Grooved Input Shaft Venting in Electric Actuators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric actuators face issues with temperature rise due to air warming by the electric motor remaining inside the housing, which can lead to increased internal temperatures.
Innovation Solution
The electric actuator design includes a rotation shaft with a second shaft portion featuring outer peripheral grooves that facilitate air conveyance in the axial direction, coupled with an exposure hole in the housing to discharge or intake air, integrating the input gear and shaft for efficient heat transfer and component reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the housing is sealed to protect internal components, then reliability is improved, but temperature control deteriorates due to trapped warmed air
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the air circulation function from the sealed housing by providing an exposure hole that allows air to enter and exit the housing, preventing heat accumulation while maintaining component protection through the bearing-supported input shaft structure
Solution Approach 2:
The input shaft with outer peripheral grooves acts as a porous-like structure that allows air flow through the housing via the exposure hole, enabling thermal management while maintaining the protective enclosure for internal components
2Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is made compact to fit narrow spaces, then adaptability is improved, but heat dissipation deteriorates due to limited air circulation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces axial air flow through the exposure hole and outer peripheral grooves, creating a new dimension for heat dissipation that is independent of the housing's external dimensions, allowing effective cooling in compact configurations
3Temperature
If the input shaft is designed with outer peripheral grooves to improve air circulation, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the air circulation function with the input shaft structure by integrating outer peripheral grooves into the shaft itself, combining mechanical support and thermal management functions into a single component rather than adding separate cooling mechanisms
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 design effectively prevents warmed air from remaining inside the housing, maintains temperature control, reduces component count, and allows for a compact, flat configuration suitable for narrow spaces.
Implementation Method 1
The second shaft portion of the input shaft includes an outer peripheral groove that extends in a circumferential direction as advancing in the axial direction. The housing includes an exposure hole that exposes the second shaft portion of the input shaft to the outside.
Data Source
AI summary
An electric actuator includes an electric motor including a driving shaft; an input shaft coupled to the driving shaft; an input gear configured to rotate integrally with the input shaft; an output gear configured to rotate based on a power transmitted from the input gear; a bearing configured to rotatably support the input shaft; and a housing that houses the electric motor, the input shaft, the input gear, the output gear, and the bearing. The input shaft includes a first shaft portion that extends from the input gear toward the driving shaft of the electric motor, and a second shaft portion that extends from the input gear in a direction opposite to the first shaft portion and is supported by the bearing. The second shaft portion of the input shaft includes an outer peripheral groove that extends in a circumferential direction as advancing in the axial direction. The housing includes an exposure hole that exposes the second shaft portion of the input shaft to the outside.