Brush Device Adjustable Commutation Angle Starter Motor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor vehicle starters have a fixed switching angle that does not adapt to variations in power and direction of rotation of the combustion engine, leading to suboptimal electrical operation.

Innovation Solution

A brush device with adjustable switching angles, achieved through notches on the support that receive lugs from the rotary electrical machine, allowing for multiple predetermined angular offsets between the brush and magnet axes, enabling adaptation to different power levels and rotation directions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a fixed switching angle is used in the brush device, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the electrical operation is suboptimal for different power levels and rotation directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support is segmented with multiple notches (first notch, second notch, third notch, fourth notch) arranged at different angular positions. Each notch corresponds to a predetermined switching angle, allowing the brush holder assembly to be positioned at different angles by engaging with different notches, thus providing adaptability for different power levels and rotation directions while maintaining a simple overall structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The brush device is designed with multi-functionality to serve different applications. The support can engage with the cylinder head through different notches to achieve different switching angles, making a single brush device adaptable to various power levels and rotation directions, eliminating the need for multiple specialized devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple predetermined switching angles are provided, then the adaptability to different power levels and rotation directions is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple switching angle options are merged into a single support structure. The first, second, third, and fourth notches are integrated into one support, allowing the brush holder assembly to engage with any of the notches to achieve different predetermined switching angles, thereby providing adaptability without requiring separate devices for each angle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2446136B1Brush device for a rotating electric machine, in particular a starter for the combustion engine of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2015.05.20 VALEO EQUIP ELECTRIC MOTEUR
  • EP2446136B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2446136B1 patent drawingFigure 2~9
  • EP2446136B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a brush device (50) for a rotating electric machine having magnets, in particular a starter for a motor vehicle combustion engine, this device (50) comprising means for adapting an angle of commutation (α1) of the rotating electric machine, this angle of commutation (α1) corresponding to an angular offset between a geometrical axis of a brush (13) of the device (50) and a geometrical axis of one of the rotating electric machine's magnets associated with this brush (50), these geometrical axes passing through an axis of rotation (X) of the rotating electric machine and in which the means for adapting the angle of commutation (α) are able to select an angle of commutation (α) from among several predetermined angles of commutation (α1, α2).