Bearingless Rotary Encoder Transport Lock Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bearingless rotary encoders require increased care during transport, storage, and assembly to prevent damage and particle ingress, complicating the process and increasing the risk of contamination.
Innovation Solution
A transport lock system comprising a plug, a cone, and an encoder housing that fixes and seals the encoder shaft, using snap or rotary mechanisms to secure the rotor within the stator, ensuring protection against damage and contamination during transport and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bearing-mounted encoder shaft is used, then the rotor is protected from damage and particle ingress during transport, but the encoder design becomes more complex and larger
Solution Approach 1:
The transport lock is designed as a separate, removable component that can be attached to or removed from the encoder shaft independently of the main bearing structure. This segmentation allows the protection function to be added only when needed during transport, rather than being a permanent part of the encoder design.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport lock acts as an intermediary element between the rotor and the external environment during transport. It provides the necessary protection without becoming a permanent part of the encoder's operational structure, thus avoiding increased device complexity during normal operation.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a bearing-mounted encoder shaft is used, then particle penetration is prevented, but the encoder design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The transport lock is installed in advance before transport and storage phases to prevent particle ingress. During operational phases, the lock is removed or repositioned to avoid interference with the encoder's normal function, thus providing protection without permanently increasing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport lock's presence and configuration dynamically change based on the encoder's operational state. It is present and engaged during transport and storage to provide particle protection, and removed or disengaged during operational phases, allowing the system to adapt its structure to different operational requirements.
3Device complexity
If the encoder shaft is left without bearings for simplified design, then device complexity is reduced, but the rotor becomes vulnerable to damage and contamination during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The protection function is segmented into a separate transport lock component rather than being integrated into the main encoder structure. This allows the simplified bearingless design to be maintained during operation while adding protection only when needed during transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective bearing function is extracted as a separate, removable transport lock component rather than being permanently integrated into the encoder shaft. This extraction allows the encoder to maintain its simplified bearingless design during operation while gaining transport protection through the separate component.
4Device complexity
If the encoder shaft is left without bearings for simplified design, then device complexity is reduced, but increased care is required during transport and assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The transport lock is designed to be self-contained and self-explanatory, with intuitive attachment and removal mechanisms that require minimal specialized knowledge or tools. The lock's design inherently guides the user through the correct assembly and disassembly procedures, reducing the need for extensive training or careful handling instructions.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a bearingless rotary encoder comprising a stator (2), a rotor (3) and at least one forming element (1), wherein the forming element (1) is a transport lock for fixing the rotor (3) in the stator (2) during transport.