Electromagnetic retarder and component including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly comprising a rotating drive mechanism having a drive shaft and an electromagnetic retarder (6), wherein the electromagnetic retarder (6) is capable of decelerating the rotation of the drive shaft, the drive mechanism comprising a housing (8) and a drive shaft (10) capable of being circumvented in an axial direction (X), the electromagnetic retarder comprising a stator support (18) fixed to the housing, wherein the stator support (18) comprises at least one protrusion (22) extending in the axial direction (X), and wherein the housing (8) comprises at least one complementary protrusion (24), wherein the at least one complementary protrusion cooperates with at least a portion of the protrusion (22) of the stator support to fix the position of the stator support relative to the housing in at least one direction contained in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction (X).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electromagnetic retarders. Background Art

[0002] refer to Figure 1 The electromagnetic retarder 6 is fixed to the drive mechanism's housing 8 by screws. Consequently, a gap exists between the hole formed in the housing 8 and the hole formed in the stator support 18. This gap results in an axial misalignment of 1 to 3 mm between the YY axis of the stator support and the XX axis of the drive shaft. Because the distance between the rotor 14 and stator 20 is extremely small to ensure braking efficiency, this axial misalignment can lead to irreversible degradation of the electromagnetic retarder.

[0003] Purpose of the Invention

[0004] A primary object of the present invention is to fix the position of the stator relative to the rotor in a highly precise manner.

[0005] Advantageously, such a fixation should be easy and inexpensive to perform. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The subject of the present invention is an assembly comprising a rotating drive mechanism having a drive shaft and an electromagnetic retarder capable of decelerating the rotation of the drive shaft, the drive mechanism comprising a housing and a drive shaft capable of pivoting around a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, the electromagnetic retarder comprising a rotor fixed to the drive shaft, a stator support fixed to the housing and a stator integrally formed with the stator support, wherein the stator support comprises at least one protrusion extending in the axial direction, and wherein the housing comprises at least one complementary protrusion which cooperates with at least a portion of the protrusion of the stator support to fix the position of the stator support relative to the housing in at least one direction contained in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.

[0007] The driving mechanism is at least one of a gearbox and a transmission shaft.

[0008] The features specified in the following paragraphs can be implemented selectively. These features can be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other.

[0009] The protruding portion includes an annular member centered at a point on the rotation axis.

[0010] Advantageously, such a single projection is easy to manufacture and enables the position of the stator support relative to the housing to be fixed in two directions in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

[0011] The stator support includes at least three projections positioned about a point on the axis of rotation at approximately 120° intervals from one another.

[0012] Advantageously, the projections are able to prevent any translation of the stator support relative to the housing in the Y and Z directions, which are perpendicular to each other and to the axis of rotation.

[0013] The housing includes at least three complementary projections positioned about a point on the axis of rotation, approximately 120° apart from each other.

[0014] Advantageously, the projections are able to prevent any translation of the stator support relative to the housing in the Y and Z directions, which are perpendicular to each other and to the axis of rotation.

[0015] Optionally, the housing comprises a single annular complementary protrusion. The housing comprises at least one bolt provided with a connection hole for fixing the stator support to the housing, the complementary protrusion being a projection extending in extension of a cylindrical surface of the at least one bolt.

[0016] The ring-shaped member includes at least one connecting hole having a center, and a distance between the center of the at least one connecting hole and an edge of the ring-shaped member is smaller than a diameter of the bolt.

[0017] Each protrusion comprises a hollow cylindrical surface capable of abutting against a side surface of the ring.

[0018] The distance between the center of the connecting hole of the shell and the hollow cylindrical surface is between 12 and 25 mm.

[0019] The stator support also includes an outer peripheral surface surrounding the annular member, and wherein the annular member includes a flat bearing surface, a portion of the housing is supported on the bearing surface, the outer peripheral surface is parallel to the bearing surface, and the outer peripheral surface is offset relative to the bearing surface in the axial direction by a distance between 1 and 10 mm.

