Yarn Tensiometer Segmented Damping Element

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing yarn tensiometers with unitary damping elements made of rubber or elastomer materials have insufficient damping effects and are prone to lint or avivage collection, which affects the accuracy of tension measurements.

Innovation Solution

A damping element with an oscillation body that can oscillate relative to a base body, allowing for adjustable damping by energy dissipation in an energy dissipation zone and ambient air, reducing the need for complex fixation methods and minimizing lint or avivage deposition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a unitary damping element made of rubber or elastomer material is used, then the damping effect is insufficient, but the structure is simple and easy to manufacture

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping effectVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The damping element is divided into a base body and an oscillation body that can move relative to each other. The base body is secured to the bending element while the oscillation body is freely ending, allowing relative oscillation between the two parts. This segmentation creates an energy dissipation zone that significantly enhances the damping effect compared to unitary damping elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If a unitary damping element is used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but lint or avivage collection occurs affecting measurement accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetension measurement accuracyVSAvoidlint or avivage deposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the damping element into a fixed base body and a freely oscillating oscillation body, the design prevents lint and avivage from being trapped in the damping structure. The oscillation body's free-ended design allows contaminants to be repelled rather than collected, maintaining measurement accuracy while keeping the manufacturing process simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If a complex fixation method is used to secure the damping element, then the damping effect is improved, but the assembly steps increase and manufacturing cost rises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamping effectVSAvoidassembly steps
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is designed to be simply secured to the bending element (e.g., by gluing or clamping), while the oscillation body remains freely ending and requires no additional fixation. This segmentation allows the damping element to achieve excellent damping performance through the relative oscillation between base body and oscillation body, without requiring complex fixation methods or multiple assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 solution provides an effective damping effect with reduced susceptibility to lint or avivage collection, allowing for low-cost mass production with fewer assembly steps while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

The U-bend (7) constitutes an energy dissipation zone (7) of the damping element D, and the second U-leg (8) constitutes an oscillation body (8) of the damping element D. The oscillation body (8), when excited by oscillations of the bending element (1) in the directions of the double-arrow R, will oscillate in relation to the base body (6) and the bending element (1), causing to dissipate energy in the energy dissipation zone (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHysteresis: Hysteresis

Implementation Method 2

The damping effect is not only achieved by the energy dissipation in the energy dissipation zone, but also by a damping effect from the ambient air, because the oscillations of the oscillation body and in turn of the bending element also are damped in the ambient air.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir resistance: Drag

Data Source

PatentEP1991848B1Yarn tensiometer
Publication Date: 2013.07.31 IRO AB
  • EP1991848B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1991848B1 patent drawingFigure 2~12

AI summary

Tensiometer for measuring the force imparted by a yarn on a bending element (1) which is secured in a fixation (3), having a unitary oscillation-damping element (D) made of an intrinsically damping material like rubber or an elastomer, the unitary damping element comprising a base body (6) secured to the bending element (1) and at least one oscillation body (8) which can oscillate, at least substantially in the direction of the deflection of the bending element, in relation to the base body and to the bending element, and further having an energy dissipation zone (7) between the base body (6) and the oscillation body (8).