Electric Hydraulic Actuator Radial Gap O-Ring Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric hydraulic actuators face inefficiencies due to misalignment between the rotating shaft and drive gear, leading to reduced mechanical efficiency and increased cost and size due to the need for precise alignment and additional components like couplings.
Innovation Solution
An electric hydraulic actuator design where the rotating shaft of the electric motor is directly inserted into the drive gear without a coupling, with a radial gap between the motor and pump housings, utilizing an O-ring for elastic support to allow for accurate alignment and reduce misalignment, and a linkage pin for reliable rotation transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the rotating shaft is directly inserted into the drive gear without a coupling, then the device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but misalignment occurs between the rotating shaft and drive gear reducing mechanical efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a coupling mechanism as an intermediary component between the rotating shaft and drive gear. This coupling allows for flexible connection that accommodates misalignment while still transmitting rotational motion effectively, thus resolving the contradiction between simplified structure and maintained mechanical efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the connection parameters by introducing adjustable coupling elements that can compensate for positional deviations. By changing the connection from rigid direct insertion to flexible coupled connection, the system maintains high mechanical efficiency even with simplified overall structure.
2Loss of energy
If precise positional alignment is performed between the rotating shaft and drive gear, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling acts as a mediator that absorbs alignment errors, allowing the rotating shaft and drive gear to be connected without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances. This maintains high mechanical efficiency while reducing manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism provides pre-designed compensation for potential misalignment issues. By incorporating this cushioning mechanism in advance, the system prevents efficiency losses without requiring ultra-precise manufacturing, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and manufacturing cost.
3Loss of energy
If a coupling is used to transmit rotation from the electric motor to the drive gear, then misalignment is suppressed and mechanical efficiency is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a coupling as an intermediary component that provides the necessary alignment compensation while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This coupling is designed to be straightforward in construction, thus improving mechanical efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 improves mechanical efficiency by reducing misalignment, lowers production costs by eliminating the need for couplings and complex alignment requirements, and simplifies assembly while maintaining high processing accuracy of components.
Implementation Method 1
an O-ring elastic support provided for the motor housing with respect to the pump housing in the radial direction of the rotating shaft
Data Source
AI summary
An electric hydraulic actuator is provided with an electric motor and a gear pump driven in rotation by the electric motor. The electric motor includes a motor housing and a rotating shaft supported by the motor housing so as to be freely rotatable. The gear pump has a drive gear into which the rotating shaft of the electric motor is inserted and a driven gear meshed with the drive gear. A pump housing is configured to accommodate the drive gear and the driven gear on one end and has an installation concave portion open at the other end for accommodating part of the motor housing. The motor housing is attached to the pump housing with a gap formed between the motor housing and the pump housing in a radial direction of the rotating shaft. The gap includes an O-ring to elastically support the motor housing in the radial direction.