Electric Drive Machine Shaft Tunnel for Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric drive machines experience pressure differences between axial end sides due to air pumping by the rotor, leading to functional limitations and potential moisture or dirt penetration through compromised seals.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing the shaft tunnel as a pressure equalization channel without additional components, ensuring permanent pressure equalization between the first and second cavities, thereby preventing pressure differences during rotor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing is sealed to protect components, then protection against moisture and dirt is improved, but pressure differences arise between axial end sides causing seal failure
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple cavities (first cavity, second cavity, and shaft tunnel) that are separated but interconnected through fluid-conducting connections. This segmentation allows pressure equalization between cavities while maintaining overall sealing, preventing pressure-driven seal failure while protecting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft tunnel acts as an intermediary fluid-conducting connection between the first and second cavities. It enables pressure equalization and air flow compensation without requiring additional pressure equalization elements, thus maintaining seal effectiveness while allowing controlled communication between sealed cavities.
2Reliability
If additional pressure equalization elements are added to prevent pressure differences, then pressure equalization is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft tunnel, which already serves as a structural and functional component for drive shaft accommodation, is given an additional function as a pressure equalization channel. By making the shaft tunnel fluid-conductively connected to both cavities, it simultaneously supports mechanical drive function and pressure equalization, eliminating the need for separate pressure equalization elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure equalization function is merged with the existing shaft tunnel structure. Instead of adding a separate pressure equalization element, the invention combines the pressure equalization channel function with the shaft tunnel, thereby reducing component count while achieving reliable pressure equalization between cavities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the housing is made fully sealed, then protection against external influences is improved, but functional limitations occur due to pressure differences
Solution Approach 1:
The sealed housing is segmented into multiple pressure-equalized cavities connected through the shaft tunnel. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain overall sealing for protection while enabling internal pressure equalization, thus preserving functional capability without compromising protective sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft tunnel serves as an intermediary that enables pressure equalization between sealed cavities. It allows the housing to remain sealed against external influences while providing internal fluid communication pathways that prevent pressure-driven functional limitations.
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 effectively prevents pressure differences, ensuring reliable operation, maximum protection against external influences like moisture and dirt, and maintaining the drive unit's efficiency without the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second cavities are each in fluid-conducting connection with the shaft tunnel... ensuring permanent pressure equalization between the first and second cavities
Data Source
AI summary
An electric drive machine, having a rotor which is arranged on a rotor shaft rotatable about a rotor axis, a stator which surrounds the rotor radially on the outside, a housing which surrounds the stator radially on the outside, and a drive shaft which is arranged rotatably about a shaft axis in a shaft tunnel. The rotor shaft acts, on a first axial end side, which is covered by a first housing part, on the drive shaft via a gear and the rotor shaft is covered on a second axial end side with a second housing part. The first housing part forms a first cavity on the first end side and the second housing part forms a second cavity on the second end side. The first and second cavities are respectively in fluid-conducting connection with the shaft tunnel.