An encoder housing that is easy to maintain

By setting exhaust holes and sealing structures on the encoder shell, the problem that the existing encoder shell cannot effectively isolate pollutants is solved, the internal pollutants removal and cooling effect is achieved, the service life of the equipment is extended, and the airtightness of the encoder is maintained.

CN222718962UActive Publication Date: 2025-04-04CHANGCHUN YUHENG OPTICS LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202421616090.2
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Utility models(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-07-09
Publication Date
2025-04-04
Estimated Expiration
2034-07-09

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The sealed design of the existing encoder shell cannot completely isolate pollutants such as dust and droplets, resulting in a degradation of encoder performance and shortening of service life. The existing maintenance methods are complex and costly, making it impossible to effectively clean up internal pollutants.

Method used

An encoder housing is designed for easy maintenance. By setting two exhaust holes of different heights on the sides, gas is used to clear internal pollutants and achieve cooling effect. The housing is equipped with a sealing plug and a sealing cover to ensure that airtightness is maintained when the exhaust hole is not used.

Benefits of technology

Effectively remove moisture and dust from the encoder, keep internal parts clean, prevent moisture or accumulation of dust, extend the service life of the equipment, and reduce component aging by cooling. At the same time, the optimized sealing structure ensures the airtightness of the encoder and avoids installation accuracy problems caused by uneven air pressure.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Patent Text Reader

Abstract

The utility model relates to the technical field of encoder structural design, and specifically provides an encoder housing that is easy to maintain, wherein two exhaust holes of different heights are provided on the encoder housing, and a threaded tube extends outward from the exhaust hole, and the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface of the threaded tube are both tapped with threads; the outer surface of the sealing plug is tapped with threads for screwing into the threaded tube to achieve a primary seal of the exhaust hole; the inner surface of the sealing cover is tapped with threads for screwing into the sealing cover to achieve a secondary seal of the exhaust hole. The utility model is provided with an exhaust hole, which is convenient for cleaning pollutants inside the encoder and cooling the encoder, and can maintain air pressure balance when the encoder housing is assembled. After the encoder housing is assembled, an air tightness test can also be performed through the exhaust hole. In addition, a double sealing structure for the exhaust hole is provided to ensure the sealing of the encoder when it is working.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of encoder structure design, and specifically provides an encoder housing which is easy to maintain. Background Art

[0002] An encoder is a device that encodes signals or data according to certain rules. It is widely used in the fields of communications, computers, automation, etc. The encoder housing is an important component of the encoder. Its main function is to protect the internal sensitive components from the influence of the external environment and ensure the normal operation of the sensor. Its performance directly affects the overall performance of the encoder. The encoder housing in the prior art generally adopts a closed design. Although the closed design can improve the reliability of the encoder to a certain extent, the existing encoder sealing design cannot completely isolate dust, droplets and other pollutants from entering the interior. During long-term operation, due to problems such as internal heat accumulation, dust entry and moisture penetration, the encoder performance will be reduced, greatly affecting the service life of the encoder.

[0003] After the encoder has been running for a long time, it is necessary to maintain the encoder in time to remove the heat, moisture, dust and other pollutants in the encoder housing to prevent pollutants from causing internal components to become damp, accumulate dust, and overheat, thereby affecting its normal operation. Equipment that has been in a humid and high-temperature environment for a long time may also be corroded, and is prone to deformation, cracking and other problems.

[0004] The typical protection mode of the existing encoder housing consists of "spindle + oil seal + housing + flange", which cannot be maintained or cleaned without disassembly. Even if disassembly maintenance is performed, the oil seal and other sealing structures will inevitably be damaged, seriously affecting the sealing of the encoder, which is not worth the loss. At the same time, the cost of disassembly maintenance is high, and the disassembly process is complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, at present, the encoder is usually only cooled on the outside, and no special treatment is performed for pollutants entering the inside. When the encoder is contaminated, it is usually replaced with a new one, which greatly reduces the service life of the encoder. Utility Model Content

[0005] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the utility model provides an encoder housing that is easy to maintain. Gas can be introduced into the exhaust holes on the housing to remove pollutants inside the encoder and achieve a cooling effect. In addition, the exhaust holes can also be used to maintain air pressure balance during encoder assembly to avoid unevenness inside and outside the encoder, which affects encoder assembly. After the encoder is assembled, an air tightness test can also be performed through the exhaust holes. A sealing plug and a sealing cover are also provided, which not only play the role of the exhaust holes, but also ensure the air tightness of the encoder during operation.