[0020] The present invention also relates to an electromagnetic retarder, which can decelerate the rotation of a drive shaft of a drive mechanism, the drive shaft being capable of pivoting around a rotation axis extending in an axial direction, the electromagnetic retarder comprising a rotor intended to be fixed to the drive shaft, a stator support intended to be fixed to a housing, and a stator integrally formed with the stator support, wherein the stator support comprises at least one protrusion extending in the axial direction, the protrusion being capable of cooperating with at least one complementary protrusion of the housing to fix the position of the stator support relative to the housing along at least one direction contained in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an electromagnetic retarder-drive mechanism assembly according to the prior art;

[0022] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an electromagnetic retarder and a driving mechanism according to an assembly of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 an axial cross-section of a portion of the drive mechanism, a portion of the rotor, and the stator support of the assembly shown;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 2 a perspective view of the stator support of the illustrated assembly;

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 a view of the housing surface of the illustrated assembly to which the electromagnetic retarder is secured; and

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A perspective view of a portion of the housing surface is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The assembly 2 of the present invention is intended to be installed in a vehicle, such as a bus or a heavy vehicle. Figure 1 , component 2 includes a driving mechanism 4 and an electromagnetic retarder 6.

[0028] The driving mechanism 4 can be composed of a gearbox or a transmission shaft, for example. Figure 2 The drive mechanism 4 includes a housing 8 (partially shown in the drawings), a motor disposed within the housing, a drive shaft 10 rotationally driven by the motor, and an output flange 12 secured to one end of the drive shaft. The drive shaft 10 is rotationally driven about an axis of rotation AA extending in an axial direction X. The housing 8 includes a passage 11 through which the drive shaft 10 passes.

[0029] In order to fix the stator support 18 to the housing, the housing may include bolts 13 extending in the axial direction X. The bolts 13 are arranged around the channel 11. The bolts 13 include connecting holes 15 having threads.

[0030] The electromagnetic retarder 6 can reduce the rotation speed of the drive shaft 10. To this end, the electromagnetic retarder 6 includes a rotor 14 fixed to the output flange 12, a stator support 18, screws 19 for fixing the stator support to the housing 8, and a stator 20 formed integrally with the stator support 18.

[0031] Stator support 18 includes an end plate 21 having a central hole through which drive shaft 10 passes. End plate 21 is provided with connecting holes 30, 31. Screws 19 are installed in connecting holes 30, 31 of the stator support and connecting hole 15 of the housing to secure the stator support to the housing.

[0032] The stator support 18 further comprises a protrusion 22 capable of cooperating with at least a portion of a complementary protrusion 24 of the housing. The protrusion 22 and the complementary protrusion 24 extend in the axial direction X.

[0033] In the embodiment shown in the figure, Figures 4 to 6As shown, the protrusion 22 includes an annular member 26 centered on the rotation axis AA and a complementary protrusion 24 including at least three protrusions 27. The cooperation between the annular member 26 and the protrusions 27 allows the position of the stator support 18 relative to the housing 8 to be fixed along two directions Y and Z contained in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis AA.

[0034] The stator support 18 also includes an outer peripheral surface 32 surrounding the annular member 26. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the outer peripheral surface 32 forms a space for receiving the protrusion 27. In the embodiment shown, the outer peripheral surface 32 is a flat surface.

[0035] The surface of the annular member, which extends in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation AA, forms a bearing surface 28, on which a portion of the end face of the bolt 13 of the housing rests. An outer peripheral surface 32 is parallel to the bearing surface 28. The outer peripheral surface 32 is offset relative to the bearing surface in the axial direction X by a distance between 1 and 10 millimeters. This distance corresponds to the height and clearance of the protrusion.

[0036] Connecting holes 30, 31 are provided on the bearing surface 28. In the embodiment shown, four connecting holes 31 are located near the outer edge of the ring 26. For the four connecting holes 31, the distance between their centers and the edge of the ring 26 is less than the diameter of the bolt 13. For the connecting holes 30, this distance can be any distance.

[0037] refer to Figure 6 The projections 27 are advantageously provided in the extension of the circular faces of some of the bolts 13. The circular faces extended by the projections are situated opposite the channels 11. Advantageously, the projections 27 are manufactured by a method of removing material, for example machining.

[0038] In this embodiment, the four bolts 13 of the stator support 18 have protrusions 27, such as Figure 5 As shown, three bolts are positioned about a point on the rotation axis AA, approximately 120° apart. This arrangement prevents any translation of the stator support 18 along any direction contained in a plane perpendicular to the rotation axis AA. The fourth bolt 13 with a protrusion can be positioned anywhere. To achieve precise fixation of the stator support relative to the housing, only three protrusions 27 are required.

[0039] Each protrusion 27 includes a hollow cylindrical surface 34 that can abut against a side surface 36 of the ring. The hollow cylindrical surface 34 is concave on the side of the connecting hole 15.

