Vortex device

Abstract

The utility model relates to eddy current equipment. The eddy current equipment comprises a stator and a rotor, the stator comprises an annular support (14) provided with pole bodies (16), induction coils disposed around the pole bodies, and pole shoes (22) each attached to an end of each pole body. The rotor includes at least one induction cylinder positioned facing the pole shoes. The stator includes a spacer (20) disposed between the pole body (16) and the pole shoe (22).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to an eddy current device, in particular to an electromagnetic retarder. Background Art

[0002] It has been observed that the rotor warps over time. In particular, after a certain number of operating cycles, the inner rotor diameter narrows or expands, and then stabilizes after a greater number of operating cycles. This plastic deformation is caused by heating of the rotor. A reduced inner rotor diameter leads to a risk of collision between the rotor and the stator, resulting in irreversible degradation of the retarder. An increased rotor diameter leads to irreversible degradation of the retarder performance.

[0003] Description of the Utility Model

[0004] The object of the utility model is to prevent the retarder and its performance from degrading due to rotor deformation. Summary of the Utility Model

[0005] The utility model relates to an eddy current device, which comprises a stator and a rotor capable of pivoting relative to the stator about a rotation axis,

[0006] The stator comprises:

[0007] - An annular support provided with pole bodies having respective axes perpendicular to the rotation axis, the pole bodies being distributed at regular intervals along a circle centered on the center of the rotation axis,

[0008] - Induction coils provided around the pole bodies, and

[0009] - Pole shoes respectively attached to the ends of each pole body;

[0010] And the rotor comprises at least one induction cylinder positioned facing the pole shoes,

[0011] It is characterized in that the stator further comprises at least one gasket, at least a part of which is arranged between at least one pole body and at least one pole shoe.

[0012] The features disclosed in the following paragraphs can be optionally implemented. They can be implemented independently of each other or in combination:

[0013] - The gasket has the shape of a strip.

[0014] - The thickness of the gasket is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably 1 mm.

[0015] - The eddy current device further comprises at least one washer mounted around at least one pole body; the at least one washer is inserted between at least one induction coil and at least one pole shoe.

[0016] - The eddy current device further includes at least one thermal protection plate, which is equipped with through holes and edges inclined towards the induction coil; the at least one thermal protection plate is arranged around the pole body.

[0017] - At least a part of at least one gasket is inserted between the at least one thermal protection plate and the pole shoe.

[0018] - At least one gasket has a cross-section, and the surface area of this cross-section is at least 30% larger than the surface area of the cross-section of the pole body; the cross-section is perpendicular to the axis of at least one pole body.

[0019] - The at least one thermal protection plate is arranged between at least one washer and the pole shoe.

[0020] - At least one gasket has a cross-section whose size is substantially equal to the cross-section of the pole body; the cross-section is perpendicular to the axis of at least one pole body.

[0021] - The at least one washer is made of a compressible material, such as silicone resin, spring steel or rubber. Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the rotor of an eddy current device according to the present utility model;

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the stator of an eddy current device according to the present utility model;

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an eddy current device according to the present utility model;

[0025] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stator body;

[0026] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a part of the stator without an induction coil of an eddy current device according to the first embodiment of the present utility model;

[0027] Figure 6 is a sectional view of a part of the stator of an eddy current device according to the second embodiment of the present utility model;

[0028] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the stator of an eddy current device according to the third embodiment of the present utility model;

[0029] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram showing the steps of an operation method of an eddy current device according to the present utility model. Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0030] The following will describe a preferred but non-limiting application of the eddy current device 2 according to the present utility model in an eddy current retarder.

[0031] The eddy current device 2 includes a rotor 4 and a stator 6. The rotor is connected to the drive shaft of a vehicle equipped with a retarder via an insert. The rotor 4 includes an induction cylinder portion 8, a hub 10, and a curved arm 12 that connects the induction cylinder portion to the hub. The hub is pivotable about a rotational axis X-X.

[0032] The stator 6 includes an annular support 14 that is attached to the vehicle's chassis or the vehicle's transmission housing by suitable means. The axis of the annular support 14 is coaxial with the rotational axis X-X. Referring Figure 2 and Figure 4 , the support 14 is provided with peripheral pole bodies 16.

[0033] The pole bodies 16 are distributed at regular intervals along a circle C centered on the center O of the rotational axis X. The pole bodies have respective axes Y perpendicular to the rotational axis X-X.

