Automated Falling Body Viscometer Sending Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing falling body viscometers face challenges in maintaining uniformity of the falling body's position and speed due to manual handling, leading to variations in measurement results and increased work burden, especially when measuring different substances.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus using an extruding pin operated by a driving device to send a falling body from a loading unit into a measured substance, ensuring uniform initial conditions and reducing manual intervention, with a loading holder capable of holding multiple falling bodies for sequential measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual handling is used to drop the falling body, then the operation is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to variations in position and speed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of operationVSAvoiduniformity of falling body position and speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The falling body sending device automatically sends the falling body into the measured substance without requiring manual handling. The device uses a sending mechanism that positions and releases the falling body consistently, eliminating the variability introduced by manual operations while maintaining ease of use through automated functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical action of dropping the falling body is replaced with an automated sending device. This substitution eliminates human variability in positioning and releasing the falling body, thereby improving measurement precision while the device itself handles the complex positioning tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual dropping is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision varies between measurers and repeated measurements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of device structureVSAvoidconsistency of measurement results

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device automatically performs the sending operation without requiring skilled manual intervention. The automated mechanism ensures that each measurement follows the same procedure, eliminating the variability between different measurers and repeated measurements while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device controls and standardizes the parameters of falling body release, such as position, speed, and orientation. By automatically maintaining consistent parameters for each release, the device eliminates the variability in measurement results that occurs with manual handling, while the complexity remains manageable through parameter standardization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple falling bodies are measured sequentially, then the productivity increases, but the work burden increases without automation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of measurements per unit timeVSAvoidwork burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automated sending device performs the repetitive task of releasing falling bodies sequentially without requiring manual intervention for each measurement. This automation maintains high productivity by enabling multiple measurements per unit time while significantly reducing the work burden compared to manual repeated operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The device enables continuous sequential measurement by automatically sending falling bodies one after another without interruption. This continuous operation maintains high productivity while the automated nature of the process eliminates the increasing work burden that would result from manual repeated measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 approach enhances measurement precision by ensuring consistent initial conditions, reduces variations in measurement results, and automates the process, thereby decreasing the work burden and improving workability.

Implementation Method 1

sending the falling body from the loading unit by pressing the falling body using an extruding pin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

the extruding pin is operated by a driving device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion:

Implementation Method 3

the falling body naturally moves inside the measuring container by gravity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2472245B1Method for sending a falling body in a falling-body viscometer, falling-body sending device, and falling-body viscometer provided therewith

Publication Date: 2019.07.31 ASAHI GRP HLDG LTD

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AI summary

A novel configuration capable of suppressing a variation in the measurement result of a falling body viscometer is proposed. Provided is a method of sending a falling body (4) of a falling body viscometer (2) when sending the falling body (4) loaded in a loading unit (13a) of a loading holder (13) into a measured substance (3), in which the falling body (4) of the falling body viscometer (2) is sent out in a manner such that the falling body (4) is sent out from the loading unit (13a) by pressing the falling body (4) using an extruding pin (15), thereby suppressing a variation in the measurement result.