Self-aligning Lamp Assembly for Optical Absorbance Instruments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instruments for measuring optical absorbance face alignment issues due to light source replacement, particularly in compact devices where field maintenance is challenging, leading to costly and disruptive instrument replacement or repair.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning light source and detector assembly with a sensor support and light source holder in fixed positions, utilizing mating surfaces and set screws to maintain consistent alignment, allowing for easy lamp replacement without disturbing the alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the light source is made replaceable in compact instruments, then maintenance ease is improved, but alignment reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The instrument is divided into separate modular components: a replaceable lamp assembly and a fixed detector assembly. The lamp assembly can be independently removed and replaced without affecting the detector or requiring realignment, while the detector remains stationary in a precisely positioned housing. This segmentation allows easy maintenance while preserving alignment reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector is pre-positioned in a fixed, predetermined location within the instrument housing before the lamp is installed. The lamp assembly is designed with predetermined alignment features that automatically position it correctly relative to the detector upon installation. This preliminary positioning of the detector ensures that alignment is established before the replaceable component is attached, maintaining reliability throughout the instrument's lifecycle.
2Volume of moving object
If the instrument is made more compact, then portability is improved, but alignment maintenance difficulty worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The compact instrument incorporates a segmented design where the lamp assembly is a self-contained, removable module. This allows the small instrument to maintain easy maintainability by enabling quick lamp replacement despite its compact size, as the replaceable assembly can be accessed and swapped without disassembling the entire instrument.
Solution Approach 2:
The lamp assembly is extracted as a separate, removable component from the compact instrument housing. This extraction allows the lamp to be replaced in the field without requiring access to internal components or disassembly of the compact instrument, maintaining ease of repair despite the reduced overall size.
Data Source
AI summary
Self-aligning light source and detector assembly having a sensor support mounted in a predetermined, fixed position, a light source holder mounted in a predetermined, fixed position relative to the sensor support, a sensor mounted in a fixed position on the sensor support, and a lamp assembly removably mounted to the light source holder in a predetermined position defined by mating surfaces which engage each other and seat the lamp assembly in the predetermined position whenever the lamp assembly is installed in the holder.