[0006] The encoder housing provided by the utility model is easy to maintain and comprises: an exhaust hole, a sealing plug and a sealing cover;

[0007] Two exhaust holes of different heights are arranged on the side of the encoder housing, and a threaded tube extends outward from the exhaust hole, and the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface of the threaded tube are both tapped with threads;

[0008] The outer surface of the sealing plug is tapped with an external thread matching the inner diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe, and the maximum diameter of the sealing plug is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the threaded pipe; the sealing plug and the inner diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe are screwed tightly to form a primary seal of the exhaust hole;

[0009] The inner surface of the sealing cover is tapped with an internal thread matched with the outer diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe, and the sealing cover and the outer diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe are screwed tightly to form a secondary seal of the exhaust hole.

[0010] Preferably, the sealing plug is made of elastic material.

[0011] Preferably, the sealing plug is made of rubber material.

[0012] Preferably, the front end outer diameter of the sealing plug is equal to the inner diameter of the threaded tube, and the outer diameter of the sealing plug increases from the front end to the rear end, and the sealing plug is screwed into the inner diameter of the threaded tube by utilizing the elastic deformation of the sealing plug.

[0013] Preferably, when the encoder is assembled, two exhaust holes are opened and gas is introduced into one exhaust hole to maintain the encoder.

[0014] Preferably, when the encoder is assembled, one or two exhaust holes are opened to maintain the air pressure balance inside and outside the encoder housing.

[0015] Preferably, after the encoder is assembled, an exhaust hole is opened, the exhaust hole is evacuated, and the air tightness of the encoder is tested.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the utility model can achieve the following beneficial effects:

[0017] The utility model provides two exhaust holes on the encoder housing, through which internal moisture, dust and other impurities can be effectively discharged, so as to keep the precision parts inside the encoder clean, prevent moisture or dust accumulation from affecting the normal operation of the encoder, avoid corrosion to internal parts, and thus improve measurement accuracy; when the encoder is operated for a long time in a high-temperature environment, cold air can be introduced into the encoder through the exhaust holes, so as to achieve efficient cooling of the encoder, reduce internal heat accumulation, help avoid aging of components caused by long-term high-temperature operation, and extend the service life of the equipment; in addition, when the exhaust holes are not needed to play a role, the sealing structure of the exhaust holes is optimized, and double sealing of the exhaust holes can be achieved through the sealing plugs and the sealing covers, and the structure of the sealing plugs is specially designed, and while the exhaust holes are provided, the influence of the exhaust holes on the air tightness of the encoder is also avoided. After testing, after the sealing plugs and the sealing covers are assembled, the protection level of the encoder can reach IP64.

[0018] When assembling the encoder housing, the presence of the exhaust hole allows the air inside and outside the encoder to circulate without being affected by pressure changes, thus preventing the housing installation process from being affected by uneven air pressure and causing the installation accuracy to be affected. In addition, when the internal air pressure of the encoder is too high due to temperature rise, the exhaust hole can balance the pressure inside and outside the encoder by unscrewing the sealing plug and sealing cover, thus ensuring the stable operation of the encoder.

[0019] After the encoder housing is assembled, only one exhaust hole can be opened for vacuum testing, thereby achieving overall air tightness testing of the encoder oil seal, curved seal and other sealing structures. Compared with traditional testing methods, the design of the exhaust hole greatly improves the convenience of air tightness testing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of an encoder housing without a sealing plug and a sealing cover installed according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of an encoder housing with a sealing plug installed separately according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0022] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of an encoder housing with a sealing plug and a sealing cover installed according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0023] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sealing plug provided according to an embodiment of the utility model;

[0024] Figure 5 It is a structural schematic diagram of a sealing cover provided according to an embodiment of the utility model.

