Thumb Roller Constant-Pressure Mechanism for Slide Caliper
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing slide calipers with thumb rollers face challenges in maintaining consistent measuring force due to user variability, leading to inaccurate measurements and potential damage to target objects, as the force applied by users can differ significantly.
Innovation Solution
A slide caliper design featuring a fine adjustment measurement part with a finger-press type rotation mechanism, including two disks connected by a roller shaft and a supporter with an inclined surface and stopper, which limits the measuring force by allowing the roller shaft to slide or roll along the inclined surface, reducing friction and preventing excessive force application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thumb roller is provided to enable fine adjustment of the measurement slider part, then measurement precision is improved, but the measuring force varies depending on each user, causing variation in measured values
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the roller shaft part by providing an inclined surface, transforming the direct rotational motion into a controlled linear motion with limited displacement. This parameter change in the motion mechanism ensures that regardless of how much force the user applies, the roller shaft part can only move along the inclined surface up to a certain point, thereby standardizing the measuring force and eliminating user variability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a double structure with outer roller and inner roller is used to limit measuring force, then excessive measuring force is suppressed, but the structure becomes complicated and assembly adjustment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the force-limiting function from a complex dual-roller system and implements it through a simpler inclined surface mechanism. Instead of using multiple rollers with idle contact, the invention uses a single roller shaft part that moves along an inclined surface, which inherently limits the measuring force through geometry rather than mechanical complexity. This extraction principle simplifies the structure while maintaining the force-limiting function.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's rotational input and the linear measurement motion. It mediates the force transmission by converting rotational force into controlled linear displacement, automatically limiting the measuring force without requiring complex dual-roller structures. The stopper serves as another intermediary that provides a hard limit to the roller shaft part's movement along the inclined surface.
3Reliability
If flexible connection members are used to elastically connect rotary-type actuation member and bearing member, then measuring force variation is reduced, but it remains difficult for respective users to achieve the same measuring force
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined surface mechanism is self-regulating and does not depend on user skill or sense of touch. The geometry of the inclined surface automatically controls the relationship between rotational input and linear output, making the measuring force consistent across different users without requiring them to apply the same amount of pressure or have the same operational technique.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the roller shaft part is loosely fitted in the roller bearing part, then the roller shaft part can move along the inclined surface to limit measuring force, but the structure requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is pre-positioned on the inclined surface at a specific location before assembly. This preliminary positioning establishes the maximum travel distance of the roller shaft part along the inclined surface, ensuring that the measuring force is limited to a predetermined value. The loose fit allows the roller shaft part to move freely along the inclined surface up to the stopper, combining ease of movement with precise force limitation.
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 ensures consistent and accurate measurements by limiting the measuring force to a predetermined value, reducing variations caused by different user pressures and preventing damage to target objects.
Implementation Method 1
at least a portion of inner surfaces of the two disks and the main scale come into contact with each other by frictional force when the user performs operation by the finger
Implementation Method 2
an inclined surface along which the roller shaft part is movable when the measuring force is applied in the slide caliper
Data Source
AI summary
A slide caliper of this disclosure includes: a fine adjustment measurement part including: a finger-press type rotation part; and a supporter, wherein the finger-press type rotation part includes: a roller part including two disks; and a roller shaft part, wherein at least a portion of inner surfaces of the two disks and the main scale come into contact with each other by frictional force, wherein the roller bearing part includes: an inclined surface along which the roller shaft part is movable when the measuring force is applied; and a stopper disposed at a position where the stopper and the roller shaft part come into contact with each other, and when the measuring force is applied, the frictional force with respect to the roller part is reduced as the roller shaft part moves along the inclined surface while contacting with the stopper to limit the measuring force.