Tube Rail Cart Impact Sensor for Misalignment and Obstacle Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tube rail carts in greenhouse horticulture systems face issues with misalignment and unexpected obstacles, leading to potential damage and disruptions during automated operations, as existing sensors are not robust enough to handle heavy impacts and maintain reliability.
Innovation Solution
A robust mechanical impact detection sensor composed of a shaft, conical valve, and return spring, with an impact-sensitive element that detects lateral impacts and generates signals for corrective maneuvers, is integrated into the tube rail cart, featuring a simple and durable design with minimal electronic components and no physical contact wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing sensors are used for impact detection, then the tube rail cart can detect misalignment and obstacles, but the sensors are not robust enough to handle heavy impacts and are subject to wear and tear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic sensors with a simple mechanical impact detection sensor that uses a shaft, conical valve, valve shaft, return spring, and sensor to detect lateral impacts. This mechanical system is more robust and resistant to wear and tear while maintaining detection capability for misalignment and obstacles.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical impact detection sensor uses simple, durable components that can withstand heavy impacts without degrading. The design prioritizes robustness over complexity, using easily replaceable mechanical parts instead of sensitive electronics that would require frequent replacement.
2Ease of operation
If the tube rail cart is perfectly aligned with the rails, then it can drive onto the rails smoothly, but misalignment may occur during automated operations leading to problems
Solution Approach 1:
The impact detection sensor provides continuous feedback about lateral impacts and misalignment conditions. When the sensor detects an impact or misalignment, it generates a signal that triggers corrective maneuvers to realign the tube rail cart with the rails, ensuring continuous reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects potential misalignment issues before they cause serious problems by monitoring for lateral impacts during automated operations. This early detection allows the system to take preliminary corrective action to maintain proper alignment.
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 impact detection sensor effectively corrects misalignment and detects obstacles, ensuring reliable operation by triggering corrective actions and reducing the risk of damage, while maintaining durability and minimizing wear and tear.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring (19) which pulls or pushes the valve (15) in an axial direction against the valve seat (17)
Implementation Method 2
the sensor (23) is, for example, an inductive sensor without physical contact with the collar (21) of the valve shaft (16)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
Impact detection sensor for a tube rail cart characterised in that it is composed of a shaft and a conical valve with a valve shaft which in resting condition coaxially extends through the shaft with a lateral play in the shaft, whereby at one end the shaft is provided with a conical valve seat for the valve and whereby the impact detection sensor is provided with a return spring which pulls or pushes the valve in an axial direction against the valve seat and whereby the valve shaft or the shaft at the end of the impact detection sensor with the valve is provided with an impact sensitive element which in case of a lateral impact causes the valve to move laterally relative to the valve seat and consequently also causes the valve shaft to move axially relative to the shaft against the force of the return spring, whereby the valve shaft is provided with a collar and the shaft is provided with a sensor for detecting the position of the collar relative to the sensor.