Variable Temperature Sensor With Adjustable Probe And Signal Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature sensors are highly application-specific and lack portability, requiring extensive parts management due to changing specifications and lack of reconfigurability for different applications.
Innovation Solution
A sensor assembly with a positionally adjustable probe tube and a conversion component that converts signals into application-specific output signals, allowing for customizable connection interfaces, probe lengths, and output formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are designed for specific application requirements, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and parts management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is designed with a universal housing that can accommodate different probe tube lengths and conversion components, allowing a single base unit to serve multiple application requirements. The housing includes a standardized opening and bore structure that can accept various configurations of probe tubes and spacer elements, enabling one sensor assembly to fulfill multiple temperature sensing needs across different applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly is divided into separable functional modules: a universal housing, interchangeable probe tubes with different lengths, and various conversion components. This segmentation allows users to configure the sensor by combining different modules rather than manufacturing entirely different sensor designs for each application, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Ease of operation
If probe length is customized for each application, then ease of operation and installation are improved, but manufacturing precision and production complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Probe tubes of different standard lengths are pre-manufactured and stored as inventory items. The housing includes pre-designed bore openings and spacer element stacks that are prepared in advance to accommodate these standardized probe lengths. This preliminary preparation allows for easy installation flexibility without requiring complex manufacturing processes during final assembly, as the different length variants are ready-to-use components rather than custom-manufactured items.
3Ease of operation
If output signal format is adapted to specific applications, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing includes a standardized conversion component mounting structure that can accommodate different types of conversion components (e.g., analog voltage output, digital communication interfaces, current loop outputs). Each conversion component is designed with universal electrical and mechanical interfaces that allow them to be interchanged within the same housing, enabling a single sensor assembly platform to provide multiple output signal formats suitable for different applications without increasing overall device complexity.
4Adaptability or versatility
If sensor specifications change over time, then adaptability to new applications is improved, but loss of time for reconfiguration and parts management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is designed with dynamic reconfigurability through easily replaceable modules. When specifications change or new applications arise, users can quickly swap out probe tubes of different lengths or exchange conversion components without requiring time-consuming manufacturing processes or complex assembly procedures. The standardized interfaces and modular design enable rapid reconfiguration, minimizing the time loss associated with specification changes while maintaining adaptability to new requirements.
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
Enables universal parts coverage by adapting to various applications, reducing the need for multiple sensors and facilitating easy configuration for different use cases.
Implementation Method 1
a probe tube, disposed in the housing, extending through the bore
Implementation Method 2
a conversion component disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the temperature sensor. The conversion component may be configured to convert a signal from the temperature sensor into an application-specific output signal
Data Source
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AI summary
A sensor assembly (100) may include a housing (102) and a probe tube (108), disposed in the housing (102), that is positionally adjustable within the housing (102) to dictate a length of a portion of the probe tube (108) that protrudes from the housing (102). The sensor assembly (100) may include a conversion component (124) disposed in the housing (102). The conversion component (124) may be configured to convert an input signal into an application-specific output signal.