Clamping Arrangement for Sensor Board Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vibration sensors face challenges in achieving a stable and efficient mechanical connection between the sensor board and the base, leading to signal attenuation and difficulty in assembling, disassembling, and recycling, particularly due to insufficient mechanical stiffness and complex potting processes.
Innovation Solution
A clamping arrangement is used to secure the sensor board to the base, involving a clamping head and body that slide relative to each other, establishing a clamping direction different from the displacement direction, allowing for a mechanically stiff connection without the need for multiple screws or epoxy, thus facilitating easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If screws are used to fix the PCB to the base, then assembly is quick and inexpensive, but the connection between the base and the PCB is not mechanically stiff enough, causing signal attenuation and reduction in usable bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clamping arrangement with a clamping head and clamping body as an intermediary mechanism between the base and sensor board. This mediator transforms a simple screw fastening action into a distributed clamping force that achieves both ease of assembly and high mechanical stiffness, resolving the contradiction between quick assembly and reliable connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping arrangement segments the connection function into distinct components: the clamping head contacts the sensor board, the clamping body provides leverage, and the screw provides fastening. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in a specific function, achieving high mechanical stiffness through distributed clamping while maintaining simple assembly through a single screw operation.
2Reliability
If potting with epoxy is used to fix the PCB, then the connection is mechanically stiff and reliable, but the process is complex and requires curing time, and disassembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism of epoxy potting with a mechanical clamping system. The clamping arrangement uses mechanical force through a screw-driven mechanism to achieve the same reliability and mechanical stiffness as potting, but without the chemical curing process, eliminating the need for waiting time and simplifying both assembly and disassembly operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping arrangement introduces dynamic adjustability to the connection system. The screw mechanism allows the clamping force to be adjusted and optimized, providing the same reliability as fixed potting but with the advantage of adjustability and reversibility, reducing overall process complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple screws are used to ensure mechanical stiffness, then the connection is reliable, but assembly becomes slower and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple screw fastening operations into a single clamping action. The clamping arrangement consolidates the function of multiple screws into one integrated mechanism driven by a single screw, maintaining the mechanical stiffness and reliability of multiple fasteners while achieving the assembly speed of a single fastening operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The single screw in the clamping arrangement performs multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the fastening force, acts as a lever for the clamping body, and distributes the clamping force through the clamping head to multiple contact points on the sensor board. This multi-functionality achieves the effect of multiple screws with the simplicity of one fastener.
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
This configuration ensures improved vibration transfer with reduced attenuation, higher signal-to-noise ratio, and robustness against resonance, enabling faster assembly, cost-effective installation, and ease of repair or recycling, suitable for widespread monitoring in industrial assets.
Implementation Method 1
said head receiving surface is slidably in contact with said body receiving surface; and wherein said clamping arrangement is arranged to establish said clamping direction when said clamping body or said clamping head is moved relative to said base along a displacement direction different from said clamping direction and said head receiving surface and said body receiving surface slide on each other
Implementation Method 2
said clamping arrangement is arranged to establish said clamping direction when said clamping body or said clamping head is moved relative to said base along a displacement direction different from said clamping direction
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~1c
Figure 1d~1e
AI summary
Condition monitoring sensor having a vibration sensing element mounted on a sensor board, and a base with a sensor board support structure. A clamping arrangement having a clamping head and a clamping body is arranged to clamp the sensor board between the clamping head and the sensor board support structure. The clamping arrangement is arranged to establish the clamping when the clamping body or the clamping head is moved relative to the base in a different direction than the clamping, and the clamping head and clamping body slide on each other. Methods of fastening or removing, respectively, the sensor board in the condition monitoring sensor are also disclosed.