Ultrasonic Length Measuring Device with Magnetic Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing length measuring devices for humans are prone to measurement inaccuracies due to environmental factors like dust and changing conditions, and they often require costly high-quality materials to maintain accuracy over time.
Innovation Solution
A length measuring device with a magnetically coupled vernier caliper and inner slide, equipped with a sound source and receiver, uses time-of-flight ultrasonic signals to determine the caliper's position within a hollow profile, allowing for calibration and compensation of environmental influences, and features a closed design to shield measurements from external disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If ultrasonic distance measurement is performed in an open environment, then measurement can be conducted, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to dust and changing environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
A hollow profile acts as an intermediary enclosed space between the ultrasonic transducer and the measurement target. This intermediate structure shields the ultrasonic measurement path from external environmental factors like dust and temperature variations, allowing accurate measurements while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vernier caliper and ultrasonic transducer are nested within the hollow profile structure. The hollow profile contains the measurement components, creating a protected internal environment that isolates the sensitive ultrasonic measurement from external harmful factors while maintaining the measurement function.
2Extent of automation
If a linear potentiometer with sliding contacts is used to track caliper position, then position measurement is achieved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates over time due to wear and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical sliding contact system of the linear potentiometer is replaced with a magnetic coupling system. Magnets on the vernier caliper interact with a magnet assembly on the inner slide without physical contact, eliminating wear and abrasion while maintaining automated position tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic field acts as an intermediary between the vernier caliper and the inner slide. The magnet assembly on the inner slide magnetically couples to the vernier caliper, allowing position tracking without direct mechanical contact, thus preventing wear-induced accuracy deterioration.
3Measurement precision
If the hollow profile is completely closed to shield measurements, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to mechanical connections required
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical connections between the caliper and internal components are replaced with magnetic coupling. The magnet assembly on the inner slide magnetically interacts with the vernier caliper, eliminating the need for mechanical penetrations in the hollow profile and allowing a completely closed structure for improved measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field serves as an intermediary that transmits force and position information through the hollow profile wall without requiring mechanical openings. This allows the hollow profile to be completely closed for shielding while maintaining functional connectivity between components.
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 provides high accuracy and the ability to perform reference measurements, reducing the impact of environmental conditions and extending the device's operational lifespan while maintaining precision.
Implementation Method 1
A magnet arrangement magnetically couples the vernier caliper and the inner slide so that the inner slide follows any movement of the vernier caliper along the linear guide
Implementation Method 2
stimulate the sound source to emit a sound signal and to evaluate output signals from the sound receiver in order to determine the propagation time of a signal reflected on the inner slide
Implementation Method 3
determine the propagation time of a signal reflected on the inner slide and use this to calculate the position of the inner slide along the linear guide
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a length measuring device having: a measuring slide (4); a linear guide (2) on the outside of which the measuring slide is movably mounted; an internal slide (6), which is movably mounted in the interior of the guide; a magnetic coupling designed such that the internal slide follows every motion of the measuring slide along the guide; a sound source (8); a sound receiver (8); and a control unit (10) connected thereto for evaluating the output signals of the sound receiver (8), in order to determine the transit time of a first sound signal reflected from the internal slide (6) and calculate the position of the internal slide along the hollow profile therefrom and in order to detect an additional reflected sound signal, reflected at a known point along the hollow profile, in the output signal of the sound receiver (8) and to allow the transit time of said signal to be entered as a reference measurement into the calculation of the position of the internal slide.