Silicone Insulator and Steel Sheet for Survey Meter Circuit Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high range gamma-ray survey meters, the metal pin connecting the detection and indication units can wear out over time, leading to electrical short circuits in the electronic circuit due to its conductive nature, causing failure and maintenance issues.

Innovation Solution

A protection part comprising a silicone insulator, an elastic stainless steel sheet, and a cable hole is designed to be inserted into the survey meter, preventing conductive materials from entering the electronic circuit by using the insulator for electrical insulation and the elastic stainless steel sheet for secure fixation, ensuring only the signal transmission cable can pass through.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a metal pin is used to connect the detection unit and indication unit, then the joint can be securely fixed, but the metal pin wears over time and may cause electrical short circuits in the electronic circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejoint fixation strengthVSAvoidelectronic circuit reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An insulating tube is introduced as an intermediary component between the metal pin and the electronic circuit. This tube prevents direct contact between the conductive metal pin and the electronic circuit, eliminating the risk of short circuits while allowing the metal pin to maintain its mechanical fixation function. The insulating tube acts as a mediator that separates the conductive element from the sensitive electronic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful conductive property of the metal pin is effectively removed by enclosing it within an insulating tube. The metal pin retains only its mechanical function for joint fixation, while its electrical conductivity is isolated from the electronic circuit. This extraction of the harmful property (electrical conduction) while preserving the useful property (mechanical strength) resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Length of moving object

If the telescope is made extendable to allow long-distance measurement, then radiation exposure to the measuring person is reduced, but the metal pin may separate and enter the electronic circuit causing short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetelescope lengthVSAvoidelectronic circuit reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating tube serves as a protective intermediary that prevents the separated metal pin from contacting the electronic circuit. Even when the telescope extends and the metal pin becomes loose or separates, the insulating tube blocks the pin from entering the electronic circuit, thus maintaining reliability while preserving the extendability feature.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The insulating tube provides beforehand protection against the potential harmful effect of metal pin separation. By pre-installing the insulating barrier, the system is prepared in advance to prevent short circuits that might occur during telescope extension and retraction operations, ensuring continuous reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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 solution effectively prevents short circuits and reduces maintenance costs while extending the service life of the survey meter by ensuring the electronic circuit is protected from foreign conductive materials.

Implementation Method 1

A protection part for an electronic circuit of a survey meter and a high range gamma-ray survey meter into which the same is inserted, in which the protection part formed of a silicone insulator is inserted into the high range gamma-ray survey meter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical insulation: Dielectric

Data Source

PatentEP2669709B1Protection part for the electronic circuit of a survey meter
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 KOREA HYDRO & NUCLEAR POWER CO LTD
  • EP2669709B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~2(B)
  • EP2669709B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a protection part for an electronic circuit of a survey meter and a high range gamma-ray survey meter into which the protection part is inserted, in which the protection part is easily mounted in the survey meter to prevent the electronic circuit from being short-circuited when a conductive material is introduced into the electronic circuit. To this end, the protection part includes an insulator part for interrupting electricity other than that used for a signal transmission cable, an elastic stainless steel sheet part inserted into the insulator part, and a cable hole part through which the signal transmission cable passes when the protection part is inserted into the high range gamma-ray survey meter. Also, the protection part is inserted into the high range gamma-ray survey meter such that a telescopic part hole and a display part of the high range gamma-ray survey meter are physically separated from each other.