Sensor Casing Clamping Wings for C-Groove Adaptability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor housings for C-slot cylinders are limited in their ability to securely fasten in various C-groove variants due to design constraints, often failing when the groove is too wide or too narrow, leading to incomplete clamping and potential detachment.
Innovation Solution
A sensor housing design featuring a combination of first and second clamping wings with different diameters, where the first wing always swings out to its end position and the second wing becomes tense under the groove shoulder, along with enhanced thread friction through coating or deformation, ensures secure fastening across a range of groove widths, and a stop limits the clamping position to 90°, preventing restoring moments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single clamping wing design is used, then the sensor housing can be simple in structure, but it cannot securely fasten in various C-groove variants (too wide or too narrow grooves)
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is segmented into multiple independent clamping wings (first clamping wing and second clamping wing) with different diameters. Each clamping wing can independently engage with the C-groove, allowing the sensor housing to adapt to various groove widths while maintaining secure fastening.
2Strength
If the clamping wing swings out to 90° in narrow grooves, then maximum clamping force is achieved, but restoring moments cause the clamping wing to move back and fail to tension the attachment
Solution Approach 1:
Different clamping wings are designed with different local qualities (different diameters) to suit different groove conditions. The first clamping wing has a smaller diameter suitable for narrow grooves, while the second clamping wing has a larger diameter for wider grooves, ensuring optimal clamping force and reliability in each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism is designed to allow partial swinging out of the clamping wing in narrow grooves (less than 90°) when necessary, rather than requiring full 90° rotation. This partial action ensures reliable attachment even when maximum swing is not achievable, preventing the restoring moment from causing detachment.
3Ease of operation
If friction in the thread between screw and clamping wing is low, then the clamping wing can rotate freely, but the restoring torque causes the clamping wing to move back towards its original position
Solution Approach 1:
The thread friction parameter is increased through coating or deformation of the screw thread. This parameter change ensures that the frictional force is sufficient to counteract the restoring torque, maintaining the clamping wing in its clamped position and preventing accidental movement or detachment.
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 design allows secure attachment of the sensor housing in almost all C-groove variants by ensuring the clamping wings engage effectively, regardless of groove width, with improved friction and positioning mechanisms preventing detachment.
Implementation Method 1
If the frictional torque in the thread between the screw and the clamping wing is less than the restoring torque, the clamping wing will move back towards its original position when tightened further.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
Sensor housing (1) with at least one sensor element, wherein a part of the sensor housing (1) projects into a mounting groove (3) of a metallic mounting body for securing the sensor housing (1), wherein a screw (5) is provided on the sensor housing (1), wherein the screw (5) has an actuating element (6) for rotating the screw (5), wherein an axis of rotation for the screw (5) lies transversely to a longitudinal axis of the mounting groove (3) with a rotatable first clamping wing (9) connected to the sensor housing, which is connected to the screw (5) by means of a thread (10), which, when the sensor housing (2) is inserted into the mounting groove (3), can be brought into a clamping position by rotation, in which it can be clamped with opposing inner surfaces (12) of the mounting groove (3), the first clamping wing (9) has two clamping wings (13) extending radially outwards with respect to its axis of rotation (7),which are located at points on the first clamping wing (9) opposite the axis of rotation, by means of which the first clamping wing (9) can be clamped in the clamping position (11) between the inner surfaces (12) of the groove wall (14), wherein a rotatable second clamping wing (15) connected to the sensor housing is arranged, which is connected to the screw (5) by means of a thread (10), which, when the sensor housing (1) is inserted into the mounting groove (3), can be brought into a clamping position (11) by rotation, in which it can be clamped with opposite inner surfaces (12) of the mounting groove (3), the second clamping wing (15) has two clamping wings (16) extending radially outwards with respect to its axis of rotation, which are located at points on the second clamping wing (15) opposite the axis of rotation, by means of which the second clamping wing (15) can be clamped in the clamping position (11) between the inner surfaces (12) of the groove wall (14),wherein the second clamping wing (15) is arranged between the actuating element (6) and the first clamping wing (9), wherein the outer surfaces of the clamping wings (16) of the second clamping wing (15) have a larger diameter than the outer surfaces of the clamping wings (13) of the first clamping wing (9), and wherein the sensor housing (1) is clamped with the first clamping wing (9) or the second clamping wing (15) in the mounting groove (3).