Claw-Coupled Spindle Drive for Compact Thermal Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing linear drives are not compact enough and require separate enclosures for components, leading to inefficiencies and increased part counts.
Innovation Solution
A spindle drive system where an electric motor is connected to a threaded spindle via a claw clutch, with a centering seat on the rotor shaft to integrate the clutch and reduce part count, utilizing a fixed bearing and an intermediate part made of elastic material for thermal compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a separate housing is used for the motor and spindle drive, then component protection and ease of assembly are improved, but device volume and part count increase
Solution Approach 1:
The motor housing and spindle drive housing are merged into a single integrated housing structure. The motor rotor shaft extends directly through the housing to connect to the threaded spindle, eliminating the need for separate housings and reducing overall device volume while maintaining assembly simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single housing serves multiple functions: it houses the motor, supports the rotor shaft bearing, protects the threaded spindle, and provides structural support for the entire assembly. This multi-functional design reduces part count while improving manufacturing efficiency.
2Strength
If a rigid coupling is used between motor and spindle, then mechanical rigidity is improved, but thermal compensation capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling material's thermal expansion parameter is changed by selecting a material with thermal expansion coefficient matching both the motor rotor shaft and threaded spindle. This allows the coupling to expand and contract with temperature changes while maintaining mechanical rigidity and proper alignment.
3Manufacturing precision
If precision centering is achieved through multiple separate components, then centering accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering functions are merged into the coupling component itself. The coupling's precisely machined bore provides the centering seat for the rotor shaft, and its outer diameter provides the centering surface for the threaded spindle, achieving high centering accuracy in a single component rather than through multiple separate alignment features.
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 results in a compact, integrated drive with reduced heat loss and fewer parts, allowing for precise centering and thermal compensation, while maintaining mechanical rigidity and adaptability for various drive variants.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling compensates for thermal expansion and contraction of the rotor shaft and threaded spindle
Data Source
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AI summary
Linear drive, having a spindle drive which can be driven by an electric motor via a clutch, wherein the electric motor has a rotor shaft which is rotatably mounted by means of a bearing, wherein the spindle drive has a threaded spindle which is connected, in particular in a rotationally secured manner, to the rotor shaft by means of the clutch, wherein a clutch part of the clutch is connected in a rotationally secured manner to the threaded spindle and has claw sections, there being formed, on the rotor shaft, claw sections which are in engagement, via an interposed intermediate part, with the claw sections of the clutch part.