Electric Linear Actuator With Step-Up Energy Storage for Brake Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric brake apparatuses face challenges in size and cost due to high power requirements during high-speed braking operations, necessitating large and expensive harnesses, circuits, and special power supply devices, particularly when using step-up circuits which increase wire and circuit element sizes and costs.
Innovation Solution
An electric linear motion actuator and brake apparatus that includes an electric motor, a linear motion mechanism, a control device with a motor driver, a power storage unit, a current flow direction restriction unit, and a step-up unit configured to step up voltage, allowing for increased instantaneous output without increasing motor current, thereby reducing the need for large current carrying components and minimizing the size and cost of the step-up unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If current is increased to increase motor output for high-speed braking operations, then instantaneous power is improved, but harness and circuit element sizes and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter instead of increasing current. By using a step-up circuit to increase voltage before storing energy in the capacitor, the system achieves high instantaneous power (P=VI) without requiring large current-carrying components. The voltage is stepped up from the power supply device to charge the capacitor, which then supplies high voltage to the motor during peak demand.
2Power
If a step-up circuit is used to increase voltage for high power output, then instantaneous motor output is improved, but wire and circuit element sizes and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The step-up circuit performs voltage transformation in advance during periods when high power is not needed. The capacitor is charged to high voltage beforehand through the step-up circuit, so that during high-speed braking operations, the pre-charged capacitor can immediately supply high voltage without requiring the step-up circuit to operate at high power levels, thus reducing the required size of the step-up circuit components.
Solution Approach 2:
The capacitor acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the power supply and the motor. It decouples the power supply from the motor, allowing the motor to receive high instantaneous power from the capacitor while the power supply operates at lower, continuous power levels. This intermediary approach allows the use of a smaller step-up circuit since it only needs to charge the capacitor at moderate rates.
3Productivity
If motor current is increased to meet high power requirements, then braking performance is improved, but cost of harness and circuit elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the voltage parameter instead of increasing current to achieve high power output. By using a capacitor charged to high voltage through a step-up circuit, the motor receives high instantaneous power during braking operations without requiring large current. This approach maintains braking performance while using standard-gauge wiring and conventional circuit elements, reducing manufacturing costs.
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
Enables size and cost reduction of the actuator and brake apparatus by allowing increased instantaneous output without the need for expensive components, while maintaining control stability through voltage estimation and output restriction, enhancing responsiveness and reducing the size and cost of the step-up unit.
Implementation Method 1
a step-up unit 19 configured to step up voltage from the power supply device 3 and provide the stepped-up voltage to the power storage unit 21
Implementation Method 2
a power storage unit 21 connected between the power supply device 3 and the motor driver 24
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is an electric linear motion actuator that enables size reduction and cost reduction while increasing the instantaneous output of an electric motor. A control device (2) of the electric linear motion actuator includes: a motor driver (24) configured to control power supplied to a coil (4b) of an electric motor (4); a power storage unit (21) connected to a power supply device (3) and the motor driver (24); a current flow direction restriction unit (20) disposed between the power supply device (3) and the power storage unit (21), which causes current to pass only in a direction in which power is supplied from the power supply device (3); and a step-up unit (19) configured to step up voltage of the power supply device (3) and provide the stepped-up voltage to the power storage unit (21).