Sensor Holder Securing Formation for Controlled Disassembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor assemblies face issues with safe assembly and disassembly due to improper torque application, leading to undesired relative movements and increased contamination risks, especially when removing sensors from containers under thermal stress.
Innovation Solution
The sensor assembly incorporates a release-securing formation on the thread groove, which reduces the cross-sectional area locally, increasing the torque required for disassembly and ensuring secure engagement by material displacement and deformation mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor housing and sensor holder behave like a single component during disassembly, then the sensor housing cannot be independently removed, but this causes undesired relative movement between the sensor holder and sensor carrier, leading to increased contamination risks and assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between sensor holder and sensor carrier is segmented into two functional zones: a lower locking thread that maintains rigid connection during operation, and an upper release-securing formation that enables independent sensor housing removal. This segmentation allows the system to transition from unified behavior during operation to separable behavior during disassembly, resolving the contradiction between reliable connection and ease of disassembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The release-securing formation is pre-configured in the thread groove to enable future independent disassembly. The geometric features (reduced cross-sectional area, material displacement paths) are prepared in advance so that when disassembly is needed, the sensor housing can be independently removed without causing undesired movement of the sensor holder relative to the sensor carrier.
2Ease of operation
If users do not adhere to specified assembly torques, then assembly becomes simpler and faster, but this leads to indeterminate relative movements and increased risk of contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The release-securing formation acts as a self-regulating mechanism that automatically compensates for improper torque application. The material displacement and deformation features create inherent mechanical feedback that ensures proper engagement without requiring precise torque control, making the system self-servicing and tolerant of user error.
Solution Approach 2:
The reduced cross-sectional area in the release-securing formation creates a built-in compliance zone that absorbs excess torque and prevents over-tightening damage. This preliminary cushioning mechanism protects the connection from the harmful effects of improper torque application while maintaining secure engagement.
3Reliability
If the cross-sectional area of the thread groove is reduced locally by the release-securing formation, then the torque required for disassembly increases and secure engagement is ensured, but this increases the complexity of the thread structure
Solution Approach 1:
The thread groove structure is modified locally only where the release-securing formation is needed, rather than changing the entire thread structure. The reduced cross-sectional area is concentrated in specific circumferential sections, maintaining simple thread geometry in other areas while providing enhanced disassembly control where required.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing torque requirements through larger thread dimensions, the solution introduces a radial dimension variation (reduced cross-sectional area) within the existing thread groove. This dimensional modification creates material displacement paths that provide secure engagement without requiring overall thread structure enlargement or complex multi-start threads.
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 design allows for safe and reliable assembly and disassembly of sensors, minimizing contamination risks and ensuring secure engagement, even without precise torque control.
Implementation Method 1
the release-securing formation, based on a circumferential section of the thread groove free of the release-securing formation, reduces the cross-sectional area of the thread groove locally in the at least one circumferential section
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor holder (10) for a sensor assembly (82), wherein the sensor holder (10) has a tube section (12) with an outer thread (22) formed thereon, wherein, as a securing thread (22), the outer thread (22) has a securing/releasing formation (60a, 60, b, 60c) in at least one peripheral section of a thread groove (22a), wherein the securing/releasing formation (60a, 60, b, 60c), wherein the securing/releasing formation (60a, 60, b, 60c) reduces the cross-sectional area (Q) of the thread groove (22a) in relation to a peripheral section of the thread groove (22a) that is free of the securing/releasing formation (60a, 60, b, 60c), wherein a material weakening (48) is formed in a region of weakness (46) of the sensor holder (10), wherein the region of weakness (46) includes the entire outer thread (22) and extends beyond the outer thread (22) by at least double the thread pitch of the outer thread (22) and axially in relation to a screw axis (S) of the outer thread (22) on both sides of the outer thread (22), wherein a direction of the material weakening (48), in which the material weakening (48) has its largest measurement, has an axial component (48a) and/or a component (48b) in the peripheral direction in relation to the screw axis (S) of the outer thread (22), wherein the at least one securing/releasing formation (60a, 60, b, 60c) is arranged in the axial extension region of the material weakening (48) and/or is arranged in the peripheral extension region of the material weakening (48).