Segmented Housing for Nondestructive Testing Yoke
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nondestructive testing apparatus, such as electromagnetic yokes, are heavy and difficult to maneuver in wet environments due to solid molding, leading to operator fatigue and inadequate ingress protection for electrical components.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a modular structure with a first and second housing portion, a removable seal, and a trigger cover, allowing for a lighter, ergonomic construction with separate access to electrical components for servicing without compromising ingress protection, featuring injection molding and sealed compartments to protect against moisture and particulate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wet environment testing apparatus are constructed with heavy, poured elastomer housings using solid molding, then ingress protection for electrical components is improved, but the apparatus becomes difficult to maneuver and causes operator fatigue
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple segments including a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a trigger cover. These segmented components can be assembled and disassembled separately, reducing the overall weight and improving maneuverability while maintaining ingress protection through sealed interfaces between segments
Solution Approach 2:
A removable seal is used to provide flexible sealing between housing portions and the trigger cover. This flexible sealing mechanism maintains ingress protection without requiring heavy solid molding, allowing the housing to be lighter and easier to maneuver while still protecting electrical components
2Strength
If conventional testing apparatus use solid molded housings, then structural integrity is improved, but servicing of electrical components becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into removable portions including a trigger cover and separate housing sections. This segmentation allows electrical components to be accessed and serviced by removing specific portions rather than disassembling the entire structure, maintaining structural integrity while improving servicing accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The housing transitions from a static solid molded structure to a dynamic assembly with removable seals and detachable cover portions. This allows the housing to be opened for servicing and closed for protection, providing both structural integrity during operation and accessibility during maintenance
3Ease of operation
If the housing is made lighter and more ergonomic through injection molding, then ease of operation is improved, but ingress protection may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A removable seal is implemented to provide flexible sealing between the injection-molded housing portions and the trigger cover. This seal maintains ingress protection in the lighter injection-molded structure without requiring the heavy solid molding of conventional designs
Solution Approach 2:
The removable seal acts as an intermediary element between the housing portions and the trigger cover, providing the necessary sealing function that maintains ingress protection while allowing the overall structure to be lighter and more ergonomic through injection molding
Data Source
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AI summary
Testing apparatus and handles for testing apparatus are disclosed. An example testing apparatus includes: a first housing portion including a first compartment portion and a trigger compartment; a second housing portion including a second compartment portion that is complementary to the first compartment portion, wherein the first compartment portion and the second compartment portion form a yoke compartment when the first housing portion and the second housing portion are attached; a removable seal positioned around a perimeter of at least one of the first compartment portion or the second compartment portion, wherein the removable seal is configured to be compressed between the first housing portion and the second housing portion to seal the yoke compartment; and a trigger cover complementary to the trigger compartment of the first housing portion, wherein the trigger cover and the second housing portion are removably attached to the first housing portion.