Electric Machine Cover with Dust Collection Reservoir

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical machines with sliding contact arrangements face challenges in efficiently extracting brush dust, which can cause electrical short circuits or arcing, and require additional components or modifications for effective dust management.

Innovation Solution

The electrical machine design incorporates access openings and a cover that serve a dual function: allowing access for maintenance and collecting brush dust, with a collecting reservoir featuring pocket-like depressions and a non-conductive cover that securely seals the housing, eliminating the need for extra components and facilitating easy retrofitting of existing machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional components or modifications are added to extract brush dust, then brush dust extraction effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush dust extraction effectivenessVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed to perform multiple functions: it covers the access opening for maintenance purposes and simultaneously forms a collecting reservoir with pocket-like depressions to collect brush dust. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dust collection components, resolving the contradiction between extraction effectiveness and device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The dust collection function is merged with the existing cover structure by forming integrating reservoirs directly in the cover material. The pocket-like depressions are formed as integral features of the cover, combining protection and dust collection into a single component, thereby improving dust extraction without increasing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the cover forms collecting reservoirs with pocket-like depressions, then brush dust retention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrush dust retentionVSAvoidease of manufacture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed as a thin-walled structure with integrated pocket-like depressions formed directly in the cover material. This approach allows complex retention geometry to be achieved through simple molding or forming processes, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving dust retention capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The collecting reservoir is divided into multiple pocket-like depressions separated by webs, creating segmented compartments that trap brush dust effectively. This segmentation is achieved through simple geometric features in the cover design rather than complex assembly requirements, balancing retention performance with manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3493374B1Electric machine with a sliding contact assembly surrounded by a housing as well as a device with an electric machine

Publication Date: 2020.12.30 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH

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AI summary

The invention relates to an electric machine (2;102;202) with a sliding contact arrangement (15) surrounded by a housing (14;114;214), which has a commutator (16) and at least two brushes (17), wherein the housing (14;114;214) has at least one access opening (19,20;119;120) covered by a cover (21;121;221). In order to easily extract any brush dust that accumulates, the cover (21;121;221) forms at least one collection reservoir (24,25;124,125;224,225) for collecting brush dust.