Extras
CAPS-2018
- CAPS. Stage 1.
- CAPS. Stage 2.
- CAPS. Stage 3.
Functional model
Hierarchical process model
Useful technical system
Analogies
Causal model
Principles of resolving technical contradictions
- Principle 1. Segmentation Principle
- Principle 2. Separation Principle
- Principle 3. Local Quality Principle
- Principle 4. Symmetry Change Principle
- Principle 5. Merging Principle
- Principle 6. Multifunctionality Principle
- Principle 7. Nesting Principle
- Principle 8. Weight Compensation Principle
- Principle 9. Preliminary Counteraction Principle
- Principle 10. Preliminary Action Principle
- Principle 11. Beforehand Compensation Principle
- Principle 12. Equipotentiality Principle
- Principle 13. The Other Way Around Principle
- Principle 14. Curvature Increase Principle
- Principle 15. Dynamic Parts Principle
- Principle 16. Partial or Excessive Actions Principle
- Principle 17. Dimensionality Change Principle
- Principle 18. Mechanical Vibration
- Principle 19. Periodic Action Principle
- Principle 20. Continuity of Useful Action Principle
- Principle 21. Skipping Principle
- Principle 22. Blessing in Disguise
- Principle 23. Feedback Principle
- Principle 24. Intermediary Principle
- Principle 25. Self-Service Principle
- Principle 26. Copying Principle
- Principle 27. Cheap Disposables
- Principle 28. Mechanical Interaction Substitution
- Principle 29. Pneumatics and Hydraulics
- Principle 30. Flexible Shells and Thin Films
- Principle 31. Porous Materials
- Principle 32. Optical Property Changes
- Principle 33. Homogeneity Principle
- Principle 34. Discarding and Recovering Principle
- Principle 35. Parameter Changes
- Principle 36. Phase Transitions
- Principle 37. Thermal Expansion
- Principle 38. Strong Oxidants
- Principle 39. Inert Atmosphere
- Principle 40. Composite Materials
Standard problem solutions
- Class 1
- Class 2
- Class 3
- Class 4
- Class 5
Evolution Patterns
- 1. Mono-bi-poly of identical objects
- 2. Expanding
- 3. Trimming
- 4. Segmentation
- 5. Evolution of surface
- 6. Internal structure evolution
- 7. Geometric evolution
- 8. Dynamization
- 9. Controllability
- 10. Сoordination
Glossary
Literature

Principle 28. Mechanical Interaction Substitution

The Mechanical Interaction Substitution Principle stipulates importance of using other higher-order concepts instead of the mechanical concept of operation.

Traditional definition of the principle:

Replace a mechanical system with an optical, acoustic or "smell” one.
Use electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields to interact with the object.
Change from static to movable fields, from fixed ones to those changing in time, from structureless fields to those having a certain structure.
Use fields in conjunction with ferromagnetic particles.

The concept of a system operation based on mechanical interaction of its components is widespread in engineering. Specifically, the clockwork remained the only possible drive for the clock hands for centuries. To improve the accuracy of this mechanism, inventors introduced newer and newer mechanisms, often quite sophisticated. The clockwork complexity became extreme, and the requirements for the accuracy of the clock rate increased. This contradiction was solved with the invention of the electronic clock where a simple electronic circuit took up the functions of the most complex clockwork. The crystal-controlled oscillator determines the clock rate, and the electronic circuit converts it into the movement of hands or into digits on the display.

This technique should be considered broader, not only as a substitute for mechanical devices. It is possible to trace the following chain of the machine operation concepts: mechanical – hydraulic – pneumatic – field, and choose the most suitable one for the problem. It can happen that a system operates according to one mode only, e.g., the explosive formation of a pit contemplates the pneumatic mode of operation – a sharp increase in the pressure in the explosion area and generation of a destruction wave. However, operation of a system involves simultaneous use of different modes of operation. Thus, the actuating element of the pit-making machine, the excavator, uses the hydraulic drive and mechanical movement of the bucket.

The Mechanical Interaction Substitution Principle works well when the system is overcomplicated, and no methods to improve it are available while preserving the original mode of operation.

EXAMPLES

Example. Electric vehicle
A vehicle with a combustion engine uses the mechanical method of generating energy and transmitting it to the wheels. It is possible to gain significant benefits changing from the mechanical schematic to the electrical circuit. The electric vehicle is simpler, easier to drive, and it does not pollute the environment.

Example. TV set
The first TV sets used the so-called spiral disk for image dissection. A disk with holes rotated, the image was created by aligning the position of the holes and the flashing rate of the lamp. The mechanical dissection was inconvenient, thus the rotating disk was replaced with an electronic beam.

Example. Motorcycle stabilizer
Bosch developed a technology which will prevent the motorcycle from falling if the road adherence of the wheels is lost. Instead of additional wheels to level the bike, the idea is to use miniature "jet engines." If the motorcycle starts to lose road adherence, the system will blow a jet of compressed air through the nozzle thus returning the wheel to the desired trajectory.

Example. Laser range finder
A device for measuring distances with a laser beam is widely used in engineering surveying, in land survey, in construction etc. The laser range finder includes a pulse laser and a radiation detector. It is possible to calculate the distance between the laser and the reflecting object by measuring the time during which the beam travels to the object and back.