[0025] Reference numerals include:

[0026] Exhaust hole 1, threaded pipe 2, sealing plug 3, sealing cover 4, external thread 31, hexagonal groove 32, internal thread 41. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present utility model will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same modules are represented by the same reference numerals. In the case of the same reference numerals, their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[0028] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the utility model more clear, the utility model is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described here are only used to explain the utility model and do not constitute a limitation of the utility model.

[0029] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the embodiment of the utility model provides an encoder housing that is easy to maintain. Two exhaust holes 1 of different heights are set on the side of the encoder housing. The different heights of the two exhaust holes 1 can ensure that when the exhaust holes 1 are ventilated, a chimney effect is formed, which promotes the circulation rate of the gas inside the encoder and improves the pollutant removal and cooling efficiency. The number of exhaust holes 1 is not limited to 2, and multiple exhaust holes can also be set, but usually, 2 exhaust holes 1 can meet the needs. In this embodiment, only two exhaust holes are shown. The opening direction of the two exhaust holes 1 needs to be conducive to the flow of gas inside the encoder. The opening direction is toward the inside of the encoder cavity, not toward the rotating axis of the encoder. This design can ensure that when the exhaust holes 1 are ventilated, the flowing gas can drive the pollutants at all positions inside the encoder to flow as much as possible. The two exhaust holes 1 can also be designed with different opening sizes. When the opening sizes are different, ventilation should be carried out through the large-sized exhaust hole 1, so that the gas is discharged from the small-sized exhaust hole 1, so as to improve the gas flowability and the efficiency of taking away pollutants.

[0030] Since the encoder is a high-precision speed and displacement sensor, its core optoelectronic components need to be protected from contamination as much as possible. Therefore, the embodiment of the utility model also provides the exhaust hole 1 with a sealing plug 3 and a sealing cover 4 for sealing the exhaust hole 1, and in order to cooperate with the sealing plug 3 and the sealing cover 4 to seal the exhaust hole 1, a threaded tube 2 is also extended outward from the outer edge of the exhaust hole 1. The threaded tube 2 is made as one piece with the encoder housing, and the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface of the threaded tube 2 are both tapped with threads to facilitate double protection of the exhaust hole 1.

[0031] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, the sealing plug 3 is in the shape of a bolt as a whole, and an external thread 31 is tapped on the outer surface of the sealing plug 3. The external thread 31 matches the thread of the inner diameter surface of the threaded pipe 2. The sealing plug 3 can be screwed into the inner diameter of the threaded pipe 2 through thread engagement to achieve a one-time sealing of the exhaust hole 1. In order to improve the sealing effect, the embodiment of the utility model makes a special design for the material and structure of the sealing plug 1. First, the sealing plug 3 needs to be made of elastic material so that it has good deformation ability during the process of screwing into the threaded pipe 2. Usually, rubber material can be selected. In addition, the outer diameter of the front end of the sealing plug 3 (i.e., the end that starts to be screwed into the threaded pipe 2) is designed to be equal to the inner diameter of the threaded pipe 2, or to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the threaded pipe 2. The outer diameter of the sealing plug 3 increases from the front end to the tail end (the end of the external thread 31), that is, the diameter of the thread of the tail end of the sealing plug 3 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the threaded pipe 2. During the screwing process of the sealing plug 3, the sealing plug 3 is squeezed by the threaded pipe 2 to force the sealing plug 3 to continuously deform and deform, thereby enhancing the sealing of the exhaust hole 1. In order to facilitate the screwing in of the sealing plug 3 , a hexagonal groove 32 may usually be opened on the head of the sealing plug 3 , and the sealing plug 3 may be screwed in using a hexagonal screwdriver.

