Buckling Loop Rotary Motor Eliminates Gearing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motors used to actuate mechanisms like control valves require reduction gearing, which adds complexity and is prone to failure in harsh environments, making a gearless, compact, and simple electrically-driven rotary motor with suitable speeds and torques desirable.
Innovation Solution
A buckling loop rotary motor with a rigid stator and an activatable buckling loop, where the buckling loop is made of a combination of a springy base band and an active band, driven by a stimulus causing localized curvature changes that propagate to rotate the rotor, with the direction of rotation controlled by activating specific portions of the loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing electric motors are used to actuate mechanisms, then rotational motion is achieved, but reduction gearing is required which adds complexity and reduces reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the reduction gearing subsystem from the motor system. By designing a motor that directly produces the required rotational speed and torque without gear mechanisms, the patent removes the complex and failure-prone gearing components while maintaining the necessary actuation performance for control valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical gear reduction system with an electroactive polymer-based direct-drive mechanism. The EAP material converts electrical energy directly into mechanical deformation and rotational motion, substituting the multi-component mechanical gearing system with a simpler, more reliable solid-state actuation mechanism.
2Speed
If reduction gearing is added to match motor speed to mechanism requirements, then speed matching is achieved, but the system becomes more complex and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental operating parameters of the motor system by using electroactive polymer materials that can be controlled to produce direct rotational motion at the required speed and torque. This eliminates the need for speed reduction gearing while maintaining compatibility with the actuation mechanism's speed requirements through material property selection and actuation frequency control.
3Productivity
If gear mechanisms are used to match motor speed, then speed compatibility is achieved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electroactive polymer motor system is designed to self-regulate its output characteristics to match the load requirements without external gear mechanisms. The EAP material's inherent properties and control system enable the motor to directly provide the appropriate speed and torque for valve actuation, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating the need for additional speed-matching components.
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 buckling loop rotary motor achieves compact, lightweight, and gearless operation, suitable for actuating mechanical mechanisms, with reversible rotation by using heating and cooling elements or electroactive materials, enhancing torque and efficiency without the need for gearing.
Implementation Method 1
The loop may have an active and a base material, and may be bi-metallic... in response to an actuating stimulus, a portion of the first, active material expands in length more than the second, base band material
Implementation Method 2
an active material that may be a shape memory alloy (SMA)... in response to an actuating stimulus, a portion of the first, active material expands in length more than the second, base band material
Implementation Method 3
an active material that may be a bi-morph piezoelectric polymer (PVDF)... in response to an actuating stimulus, a portion of the first, active material expands in length more than the second, base band material
Implementation Method 4
an active material that may be an electroactive polymer (EAP)... in response to an actuating stimulus, a portion of the first, active material expands in length more than the second, base band material
Implementation Method 5
an active material that may be... a magneto-restrictive material... in response to an actuating stimulus, a portion of the first, active material expands in length more than the second, base band material
Data Source
AI summary
A buckling loop rotary motor is disclosed that has a stator, an activatable buckling loop and a rotor. The buckling loop is made of a springy, base band and an activatable active band. An applied force actuates a portion of loop, causing a localized change of curvature. When propagated along the buckling loop, the changed curvature causes rotation of the rotor. In a bi-metallic embodiment, the thermally actuated active band expands by at least 1% more than the base band, effect a localized change of curvature that drives the rotor. Thermal activation is by heating or cooling, or a combination thereof. In an electroactive polymer (EAP), the active acrylic or silicone EAP is actuated by an electrostatic charge. The change in thickness, and therefore, length, of the active EAP relative to the inactive, base material causes a local change of curvature of the loop that drives rotation of the rotor.