Sensor Holder With Living Hinge for Stress-Free Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clamp-on flow measurement sensors experience measurement inaccuracies and reduced reproducibility due to deformation and stress from hose fluctuations and external mounting structures, leading to strain and stress on the sensor device.
Innovation Solution
A sensor holding device with a holding body and securing means that allows for secure attachment of the sensor without inducing significant strain or stress, using a living hinge mechanism and engaging means to restrict movement to less than 3 mm in all directions, fabricated through additive manufacturing like selective laser sintering.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor device is securely fixed to the mounting structure, then the sensor stability improves, but stress and deformation on the sensor housing increase leading to measurement inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device is divided into separate functional components: a mounting body that interfaces with the mounting structure, and a sensor holder that interfaces with the sensor device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the mounting body provides secure attachment while the sensor holder provides stress-free support for the sensor device.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor holder acts as an intermediary element between the mounting structure and the sensor device. It provides a compliant interface that absorbs mounting stresses and deformations, preventing them from being transmitted to the sensor housing while still maintaining secure attachment and proper positioning.
2Measurement precision
If the sensor device is allowed to move freely on the hose, then stress on the sensor is reduced, but the sensor position becomes unstable leading to measurement inconsistencies
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor holder provides localized support and positioning features that engage with specific portions of the sensor device housing. This creates stable positioning at the interface without requiring rigid constraints that would transmit stress to the sensor housing, allowing the sensor to remain stable relative to the mounting while free from harmful stresses.
3Strength
If a rigid mounting structure is used to secure the sensor, then the sensor attachment strength improves, but deformation and stress on the sensor housing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting device uses material selection and structural design that change the mechanical parameters of the mounting system. The mounting body and sensor holder are designed with appropriate rigidity and compliance characteristics - rigid enough to provide secure attachment and stable positioning, but compliant enough to avoid transmitting harmful stresses to the sensor housing.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor holding device holds a sensor device and includes a holding body configured for holding the sensor device and the holding body includes a sensor holding device-side engaging means for engaging with a sensor device-side engaging means of the sensor device when the sensor device is held by the holding body, and a securing means connected to the holding body for securing the sensor device at the holding body that is moveable relative to the holding body to a first position and to a second position.