complexity is reduced, but attachment complexity increases due to required molding processes
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is divided into separate metal shaft members that can be manufactured using standard metal machining processes and assembled through simple connection parts, avoiding complex molding processes while maintaining structural simplicity
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 enhances size accuracy, prevents axial displacement, and maintains high detection accuracy across varying temperatures, while simplifying the attachment process between shaft and detected body.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic detection element that detects the magnetic field of the magnet
Implementation Method 2
a slide part that is in contact with an inner wall of the housing and that slides so as to regulate a movement of the shaft in a direction that is crossed with the axial line
Data Source
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AI summary
A stroke sensor (35) includes: a shaft (40) that extends in an axial line direction; a detected body (71) that is fixed to the shaft (40); a housing (50) that extends along the shaft (40), that houses the shaft (40), and that supports the shaft (40) slidably in the axial line direction; and a detection body (72) that detects a movement amount of the detected body (71) which moves in accordance with sliding of the shaft (40), wherein the shaft (40) includes a plurality of shaft members (41, 42) that are connected to each other in the axial line direction and that are formed of metal, and a slide part (45, 47) that is in contact with an inner wall of the housing (50) and that slides so as to regulate a movement of the shaft (40) in a direction that is crossed with the axial line (C1) is provided on each of the plurality of shaft members (41, 42).