[0032] like Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, on the basis of the sealing plug 3, the embodiment of the utility model further provides a sealing cover 4 to perform secondary sealing on the exhaust hole 1. The sealing cover 4 is a cap-shaped structure, and its inner surface is tapped with an internal thread 41 that matches the outer diameter surface thread of the threaded tube 2. The sealing cover 4 is screwed on the outer diameter of the threaded tube 2 through thread engagement to achieve secondary sealing of the exhaust hole 1. In order to ensure that the sealing cover 4 can completely wrap the threaded tube 2 and the sealing plug 3, it is required that the maximum diameter of the sealing plug 3 is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the threaded tube 2, that is, the head of the sealing plug 3 can be accommodated in the sealing cover 4. The material of the sealing cover 4 can be metal or non-metallic elastic material.

[0033] When the exhaust hole 1 is not needed, the exhaust hole 1 is sealed by using the sealing plug 3 and the sealing cover 4 , which has almost no effect on the sealing performance compared to the encoder housing without the exhaust hole 1 .

[0034] The main functions of the exhaust hole 1 include: passing gas to remove pollutants inside the encoder and perform regular maintenance on the encoder; passing cold air to quickly cool the encoder in a high-temperature working environment; maintaining the air pressure balance inside and outside the encoder housing when assembling the encoder to facilitate the installation of the encoder housing; after the encoder is assembled, the air tightness of the encoder is tested through the exhaust hole 1. Combined with the structure of the encoder housing, the use of the exhaust hole 1 is described in detail as follows:

[0035] When maintaining the encoder, unscrew the sealing plugs 3 and sealing covers 4 on the two exhaust holes 1, keep the two exhaust holes 1 in an open state, and introduce high-speed gas into any one of the exhaust holes 1. Usually, relatively clean and dry air or nitrogen can be used. The airflow is used to drive pollutants such as moisture and dust to flow out from the other exhaust hole 1, so as to achieve the purpose of cleaning pollutants such as moisture and dust inside the encoder.

[0036] When cooling the encoder, the specific process is the same as the encoder maintenance process, the only difference is that it is necessary to continuously introduce low-temperature gas into the exhaust hole 1.

[0037] When assembling the encoder, before installing the encoder housing, at least one exhaust hole 1 must not have a sealing plug 3 and a sealing cover 4 screwed in. The exhaust hole 1 is used to maintain the balance of the internal and external air pressures of the encoder housing to avoid the internal air pressure hindering the installation of the encoder housing during installation or the imbalance of the internal and external air pressures of the encoder after installation.

[0038] After the encoder is assembled, it is necessary to perform an airtightness test on the encoder. Unscrew the sealing plug 3 and the sealing cover 4 on any exhaust hole 1, and evacuate the exhaust hole 1 with a vacuum pump to determine the airtightness of the encoder.

[0039] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. A person skilled in the art may change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0040] The above specific implementation methods of the utility model do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the utility model. Any other corresponding changes and modifications made according to the technical concept of the utility model should be included in the protection scope of the claims of the utility model.

Claims

1. An encoder housing that is easy to maintain, characterized in that: include: Vent holes, sealing plugs and sealing covers; Two exhaust holes of different heights are provided on the side of the encoder housing, a threaded tube extends outward from the exhaust hole, and the inner diameter surface and the outer diameter surface of the threaded tube are both tapped with threads; The outer surface of the sealing plug is tapped with an external thread matched with the inner diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe, and the maximum diameter of the sealing plug is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the threaded pipe; the sealing plug is screwed tightly with the inner diameter surface thread of the threaded pipe to form a primary seal of the exhaust hole; The inner surface of the sealing cover is tapped with an internal thread matched with the thread of the outer diameter surface of the threaded pipe. The sealing cover is screwed tightly with the thread of the outer diameter surface of the threaded pipe to provide a secondary seal for the exhaust hole.

2. The encoder housing for easy maintenance according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front end outer diameter of the sealing plug is equal to the inner diameter of the threaded tube, and the outer diameter of the sealing plug increases from the front end to the rear end. The sealing plug is screwed into the inner diameter of the threaded tube by utilizing the elastic deformation of the sealing plug.