Geared Motor Oil Drainage Spinner Ring Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geared motors face challenges in effectively sealing and draining lubricating oil, leading to potential oil leakage and interference with internal components, which compromises safety and functionality.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a shaft seal with a spinner ring and a centrifugal ring that directs oil flow to a drain ring, utilizing a conical shape to ensure oil drainage even when the transmission is non-rotating, and includes a connection device for further oil derivation, preventing oil intrusion into sensitive areas and enhancing safety through an oblique outer contour and recesses for efficient oil collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a shaft seal is used to seal the gear unit against the environment, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but oil leakage still occurs and interferes with internal components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidoil leakage interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spinner ring acts as an intermediary component between the sealed gear unit and the motor interior. It intercepts oil that leaks past the shaft seal and redirects it to the drain ring, preventing direct contact with sensitive components like the angle sensor and brake.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful oil leakage is extracted from the motor interior by the spinner ring and drain ring system. The oil is diverted away from critical components and collected in the drain ring, removing the harmful substance from areas where it could cause damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the transmission is non-rotating, then energy consumption is reduced, but oil drainage becomes ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidoil drainage effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The conical shape of the spinner ring creates a sloped surface that uses gravity to drain oil radially outward to the drain ring. This geometric design ensures oil drainage effectiveness whether the transmission is rotating or stationary, as the conical slope continuously guides oil away from the seal area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Quantity of substance

If the spin ring has a larger outer radius than the rotor shaft, then oil collection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoil collection capabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The spinner ring combines multiple functions: it acts as a centrifugal force generator during rotation, provides a gravitational drainage path via its conical shape when stationary, and serves as a structural support element. This merging of functions reduces the need for separate oil drainage components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The spinner ring is designed to perform multiple functions depending on operational conditions: during rotation, it uses centrifugal force to throw oil outward; when stationary, it uses its conical slope to guide oil to the drain ring. This multi-functionality allows a single component to address oil drainage under all operating conditions.

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

4Reliability

If oil leakage is allowed to reach internal components, then component protection is compromised, but additional drainage components increase device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent protectionVSAvoiddrainage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drainage system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the shaft seal for primary sealing, the spinner ring for oil interception and redirection, and the drain ring for collection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently without requiring a completely separate drainage system.

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 effectively manages oil leakage by ensuring oil drainage and protection of internal components, enhancing safety by preventing oil intrusion into critical areas such as the angle sensor and brake, and allowing for operational monitoring of oil leakage.

Implementation Method 1

the spin ring is arranged axially on the side of the shaft seal facing the rotor of the electric motor, the rotor shaft axis substantially parallel to the Gravitational axis is aligned wherein the drainage forms a circumferentially circumferential groove

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

When the transmission is rotating, however, the oil is thrown into the deepening of the abbreviation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentEP2795768B1Drive unit comprising a geared motor
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2795768B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2795768B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2795768B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive unit comprising a geared motor, wherein the rotor shaft is supported by means of a bearing in a bearing flange and is sealed against the bearing flange by means of a shaft seal provided on the bearing flange, in particular wherein oil is provided on the output side, wherein a centrifugal disc is connected to the rotor shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, a deflector ring connected to a housing part being associated with the centrifugal disc, in particular wherein the centrifugal disc is arranged axially on the side of the shaft seal facing the rotor of the electric motor.