Positionable Material Vessel Load Cell Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ambient temperature changes in hydraulic fluid cause instability and inaccuracies in weight measurements by load cells used in material containment and delivery systems, particularly when the hydraulic cylinder influences the structural support of the vessel.
Innovation Solution
A material containment and delivery system that decouples the hydraulic cylinder from the load path, allowing the vessel to be rotated or pivoted, and uses a load cell assembly to measure the weight of the material while mitigating the effects of hydraulic fluid expansion and contraction, ensuring accurate weight measurements by locking the vessel in a position where the lateral axis is perpendicular to the base assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the hydraulic cylinder is used to position the vessel, then the vessel can be moved between horizontal and vertical positions, but the hydraulic fluid expansion and contraction causes instability in the structure supporting the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional components: the hydraulic cylinder handles positioning while the load cell assembly handles measurement. This segmentation isolates the measurement function from the destabilizing hydraulic expansions and contractions, allowing the vessel to be positioned versatility while maintaining measurement stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The load cell assembly acts as an intermediary between the vessel and the measurement system. By positioning the load cell on the base assembly rather than directly on the hydraulic cylinder, the measurement is mediated through a stable reference point that is not affected by hydraulic fluid expansion and contraction.
2Measurement precision
If the load cell is placed under the hydraulic cylinder to measure vessel weight, then weight measurement is enabled, but ambient temperature changes in hydraulic fluid cause inaccuracies in the measurement
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is extracted from the hydraulic cylinder and placed on the base assembly. By removing the load cell from the hydraulic cylinder's load path and positioning it on the stable base, the measurement is taken out from the environment affected by hydraulic fluid thermal expansion and contraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The base assembly serves as an intermediary reference point that is thermally stable. The load cell measures weight relative to this stable base rather than relative to the thermally expanding and contracting hydraulic cylinder, eliminating the harmful thermal effects from the measurement.
3Ease of operation
If the hydraulic cylinder actuates the vessel position, then positioning is achieved, but the actuations cause instability in the structure supporting the vessel
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the positioning function (hydraulic cylinder) from the measurement and support function (load cell assembly on base). This allows the hydraulic cylinder to freely actuate the vessel for easy operation while the base assembly provides a stable reference that does not experience the same structural instability.
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 configuration provides more accurate and stable weight measurements by isolating the load cell from hydraulic fluid influences, ensuring precise monitoring of material weight during movement and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
a load cell assembly, coupled to the positioning assembly and configured to determine a weight of material within the vessel
Implementation Method 2
a positioning assembly configured to move the vessel from a first position to a second position
Data Source
AI summary
A material containment and delivery system includes a base assembly and a vessel comprising a housing configured to contain a material. In embodiments, the base is a free standing assembly, is anchored to the ground or a structure, is configured to be coupled to a vehicle, and/or the like. The vessel may be rotatably coupled to the base assembly near the second end, and may include a positioning assembly configured to move the vessel from a first position to a second position. The system may further include a load cell assembly, coupled to the positioning assembly and configured to determine a weight of material within the vessel.