Sensor Housing Lateral Clamping for Pneumatic C-Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor housing attachment methods for pneumatic cylinders, particularly in C-slots, are complex, costly, and require excessive space, often resulting in insecure mounting and increased distance between the sensor and the groove bottom, leading to suboptimal measurement results.
Innovation Solution
A sensor housing with a metallic clamping body and actuating element that rotates parallel to the fastening groove axis, allowing the clamping body to press laterally against the groove wall, ensuring secure attachment and minimizing distance to the groove bottom, utilizing a grub screw with a high-pitch thread and ball head mechanism for easy assembly and high holding force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional attachment methods (clamping jaws, sliding blocks, eccentrics) are used, then the sensor housing can be secured in the groove, but the attachment becomes complex and expensive, and the sensor housing is unnecessarily enlarged
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment function is segmented between the sensor housing contour and the separate clamping body. The sensor housing provides the basic mounting interface while the clamping body provides the securing mechanism, allowing each component to be optimized independently and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor housing contour is designed with a universal attachment interface that can accommodate different groove geometries (C-slots, T-slots, square grooves) without requiring different housing designs. The clamping body adapts to various groove types through its rotatable clamping mechanism.
2Reliability
If traditional attachment methods are used, then the sensor housing can be secured, but the sensor housing is unnecessarily enlarged due to clamping jaws and sliding blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping body is nested within the sensor housing, with the clamping mechanism integrated into the housing structure. The clamping body rotates within a dedicated cavity in the sensor housing, eliminating the need for external clamping jaws and reducing the overall housing volume.
3Reliability
If traditional attachment methods press under the slot shoulder, then the sensor housing is secured, but the sensor is pressed away from the bottom of the groove, increasing the distance to the transmitter magnet
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping action is shifted from the vertical dimension (pressing under the slot shoulder) to the lateral dimension (pressing against the groove wall). The clamping body rotates to press laterally against the groove wall, which secures the sensor housing without pushing it away from the groove bottom, maintaining optimal measurement distance.
4Ease of operation
If a contoured sensor housing is used for drop-in mounting, then the sensor can be inserted into the groove, but the sensor is often tilted or turned and the mounting is not always secure
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing is pre-oriented during insertion into the groove, with the contour guiding the correct alignment. The clamping body is then actuated to secure the housing in this pre-established correct position, ensuring both ease of insertion and secure mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping body is designed to be rotatable, allowing it to dynamically adapt to slight misalignments during insertion while still achieving secure clamping. The rotational degree of freedom enables the clamping mechanism to engage properly even if the sensor housing is slightly tilted or turned during insertion.
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 solution enables quick, secure, and cost-effective attachment of the sensor housing in various groove geometries, maintaining measurement accuracy while reducing assembly complexity and space requirements, with enhanced electromagnetic compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
the clamping body (7) presses laterally against the groove wall (19)
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a grub screw with a high-pitch thread and ball head mechanism for easy assembly and high holding force
Implementation Method 3
grub screw with a high-pitch thread and ball head mechanism for easy assembly and high holding force
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Sensor housing with a sensor (2), wherein the sensor housing (1) or a part of the sensor housing (1) projects into a mounting groove (3) of a metallic mounting body (4) for mounting the sensor housing (1), wherein at least one metallic clamping element (7) is provided in the sensor housing (1), wherein the sensor housing (1) has an actuating element (6) for rotating the clamping element (7), wherein an axis of rotation (8) for the clamping element (7) is parallel to a longitudinal axis (9) of the mounting groove (3).