Flexible Electrical Machine Mounting for Frame Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical machines designed for operation on solid foundations experience unacceptable vibrations when mounted on frame structures, limiting their operational speed range due to differences in rigidity, making it impractical to design each machine arrangement uniquely for varying frame structures.

Innovation Solution

The machine arrangement incorporates intermediate elements with spring arrangements and active actuating elements that dynamically counteract vertical movements, allowing for effective vibration damping across all natural modes, including those induced by horizontal movements, thereby enabling operation across the entire speed range without excessive vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the electrical machine is designed for operation on a solid foundation, then vibration levels are acceptable in the design speed range, but unacceptable vibrations occur when mounted on a frame structure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration levelsVSAvoidadaptability to different support structures
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediate elements as mediators between the electrical machine and the frame structure. These intermediaries include spring arrangements for vibration isolation and active actuating elements with sensors and control devices that dynamically compensate for vibrations. This intermediary system allows the electrical machine to operate on frame structures while maintaining acceptable vibration levels, resolving the contradiction between vibration control and adaptability to different support structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the electrical machine is mounted directly on the frame structure, then assembly is simple, but the full speed range cannot be utilized due to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed range utilizationVSAvoidmounting structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic vibration compensation through active actuating elements that respond to real-time vibration conditions. Sensors detect vertical movements of the electrical machine, and control devices dynamically regulate the active actuating elements to counteract vibrations. This dynamic approach enables full speed range utilization while managing the complexity through systematic integration of sensing and control components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If each machine arrangement is uniquely designed for its frame structure, then vibration performance is optimized, but manufacturing and assembly become impractical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration controlVSAvoidstandardization of electrical machine
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mounting system into separate functional components: the electrical machine remains a standardized unit, while vibration management is handled by distinct intermediate elements (spring arrangements and active actuating elements). This segmentation allows the electrical machine to be manufactured and tested independently on standard foundations, then deployed on various frame structures with appropriate intermediate elements, maintaining both vibration control and manufacturing standardization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 allows for reliable operation of electrical machines across their entire speed range without unacceptable vibrations, reducing the need for speed range restrictions and minimizing vibration transmission to the foundation, while also ensuring transport and operational security.

Implementation Method 1

the intermediate elements each have a spring arrangement arranged between the main parts on the machine side and the main parts on the frame side, via which the weight of the electric machine is transferred from the main parts on the machine side to the main parts on the frame side

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the intermediate elements each have an active actuating element, by means of which a force acting in the vertical direction between the respective machine-side main part and the respective frame-side main part can be generated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic force: Lorentz Force

Data Source

PatentEP4034782B1Electrical machine flexibly attached to a frame structure
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 INNOMOTICS GMBH
  • EP4034782B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4034782B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4034782B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A load machine (2) is secured to a frame construction (1). An electrical machine (3) is coupled to the load machine (2), said electrical machine driving the load machine (2). The electrical machine (3) is secured to the frame construction (1) via multiple intermediate elements (5). Frame-side main parts (6) of the intermediate elements (5) are secured to the frame construction (1) and machine-side main parts (7) of the intermediate elements (5) are secured to the electric machine (3). A respective spring assembly (10) is arranged between the machine-side main parts (7) and the frame-side main parts (6), via which the weight force of the electric machine (3) is transferred from the machine-side main parts (7) to the frame-side main parts (6).