Internal Clamp Rotary Actuator for Balanced Damper Shaft Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional damper actuators for HVAC systems experience issues with unbalanced loading and entanglement due to the external clamping mechanism, leading to oscillation and safety risks.

Innovation Solution

An internal clamping arrangement within the actuator housing, where the clamp and drive train are housed entirely within the actuator, ensuring the clamp is in the same plane as the torque application, reducing bending moments and entanglement risks by keeping all moving parts enclosed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the clamp is located outside the actuator housing, then the actuator can connect to the damper shaft, but the input torque creates a reaction force that causes the actuator to rock or oscillate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection to damper shaftVSAvoidactuator stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp is nested entirely within the actuator housing, with the clamp assembly positioned inside the housing and mechanically coupled to the drive train. This internal positioning eliminates the external clamp configuration that caused rocking and oscillation, while maintaining the connection function through the drive train mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the clamp is located outside the actuator housing, then the clamp can connect to the shaft, but the irregular shape of the clamp creates entanglement risks with lead wires

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft connectionVSAvoidentanglement risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp assembly is completely enclosed within the actuator housing, nesting the irregularly shaped clamp components inside the housing structure. This containment prevents the clamp from protruding outward and entangling with lead wires or other items in proximity, while the housing provides protective enclosure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If the clamp is positioned out of plane with the torque application, then the shaft connection is achieved, but unbalanced loading occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshaft connectionVSAvoidloading balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The clamp assembly is positioned asymmetrically within the housing at the same plane as torque application, with the center of gravity aligned with the rotation axis. This asymmetric internal positioning achieves proper shaft connection while eliminating the out-of-plane configuration that caused unbalanced loading and oscillation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS8943919B2Over shaft rotary actuator with internal clamp

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC BUILDINGS AMERICAS INC

AI summary

An over shaft rotary actuator with an internal clamp arrangement is provided. The actuator includes an internal clamp arrangement carried within a housing. A drive train and a motor also carried within the housing and mechanically coupled to the internal clamp arrangement. The internal clamp arrangement is centered on the plane that a driving torque is applied to the internal clamp arrangement to rotate a shaft.