Electric Actuator Gear Alignment and Thermal Dissipation Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric actuators lack robustness in vibration resistance and service life performance due to imperfect guidance of the mechanical reduction gear, inadequate thermal management, and inability to dissipate thermal energy effectively, making them unsuitable for high ambient temperatures and operating loads.
Innovation Solution
An electric actuator design featuring a housing, intermediate plate, and cover with centering pins and guide surfaces, including cylindrical and clear centering devices, to ensure precise alignment and guidance, combined with a single sealing gasket for tightness, and thermal paste for improved heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an intermediate plate is added between the motor and reduction gear, then guidance and thermal dissipation improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate plate is introduced between the motor and the mechanical reduction gear to serve multiple functions: providing precise guidance for the reduction gear shafts through guide surfaces, enabling thermal dissipation for the printed circuit board through thermal contact, and facilitating proper alignment through centering pins. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by improving reliability without requiring complete redesign of the existing motor and gear components.
2Volume of moving object
If the printed circuit is positioned between the motor and reduction gear, then compactness is achieved, but thermal management capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate plate serves as a thermal intermediary by providing a thermally conductive path between the printed circuit board and the motor housing or ground. The printed circuit board maintains its compact position between the motor and reduction gear, while the intermediate plate's thermal properties enable effective heat dissipation, thus resolving the contradiction between compactness and thermal management.
3Manufacturing precision
If centering pins with multiple centering holes are used, then alignment precision improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering pins are designed with multiple centering holes that can accommodate different centering requirements for various components (motor, intermediate plate, reduction gear). This multi-functional design allows a single centering pin component to provide precise alignment across multiple interfaces, improving manufacturing precision while avoiding the need for multiple different centering components, thus balancing precision with manufacturing ease.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design enhances mechanical robustness, allows operation in high-temperature environments, and improves thermal management, ensuring reliable performance and extended service life.
Implementation Method 1
thermal paste for improved heat dissipation
Data Source
AI summary
An electric actuator comprises a housing, an electric motor comprising a wound stator and a rotor mounted on a shaft, a printed circuit for powering the stator, an intermediate plate, a mechanical reduction gear driven by the rotor and comprising toothed wheels mounted on axes, a cover and two centering pins. The motor is housed in a cavity of the housing, which guides one end of the shaft. The printed circuit is located above the stator. The intermediate plate is located above the circuit. The cover is located above the intermediate plate. The reduction gear is housed in a cavity of the cover, which guides one end of each axis. The intermediate plate guides the other end of the shaft and of the axes. Three pairs of centering holes receive the centering pins. The housing comprises a single sealing gasket positioned at the interface between the housing and the cover.