[0034] The stator 6 includes induction coils 18 arranged around the pole bodies. Each induction coil 18 includes a wire wound around the pole body. The winding direction of the wire alternates from one induction coil to the next along the circle C, thereby alternating the polarities of the induction coils. Each induction coil 18 is penetrated by the pole body of the axis Y.

[0035] The stator 6 further includes at least one spacer 20 and a pole shoe 22 attached to each pole body by at least one attachment screw 24. The spacer  20 and the pole shoe 22 are attached to the ends of each pole body 16 by at least one attachment screw 24.

[0036] In Figure 5 the first embodiment shown, the spacer 20 and the pole shoe 22 are provided with two through holes 26, 28. Each pole body 16 is also provided with two threaded holes 30 whose axes are parallel to the axis Y. Two attachment screws 24 pass through the hole openings 26 of the spacer and the hole openings 28 of the pole shoe and are connected in the threaded holes 30 of the pole body.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the spacer 20 is arranged between the pole body 16 and the pole shoe 22.

[0038] The spacer 20 has the shape of a strip. In particular, the spacer 20 has the shape of a flat cuboid.

[0039] The thickness of the spacer 20 is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm. Preferably, the thickness of the spacer is 1 mm. The spacer is made of an induction current conducting material, such as magnetic low-carbon steel.

[0040] A narrow gap E is arranged between the pole shoe 22 and the induction cylinder portion 8 of the rotor. When the rotor passes in front of the pole shoe 22, the magnetic flux passes through this gap E.

[0041] The pole shoe 22 serves to lock the induction coil 18 relative to the pole body 16.

[0042] The spacer 20 can compensate for potential deformations of the rotor resulting from a certain number of operating cycles of the retarder. For this purpose, the spacers can be removed or added to restore the initial dimension of the gap between the rotor and the pole shoe. After a certain number of operating cycles, the stator warps. When the stator warps, the operator can disassemble the rotor to access the stator. Then, the operator can unscrew the attachment screws 24, remove the spacer 20, and reconnect the pole shoe 22 to the pole body 16 using the attachment screws 24.

[0043] Figure 6 A side view showing a part of the eddy current device 32 according to the second embodiment is shown. The eddy current device according to this second embodiment is similar to the eddy current device according to the first embodiment and will not be described in full again. The technical elements of the eddy current device of the second embodiment that are the same as those of the eddy current device of the first embodiment include the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Only the different technical elements will be described.

[0044] In this second embodiment, the stator 6 further includes at least one washer 34 mounted around each pole body 16 and at least one thermal protection plate 36 arranged around each pole body 16.

[0045] The washer 34 is inserted between the induction coil 18 and the pole shoe 22. Preferably, the washer 34 is made of a compressible material such as silicone resin, spring steel or rubber. The washer is compressed during assembly to compensate for the tolerances of the stacked parts and to apply a certain compression to the induction coil to fix it to the annular support 14.

[0046] Each thermal protection plate 36 is arranged between the washer 34 and the pole shoe 22. The thermal protection plate 36 contacts the main inner surface of the pole shoe 22.

[0047] Each thermal protection plate 36 is equipped with a central opening 38 and an edge 40 inclined towards the induction coil. <N

[0048] The protection plate 36 is made of, for example, a non-magnetic stainless steel material or fiberglass.

[0049] In this embodiment, the spacer 37 has a specific size. In this second embodiment, the size of the cross-section of the spacer 37 is substantially equal to the cross-section size of the pole body 16. The cross-section of the spacer and the cross-section of the pole body considered here are cross-sections along a plane perpendicular to each axis Y of each polymer core 16. When the spacers are arranged on the pole body 16, they increase the height of the pole body.

[0050] As Figure 6As shown, the thermal protection plate 36 is disposed beside the spacer 37. The top surface of the thermal protection plate 36 is at the same distance from the center O as the top surface of the spacer 37. When the spacer 37 is removed, the washer 34 is compressed more than when the spacer 37 is present. Thus, when the spacer is removed, the washer is compressed such that the distance between the top surface of the thermal protection plate and the center O is the same as the distance between the top surface of the pole body and the center O.

[0051] Figure 7 Fig. 4 shows a side view of a part of the eddy current device 42 according to the third embodiment. The eddy current device according to this third embodiment is similar to the eddy current devices according to the first and second embodiments.

[0052] The eddy current device according to this third embodiment will not be described in full hereinafter. The technical elements of the eddy current device of the third embodiment that are the same as those of the eddy current devices of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals and will not be described again. Only the different technical elements will be described.

