Spring Blade Sensor for Fluid Motion via Elastic Deformation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing apparatuses for measuring movement of objects in fluids, such as water vehicles, often rely on movable parts which can be unreliable and prone to blockages, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A non-movable part apparatus using a spring member with blades and a rigid pin protruding into the fluid, where strain gauges detect the small angle pivoting of the pin due to fluid forces, allowing for 2D or 3D movement sensing without protruding elements, and a communication system for data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If movable parts are used in fluid measurement apparatus, then the apparatus can detect fluid movement, but the reliability decreases due to blockages and deterrence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical movable parts (propellers, rotors) with a spring member that has elastic blades. The spring member deforms elastically under fluid pressure, and this deformation is measured by strain gauges. This substitution eliminates mechanical blockages while maintaining the ability to measure fluid movement, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If protruding elements are used to sense fluid movement, then measurement accuracy improves, but disturbance to the object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the spring member with blades inside a housing that is mounted in a cavity in the object. The spring member protrudes only slightly into the fluid through a small opening, minimizing disturbance to the object while still allowing adequate fluid interaction for accurate measurement. This nesting approach resolves the contradiction between measurement precision and object disturbance.
3Measurement precision
If traditional speed sensors with rotators are used, then speed measurement is achieved, but the apparatus becomes prone to blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rotator system with an elastic spring member that deforms under fluid pressure. Strain gauges mounted on the spring member detect this deformation to determine speed. This substitution eliminates the blockage-prone rotator mechanism while maintaining accurate speed measurement capability, directly addressing the contradiction between measurement precision and reliability.
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
Provides reliable and accurate sensing of movement in various fluids, including water and air, with minimal disturbance to the object, enabling precise speed and direction measurements without the drawbacks of movable parts.
Implementation Method 1
The housing is receiving a spring member having a plurality of blades made of an appropriate material such as metal or plastic to generate the spring action of the blade
Implementation Method 2
A plurality of strain gauges is positioned on the blades. The strain gauges are part of an electrical circuit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6
AI summary
Disclosed is inter alia an apparatus (63) for sensing a movement of an object (10, 11) relative to a fluid (12, 13), e.g. for sensing relative movements of a surf board in water. A particular characteristic of the invention is that the housing (21) is mounted in fixed arrangement to a surface (20) of the object, the housing receiving a spring member (62) having a plurality of blades (25a, 25b, 25c, 25d), wherein each blade has an outer end (27) which is fixed to the housing, and an inner end (28) which is connecting to a center portion (65) of the spring, the plurality of blades defining a plane (73), wherein a plurality of strain gauges (26a, 26b, 26c, 26d) is positioned on the blades, and wherein a rigid pin (17) is mounted on the center portion of the spring member which is extending in a direction of a normal vector (74) of the plane and which is protruding from the surface (20) of the object and configured to dip into the fluid.