Light Weight Deflectometer calibration device
Winning concept in a design contest.
HMP Magdeburger Prüfgerätebau GmbH is a recognised calibration institute, authorised by the Federal Highway Research Institute, to calibrate the Light Weight Deflectometer (LWD). The company calibrates about 2000 devices per year. The calibration consists of calibrating the way and the force. The following is about the latter.
The force calibration consists of 30 measuring shocks per device. A measuring shock consists of disengaging a 10 kg drop weight, catching it, lifting it and engaging it to the trigger mechanism again.
KISKE has the task to facilitate this process through automation. Before, an employee had to do all steps manualy, wich led to back strain due to repeatedly lifting the 10 kg weight. Moreover the impact sound was a considerable noise exposure to all employees in the factory hall.
KISKE is an acronym for "Keep It Simple KalibrierEinrichtung" (Keep It Simple Calibration Equipment). The concept's philosophy is combining as few, simple parts as possible, within a minimal footprint, to a reliably working machine.
To calibrate a LWD, it is placed into the soundproofed housing, the door is shut and the calibration is started with the push of a button. A pressure plate pushes the trigger to disengage the drop weight. After the impact, wich is measured, a pneumatic cylinder with a travel distance of 400 millimeters catches the weight and lifts it back to the engaged position. Placing the pneumatic cylinder in an angle of 16° to the vertical axis, made complicated mechanics with multiple directions of movement unnecessary. This design idea made KISKE the winning concept among the designs of six competing students.
engineering design
