Cage Rotor Conductor Bars with Annealed Sections for Vibration Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Squirrel cage rotors in asynchronous machines face challenges with conductor bar oscillation and inefficient copper filling, leading to long production times, potential metal chip formation, and reduced operational reliability, especially at high speeds and torque applications.

Innovation Solution

Conductor bars with sections of lower hardness are achieved through soft annealing or brief inductive heating, allowing for axial compression and creation of defined contact points within the grooves, which prevents oscillation and ensures a high copper filling factor.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conductor bars are inserted with tight tolerances to prevent vibration, then vibration prevention is improved, but manufacturing time increases due to lengthy insertion processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor bars are pre-annealed at specific sections before insertion to reduce hardness and facilitate easier insertion. This preliminary softening action enables the bars to be inserted without excessive force while still achieving secure fixation, thereby reducing manufacturing time without compromising vibration prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Only specific sections of the conductor bars (the insertion ends) are annealed to reduce hardness, while the remaining portions maintain their original hardness. This localized quality change allows easy insertion at the annealed sections while preserving the mechanical strength and vibration resistance of the unannealed sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conductor bars are hammered in with force to ensure secure fixation, then fixation reliability is improved, but metal shavings are produced that can block or impair operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidmetal shavings
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The hardness parameter of the conductor bar insertion sections is changed through annealing, reducing it from a hard state to a softer state. This parameter change enables the bars to be inserted with minimal force, preventing the generation of metal shavings while still achieving reliable fixation through the controlled deformation of the softened material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If clearance fit is used for easy insertion, then ease of manufacture is improved, but conductor bars vibrate during operation due to gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsertion easeVSAvoidvibration prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor bars are pre-annealed at the insertion sections to create a temporary soft state that facilitates easy insertion with clearance fit. After insertion, the bars are mechanically deformed (upset) to create interference fit, transforming the clearance fit advantage into a reliable vibration-free operation state

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If copper rods are used for high electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is improved, but slot filling is incomplete requiring additional materials

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidslot filling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conductor bars are designed with localized annealed sections only at the insertion ends, while the main body portions maintain their high electrical conductivity without annealing. This local quality differentiation allows the bars to be easily inserted while preserving the electrical conductivity required for high-performance operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively reduces conductor bar oscillations, simplifies production, and enhances the asynchronous machine's performance across a wide speed range and torque applications by ensuring secure conductor bar fixation without compromising rotor strength.

Implementation Method 1

This is achieved by annealing, brief inductive heating, or heating with a flame at these points on the conductor bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnnealing: Annealing

Implementation Method 2

brief inductive heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInductive heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 3

heating with a flame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4029133B1Cage rotor and method for its production
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 INNOMOTICS GMBH
  • EP4029133B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4029133B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4029133B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a conductor rod (9) of a cage rotor (8) of an asynchronous machine (5), said conductor rod having in its longitudinal extension at predefined sections (11) a lower hardness and is in particular soft-annealed.