Electric Machine Cooling Fin Cleaning via Removable Protective Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric machines in industrial environments face cooling fin blockages due to dust and impurities, leading to inefficient manual cleaning processes that compromise the cooling effect, performance, and service life.

Innovation Solution

A removably fitted protective cover with a cleaning plate that allows for easy rotation and axial movement, forming a flow-guiding channel between the cover and cooling fins, enabling efficient dust removal and comprehensive cleaning without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual cleaning operations are used with brushes to remove dust and oil from cooling fins, then cleaning can be performed, but the workload of maintenance personnel increases and cleaning efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficiencyVSAvoidmaintenance workload
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is designed to enable self-cleaning functionality through its structure. When the cover is removed or opened, the cooling fins are automatically exposed for cleaning, and the cover itself can be used as a cleaning tool by scraping against the fins, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning operations with brushes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover serves multiple functions: it protects the cooling fins during operation, facilitates cleaning when removed or opened, and can itself be used as a cleaning tool. This multi-functionality consolidates protection and cleaning operations into a single component, reducing maintenance workload

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

2Manufacturing precision

If manual cleaning operations are used with brushes, then dust removal can be achieved, but the structural characteristics of the fin structure make manual cleaning difficult and comprehensive cleaning is hard to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning completenessVSAvoidcleaning difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover's structure is designed to work with the fin structure for self-cleaning. When removed or opened, the cover exposes all cooling fins uniformly, and its edge can scrape along the fin surfaces to remove adhering substances that brushes cannot effectively reach, achieving comprehensive cleaning regardless of fin structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the protective cover is integrally formed with the electric machine casing, then structural integrity is improved, but the cover cannot be removed for cleaning operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidcleaning accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover is designed as a separable component that can be removed from the electric machine casing. This segmentation allows the cover to provide protection during operation while enabling easy removal for cleaning operations, resolving the conflict between structural integrity and cleaning accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover transitions from a static, permanently attached state to a dynamic, removable state. This dynamic design allows the cover to serve different functions at different times: providing protection when attached and enabling cleaning when removed, thus resolving the contradiction between structural integrity and cleaning accessibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If stubborn adhering substances remain on cooling fins due to improper manual cleaning, then the cooling effect decreases, but manual cleaning methods cannot sufficiently remove these residues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover enables self-cleaning by allowing direct access to cooling fins when removed or opened. The cover's edge can scrape along fin surfaces to remove stubborn adhering substances that brushes cannot effectively remove, ensuring thorough cleaning and maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The protective cover acts as an intermediary cleaning tool between the maintenance personnel and the cooling fins. Its rigid edge structure provides mechanical advantage for scraping off stubborn residues, achieving cleaning effectiveness that exceeds direct manual brushing while maintaining simple operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3637595B1Electric machine
Publication Date: 2021.11.24 SIEMENS AG
  • EP3637595B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3637595B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3637595B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention provides an electric machine, comprising an electric machine casing and an electric machine protective cover removably fitted to the electric machine casing, wherein multiple cooling fins are provided on the electric machine casing, the electric machine protective cover surrounds the cooling fins, and a flow-guiding channel is formed between the electric machine protective cover and the cooling fins. The present invention can not only realize an electric machine protection effect but also make electric machine cleaning work more simple, convenient and efficient.