Cooling Unit Mounting Structure Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for reducing vibrations in cooling units of electrical machines are costly, complex, and provide limited enclosure protection, while also requiring high manufacturing tolerances and stages, which increases maintenance costs and restricts the protection of the cooling unit from dirt, dust, and water.

Innovation Solution

A mounting structure comprising a first and second frame with a damping device and an insulating fabric that forms a flexible connection between the frames, allowing for vibration reduction and tilt limitation while maintaining non-tensioned and non-load-bearing properties to prevent the transfer of forces and protect against environmental ingress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a sealing strip is used to block the gap between the cooling unit frame and the electrical machine frame, then enclosure protection is provided, but the installation is time-consuming and the obtainable enclosure protection is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenclosure protectionVSAvoidinstallation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing function and vibration damping function are merged into a single sealing strip component. The sealing strip comprises a damping portion made of vibration damping material and a sealing portion, integrating two previously separate functions (vibration isolation and sealing) into one element, thereby reducing installation time while providing both protection and damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing strip is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides vibration damping, sealing against dirt/dust/water, and mechanical connection between frames. This universal component replaces multiple separate elements (vibration dampers, sealing strips, mounting structures), reducing installation complexity and time while enhancing overall protection.

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

2Object-generated harmful factors

If vibration dampers are used to reduce vibrations, then vibration is reduced, but high tolerances are required for dimensioning due to the flexible sealing strip carrying loads and transferring vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoiddimensioning tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing strip uses composite construction with a damping portion made of vibration damping material (such as viscoelastic polymers or rubber compounds) combined with a sealing portion. This composite structure allows the same component to handle mechanical loads, provide sealing, and damp vibrations simultaneously, reducing the need for high precision dimensioning of separate vibration dampers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameters of the sealing strip by using vibration damping materials with specific viscoelastic properties. By selecting materials with appropriate damping characteristics, the sealing strip can effectively reduce vibrations without requiring tight dimensional tolerances, as the material properties compensate for manufacturing variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If multiple stages of manufacture are used for vibration reduction solutions, then vibration damping is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevibrationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges vibration damping, sealing, and structural connection functions into a single integrated sealing strip component. This eliminates the need for multiple separate parts (vibration dampers, sealing strips, mounting brackets) and reduces the number of manufacturing stages and assembly steps, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining effective vibration reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-functional sealing strip serves as both a vibration damping element and a sealing component, replacing multiple specialized parts. This universality simplifies the manufacturing process by reducing the variety of components that need to be produced and assembled, leading to cost savings while achieving the same or better vibration reduction performance.

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

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 simplifies manufacturing, reduces costs, and enhances protection against dirt, dust, and water, effectively reducing vibrations and noise in cooling units, thereby improving the overall performance and reliability of electrical machine cooling systems.

Implementation Method 1

at least one damping device... The damping device is forming a flexible connection between the first and the second frame... capable of limiting tilt between the first and the second frame

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

an insulating fabric configured to stay non-tensioned... The insulating fabric is non-load bearing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3210877B1A mounting structure in a cooling unit of an electrical machine and method for manufacturing mounting structure
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3210877B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3210877B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3210877B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

A mounting structure for a cooling unit of an electrical machine for reducing vibration. The mounting structure (1) comprises a first frame (2), a second frame (3), at least one damping device (4), and an insulating fabric (5) configured to stay non-tensioned. The damping device (4) and the insulating fabric (5) are fitted between the first (2) and the second frame (3). The damping device (4) and the insulating fabric (5) are attached to the first frame (2) and to the second frame (3). The damping device (4) is forming a flexible connection between the first (2) and the second (3) frame and is capable of limiting tilt between the first (2) and the second (3) frame.