Actuator Vibration Filtering via Segmented Couplings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electromechanical actuators for solar protection installations experience noise due to vibrations and suffer from creep or relaxation in elastic couplings, leading to angular position shifts and visually perceptible offsets between screens.

Innovation Solution

The actuator design incorporates a motor assembly with rigid transmission couplings and elastic modules, allowing movement perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, which limits displacement and prevents direct contact between the motor assembly and the casing, while using Oldham or Schmidt joints to filter vibrations, eliminating the need for torsionally elastic elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If elastic couplings are used to connect the motor assembly, then vibration isolation is achieved, but creep and relaxation occur leading to angular position shifts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidangular position accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration isolation function is segmented from the torque transmission function. The rigid coupling provides pure torque transmission while a separate elastic element (spring or damper) handles vibration isolation, eliminating the creep issue inherent in elastic couplings that combine both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An intermediary elastic element (spring or damper) is introduced between the motor assembly and the rigid coupling. This mediator absorbs vibrations without being part of the torque transmission path, preventing angular position shifts while still providing vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If rigid transmission couplings are used, then angular position accuracy is maintained, but vibrations are transmitted to the housing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangular position accuracyVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An intermediary elastic element (spring or damper) is placed between the motor assembly and the rigid coupling to absorb vibrations before they reach the housing, while the rigid coupling itself maintains angular position accuracy for torque transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses different coupling characteristics at different locations: a rigid coupling at the torque transmission interface to maintain angular accuracy, and a localized elastic element (spring or damper) at the vibration source to isolate vibrations from the housing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If elastic modules are added to limit motor assembly displacement, then vibration filtering is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidactuator structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic element's parameters (stiffness, damping coefficient) are optimized to provide effective vibration filtering with minimal displacement limitation, achieving the desired vibration isolation without excessive complexity in the actuator structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution effectively reduces noise and prevents angular position shifts, ensuring precise alignment and operation of solar protection screens by cutting off radial vibrations and maintaining torsional rigidity, thus enhancing the reliability and performance of the actuator.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic module limiting the displacement of the motor assembly along the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electromechanical actuator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

having at least one first degree of freedom perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electromechanical actuator, allowing displacement of the motor assembly along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical coupling with degrees of freedom:

Implementation Method 3

a first mechanical vibration filtering module, a second mechanical vibration filtering module... each comprising a rigid transmission coupling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration filtering: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3870795B1Electromechanical home-automation actuator
Publication Date: 2023.05.17 SOMFY ACTIVITES SA
  • EP3870795B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3870795B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3870795B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to an electromechanical actuator (11) for a closure, obscuring or solar protection installation (6), the electromechanical actuator (11) comprising a motor assembly (16), comprising an electric motor (261) and a reduction gearbox (265), a first mechanical module (33) for filtering vibrations, a second mechanical module (133) for filtering vibrations, and an output shaft (20), which are inserted at least partially in a casing (17) of the electromechanical actuator (11), the electromechanical actuator (11) extending along a longitudinal axis (X), the first and the second mechanical modules (33, 133) for filtering vibrations being disposed on either side of the motor assembly (16) along the longitudinal axis (X) and each comprising a rigid transmission coupling, which has at least a first degree of freedom perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis (X) of the electromechanical actuator (11), allowing the motor assembly (16) to move along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the electromechanical actuator (11), the electromechanical actuator also comprising at least one elastic module (130) that limits the movement of the motor assembly (16) along the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X) of the electromechanical actuator (11).