Electric Actuator Housing Split Design for Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of the internal structure in existing electric actuators leads to increased costs and assembly complications due to the need for multiple cylindrical cases and extensive sealing, making it difficult to ensure the quality of coupled components during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The electric actuator features a housing split into two bodies parallel to the axial direction of the rotary member, allowing for simplified assembly and reduced costs by minimizing the number of sealing surfaces and enabling visual confirmation of component coupling, with a backup member improving the accuracy and roundness of bearing surfaces and supporting raceway surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple cylindrical cases are used to accommodate components, then each component can be incorporated inside the housing, but the housing structure becomes complicated and requires extensive sealing means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple cylindrical cases (motor case, reduction gear case, transmission gear case, bearing case, shaft case) into a single integrated housing structure. This merging eliminates the need for multiple mating surfaces and extensive sealing means, thereby simplifying the housing structure while maintaining the ability to accommodate all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The single housing structure serves multiple functions: it accommodates the electric motor, motion conversion mechanism, and various bearings; provides structural support; and maintains rotational accuracy. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate specialized cases for each component.
2Ease of manufacture
If multiple cylindrical cases are assembled together, then components can be incorporated, but the assembling work becomes complicated and quality checking is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating multiple cases into a single housing, the assembly process is simplified from assembling multiple separate cases to installing components directly into one housing structure. This eliminates the complexity of coordinating multiple assembly operations and quality checks across different case interfaces.
3Reliability
If sealing means are provided on multiple mating surfaces, then water intrusion is prevented, but cost and man-hours increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple mating surfaces by combining cases into a single housing structure, thereby reducing the number of sealing locations from multiple interfaces to minimal or no external seals. This maintains sealing performance while significantly reducing the cost and man-hours associated with providing and installing sealing means.
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
This design reduces costs and improves assemblability by simplifying the housing structure, enhancing the accuracy of bearing surfaces, and ensuring the quality of the coupled components, while maintaining the rotational accuracy of the rotary member.
Implementation Method 1
an annular radial bearing that supports an outer peripheral surface of the rotary member
Implementation Method 2
a motion conversion mechanism that has a rotary member rotatably driven by the electric motor and a linear motion member screwed with the rotary member, and converts a rotary motion of the rotary member into a linear motion of the linear motion member
Data Source
AI summary
An electric actuator 1 includes: an electric motor 10; a first motion conversion mechanism 20 that has a screw shaft 21 rotatably driven by the electric motor 10 and a nut 22 screwed with the screw shaft 21, and converts a rotary motion of the screw shaft 21 into a linear motion of the nut 22; and a housing 40 accommodating the electric motor 10 and the motion conversion mechanism 20. The housing 40 includes a pair of housing split bodies 41 and 42 split by a plane parallel to an axial direction of the screw shaft 21.