[0040] refer to Figure 6The distance between the center of the bolt connection hole 15 of the housing and the hollow cylindrical surface 34 of the protrusion is advantageously between 12 and 25 mm. Thus, the hollow cylindrical surface 34 of the protrusion abuts against the side surface 36 of the ring. The end face 40 of the bolt, excluding the protrusion, bears against the bearing surface 28 of the ring 26. This fit improves assembly precision and stability.

[0041] Optionally, the ring 26 can surround the outer peripheral surface 32 .

[0042] Optionally, the screw 19 is replaced by a pluggable pin.

[0043] Alternatively, the stator support ring 26 may be replaced by at least three projections 24 positioned about a point on the axis of rotation AA, approximately 120° from each other. These projections prevent any translation of the stator support relative to the housing in the Y and Z directions.

[0044] Alternatively, the stator support ring 26 is replaced by two projections 22 positioned about a point on the axis of rotation AA, approximately 120° from each other. These projections 22 prevent any translation of the stator support relative to the housing in the Y and Z directions.

[0045] According to a less advantageous variant, the ring 26 of the stator support is replaced by a projection 22 which blocks the movement of the stator in one direction.

[0046] Alternatively, only three bolts 13 include projections 27, the bolts with projections being positioned about 120° from each other about a point on the axis of rotation AA. These three projections are sufficient to prevent any translation of the stator support relative to the housing in the Y and Z directions.

[0047] According to a less advantageous variant, only two bolts 13 comprise projections 27 , the bolts with projections being positioned about a point on the axis of rotation AA at approximately 120° from one another.

[0048] Alternatively, the housing comprises a single complementary projection of annular shape instead of the protrusion 27 and the bolt 13 .

[0049] Alternatively, the hollow cylindrical surface 34 of the projection 27 is replaced by a plane having a normal passing through the rotation axis AA.

Claims

1. An assembly (2) comprising a drive mechanism (4) and an electromagnetic retarder (6), wherein the drive mechanism (4) has a rotating drive shaft, the electromagnetic retarder (6) is capable of decelerating the rotation of the drive shaft, the drive mechanism (4) comprises a housing (8) and a drive shaft (10) capable of pivoting around a rotation axis (AA) extending in an axial direction, the electromagnetic retarder (6) comprises a rotor (14) fixed to the drive shaft (10), a stator support (18) fixed to the housing, and a stator (20) formed integrally with the stator support, characterized in that: The stator support (18) includes at least one protrusion (22) extending in an axial direction (X), and the housing (8) includes at least one bolt (13) and at least one complementary protrusion (24), at least one bolt is provided with a connection hole (15) for fixing the stator support (18) to the housing (8), at least one complementary protrusion cooperates with at least a portion of the protrusion (22) of the stator support to fix the position of the stator support (18) relative to the housing (8) along at least one direction included in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction (X), and the complementary protrusion (24) is a protrusion (27) extending in an extension of the cylindrical surface of the at least one bolt.

2. The assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The protrusion (22) includes an annular member (26) centered at a point on the rotation axis (AA).

3. The assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The stator support (18) comprises three projections (22) positioned about a point on the axis of rotation (AA) at approximately 120° intervals from each other.

4. Assembly (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The housing (8) comprises three complementary projections (24) positioned about a point on the axis of rotation (AA) at approximately 120° from each other.

5. The assembly (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that The annular member (26) comprises at least one connecting through hole (31) having a center, and a distance (d) between the center of the at least one connecting through hole (31) and an edge of the annular member (26) is smaller than a diameter of the bolt (13).

6. The assembly (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that Each protrusion (27) comprises a hollow cylindrical surface (34) capable of abutting against a side surface (36) of the ring (26).

7. Assembly (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that The distance between the center of the connecting hole (15) of the housing and the hollow cylindrical surface (34) is between 12 and 25 mm.

8. The assembly (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that The stator support (18) further comprises an outer peripheral surface (32) surrounding the annular member (26), and wherein the annular member (26) comprises a flat bearing surface (28) on which a portion of the housing is supported, the outer peripheral surface (32) being parallel to the bearing surface (28) and offset relative to the bearing surface in the axial direction (X) by a distance between 1 and 10 mm.

9. The assembly (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that The housing (8) comprises at least two bolts (13), the at least two bolts (13) comprising protrusions (27), the bolts (13) provided with the protrusions being positioned about a point on the rotation axis (AA) at an angle of approximately 120° to each other.

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