[0053] In this third embodiment, the stator 6 further includes at least one washer 34 mounted around each pole body 16 and at least one thermal protection plate 36 also mounted around each pole plate 16.

[0054] Refer to Figure 7 , the spacer 44 of this third embodiment is larger in size than the pole body 16. A part of the spacer 44 abuts on a part of the thermal protection plate 36.

[0055] In particular, the surface area of the cross-section of the spacer 44 is at least 30% larger than the cross-sectional surface area of the pole body 16. The cross-section is produced along a plane perpendicular to the pole body axis.

[0056] A part of the thermal protection plate 36 is disposed between the washer 34 and the pole shoe 22.

[0057] In this embodiment, the washer 34 is compressed during assembly to compensate for the tolerances of the part stack and to hold the induction coil 18 on the annular support 14.

[0058] Alternatively, several spacers are used instead of the spacer 20.

[0059] The method of operating an eddy current device mounted on the drive shaft of a vehicle will be described below. The eddy current device is a device formed with the features of the device according to the first, second or third embodiment described above.

[0060] Refer to Figure 8 , the method includes the following steps:

[0061] - Operating 46 the eddy current device during a plurality of operating cycles;

[0062] - Dismounting 48 the rotor relative to the drive shaft of the vehicle,

[0063] - Remove the 50 pole shoes and gaskets from the stator,

[0064] - Attach the pole shoes 52 to the pole body without gaskets, - Reassemble 54 the rotor on the drive shaft of the vehicle,

[0065] - Operate 56 the eddy current device.

Claims

1. Eddy current device (2, 32, 42) comprising a stator (6) and a rotor (4), said rotor (4) being pivotable relative to said stator about a rotation axis (XX), The stator (6) comprises: - an annular support (14) provided with polar bodies (16) having respective axes (Y) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (XX), the polar bodies (16) being distributed at regular intervals along a circle (C) centered on the center (O) of the axis of rotation (X), - an induction coil (18) arranged around the pole body, and - a pole shoe (22) attached to each end of each pole body; and a rotor (4) comprising at least one inductive cylinder (8), said inductive cylinder (8) being positioned facing said pole shoe (22), The stator is characterized in that the stator further comprises at least one spacer (20, 37, 44), at least a portion of the spacer (20, 37, 44) is arranged between the pole body (16) and the pole shoe (22).

2. The eddy current device (2, 32, 42) according to claim 1, characterized in that The spacers (20, 37, 44) have the shape of strips.

3. The eddy current device (2, 32, 42) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that The thickness of the spacer (20, 37, 44) is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm.

4. The eddy current device (32, 42) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising at least one washer (34) mounted around at least one pole body (16); the at least one washer (34) being inserted between at least one induction coil (18) and at least one pole shoe (22).

5. The eddy current device (32, 42) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising at least one heat protection plate (36) provided with a through hole (38) and an edge (40) inclined towards the induction coil; the at least one heat protection plate (36) being arranged around the pole body (16).

6. The eddy current device (42) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that It also includes at least one washer (34) and at least one thermal protection plate (36) mounted around at least one pole body (16), the at least one washer (34) being inserted between at least one induction coil (18) and at least one pole shoe (22), the at least one thermal protection plate (36) being provided with a through hole (38) and an edge (40) inclined towards the induction coil, the at least one thermal protection plate (36) being arranged around the pole body (16), and wherein at least a portion of the at least one washer (44) is inserted between the at least one thermal protection plate (36) and the pole shoe (22).

7. The eddy current device (42) according to claim 6, characterized in that The at least one spacer (44) has a cross section having a surface area at least 30% greater than a surface area of a cross section of the polar body (16); the cross section is perpendicular to an axis (Y) of the at least one polar body (16).

8. The eddy current device (32) according to claim 5, characterized in that The at least one heat protection plate (36) is disposed between the at least one gasket (34) and the pole piece (22).

9. The eddy current device (32) according to claim 6, characterized in that The at least one spacer (37) has a cross section substantially equal in size to the cross section of the polar body (16); the cross section is perpendicular to the axis (Y) of the at least one polar body (16).

10. The eddy current device (2, 32) according to claim 4, characterized in that The at least one gasket (34) is made of a compressible material, such as silicone, spring steel or rubber.

11. The eddy current device (2, 32, 42) according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that The thickness of the gasket (20, 37, 44) is 1 mm.

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